Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-06-17
THE CINCINNATI FEST.
Our Correspondents Second
Letter.


CINCINNATI, June Is.
My last letter was written so soon
after my arrival here that it only con-
tanned a superficial description OF the
S,engerfest and its concomitants. The
crowd of strangers instead OF abating as
the week wanes appears to be aug
meuting daily, and by Sunday the city
will be booming" The most elaborate
preparations are making for the COM
plete success of the picnic at Inwood
PARK on that day, and should the
weather BE- auspicious, the attendance
will be unprecedented. The capacity Of
an ordinary German for amuSements
and enjoyment is a matter OF astonish-
ment TO even the "tireless Yankee" "
The members Of the diffent singing So
cieties that are here, and their sisters
and cousins and auntS, will get up in
the morning, eat a hasty breakfast,
order hacks and start, and they never
think OF retiring until midnight, and a
great many Of them not then. The
hilltopS, the parks, the Geological gar
dens and the beer gardens especially,
are crowded with them all the
tirle. 1t would Shock the
aristocracv, comparatively speaking,
of Wheeling 10 observe the extreme
democratic spirit prevalent here among
these classes and nowhere to the extent
il does in the beer gardens. Most OF
these societies are accompanied by their
own brass hands and these invariably
attend them in their pcregrlnatiOns
through the city, and every now and
then strike up some tune Ot the "Fader-
land and should a beer garden appear
on anv Of the streets in Their line Of
march the whole party piles IN headed
by their band and singing some German
song. This has been the history OF each
llv since this musical carnival began
and will be until SUNDAY, when the
grand climax will be reached and the
twrntv-tirst North American Sacnger-
fest will close. So far this fest has
been signally successful The weather
has been more than could be expected
Tor the season, and the hospitality Of
Cincinnati has done the rest, To hear
those visiting Germans express them
selves Cincinnati Is 20 them what Mecca
Is 10 the most dcyOut MOhammedan,
and they almost regret that
the piIgrimagrs hithcr were not
monthly instead OF annually, or
as the festivals occur. The concerts
as a general thing have been we'll at
tended, and so they should be-. The
committee having them in charge have
spared no expense or pains 20 make
them attractive a well as profitable 10
all and IN this they have succeeded even
hrvoud their expectations. ltwOuldnOt
be- necessary 20 give any description Ot
the magnificent hall in which they are
held nor its marvellous adaptation 10
the purpose. From its construction II
Is calculated 20 seat thousands, and
special reference has been paid 10 Its
acoustics. the neglect of which has been
detrimental % similar structures IN
times past. None of them are so large as
this however. OF the performers We
fear We can give no adequate idea oi
their merits, our musical education hav-
ing been wOtuliy neglected, So We shall
have TO fall back upon the expressions
of opinion we hear around Us, and I'm
Ter our descriptions from better
sources The lradiug singer Is Madame
Otto-AlOsleben, native OF Dresden,
whoat am early aye attracted the attcn-
ton OF the Queen OF SaXOny to her mar
velOus vocal powers, and she was placed
i'm the ROYAL Conservatory OF Music I'M
Dresden. She at first gave her atten-
ton To instrumental music, but through
the efforts Of her brother she cultivated
her voice, and at the age Of 10 made her
d.LW at the Royal Theatre in her native
city. She at once became very popular,
and is to-day regarded rs one of the most
celebrated OratOriO singers in the world.
OF Miss Jones Iorke we gave you 4
brief description in our last. Her repu-
tation was made before she attempted
performances this side OF the Atlantic,
and her reception here could be moth
ing but rapturOuS. The other perform
ers are Of less note, but are spoken OF
i'm terms Of the highest praise Two
concerts and two matineeS have already
been given, and two evening perform
ances and one matinee vet remain.
As the time for closing the mails Is
near. we shall close this letter rather
abruptIy. SCRABBLE.