Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1880-12-25
The Baptist College Concert

Inc 6dpClSL OO11SSS SOICC1Gs
s.The soul of music slumbers In the shell.
Till walked and kindled by the masters spell;
And feeling hearts-touch them but righily-pour
A thousaud> melodies unheard befOre.'
SO wrote Samuel Rogers. and he knew. The
host of Scott, Byron, Moore. Wordsworth,
Southey and Coleridge. an eminent patron OF
poetry as we'll rs art, he lived in an atmosphere
Of song. The spirit of the old poet seems to in
spire one when called upon to write of the la
bors Of Lexington's sweet singer, Miss Ihomp-
son. "The soul of music SAUNDERS, - but TO her
delicate touch, and skillful voice, and by the
power Of her Conscientious effort, tits ''waked
and klndled by the masters spell.' Unlike
Rogers we are not a bachelor, and therefore,
though the temptation is great. it may be best
to think less of poetry and speak more oil music.
The opera house, last Tuesday night, was
crowded with all intelligent, critical and fash
ionsble audience to listen to the annual Christ
mas concert of the Baptist female seminary.
These concerts are always pleasant entertain
ments, and ar. constant sources of surprise to
the audiences In the evidences OF newly devel-
oped musical talent. Miss S. NJ. Thompson,
the teacher OF vocal music, and Prof. Gimbel,
the teacher of instrumental music, are not emily
thorough musicians themselves, but they know
how to inpart instruction. We do not know
tnis by their methods, for these we have never
examined, but by results. They have, at every
exhibition, something to show for their work
generally a new subject, but il not, an old schoi-
AT SO much improved that as great credit attach
es. 1t Is true that they have had excellent ma
terial TO work with, especially IN instrumental
music, rs lew schools could turn out such an
array OF talent as resides in Misses Ida Fergu-
sen, johanna kriehn ami Maud Hardwicks,
but It is always observable that all the pupils
make nne progress. In vocal music Miss Thomp-
son developed, last session, a remarkable voice
in Miss Fannie Salmon; this year she seems 10
be doing equally good work with Misses Mary
Weber. NJ. Collins. L. Guthrey and others, and
her training OF young children is simply Won
derful. But to the evrrt. Ths programme
WAS As follows:
er's Nass). Vocal Pupils and Male Quartette.
Piano duet. Operatlc Fantasls, (Epstcin).
M1,ss. B: Waddell and |: Cartwright.
Siciliani). Miss Lnlu B. Martin.
Exercise Song, Primary pupils.
inl: Miss Lila Ferguson.
Piano duet. La semiramide, RossinD. Miss
johanna TsnsI d h.,eh Go and 3 RfHi. NC Gim 1f. u,,.-
ss L. Guthrey and 1. Cartwright.
Vocal solo: The Bright Beyond. Ct. A. Howe).
Mss Mary Weber.
Piano solo. Fantasle Lucia de Lamermcor,
CThalberg). Miss Maud H~ardwIcke.
Vocal duet, Una Motto A FeneZia, (Arditi).
A Cantata. Grand PAS Birthday, &c. A.
White). Primary Pupils.
The chorus, which was to break the ice. was
q hne one, and it was well rendered. The TIVE
succeeding numbers on the programme were
also crsditably disposed of.
The first sensation of the evening was the sx-
ersise song by the primary pupils-a stage full
Of them. They sang all sorts of snatches and
catches. SAWS and crotchets, and, in all, kept
the most admirable time, net only with their
voices but with the most unique Of gestures made
In concert. Some of the little ones were just
too cute, and with the very hearty encore, which
was responded TO, came a handsome bouquet for
one of the cutest of %them-littls Mary Robinson.
This was followed by the piano solo by Miss
Ida Ferguson. Miss Ferguson is q splendid pi-
anists. an honor to her teacher and her school.
and she played her selection magnlncently. Her
execution is very fine, and she thoroughly enters
into the spirit of the music. 1t is a treat to hear
her. We regret that parts of her piece were lost
to US, though We were close to the stage, because
ofloud talking in the audience. There are some
people who go to concerts whe de not like piano
music. When will they ever learn that there
are other persons who do?
At this point Prof. Lanneau- announced that
-A' AAA - SobARiiohSS AZ ~ "a ~
quests, would sing. ''Ths Warrior Bold. - by
Adam, author Of Nancy Lee. He had been re-
quested to sing 1.-THE Gallants Of England, - In
which he had made a hit the night before, but
did not have the music. The song was sung in
excellent style, and brought = round of warm
applause.
The duet by Miss Kriehn and Prof. Gimbel
was an event. The selection, a difficult one, but
full of melody, played by two thorough per-
formers, tested the powers even of q grand piano.
1t was q grand effort, and taught many people
in the audience that there are more tones imbed-
ded IN the recesses Of a coed piano than had e'er
been dreamed of in their philosophy. Prot.
Glmbel is Justly proud of the pupil who assisted
him in this triumph-for It was q triumph.
Misses Guthrey and Cartwright sang their
duet well. but Miss Guthrey hardly did herself
Justice. We imagined that she was a little
bit frightened.
Here again Prof. Laaneau was called on to sX-
ereise his oratory in behalf of the audience,
many Of whom desired to hear the male quar-
tette. OF course the gentlemen grati6ed their
friends. They sang ''The Old Stepstons," a
piese full Of pathos and feeling, and they sang
it we'll. The closing notes of the chorus were
beautiful. In response to great applause they
sang a colored version of ''Sweet Bye AMI
Bye" 1t was SO highly colorsd, i'll parts, that
the audience had to smile Mt it, and two Of the
heartisst smilers that we saw were clerical
gentlemen sitting to our left-an evidence that
even a preacher enjoys a good thing.
Miss Mary Welsr, who has a very fine natu-
raj contralto. next sang ''The Bright Beyond -
She acquit ed herself well. With cultivation
under her present teacher, she promises, in two
or three seasons. to be one of our best voices.
Master Jimmy Peak here recited ''My Duty to
Mother" in very fine style.
Misc Hardwicks, a very fine plsniste, and one
Of the most talented young ladies in the school.
was, unfortunately, net well, but few, IL any,
in the audience observed it, during her spirited
and correct rendition of her Fantasis de Lucia.
Miss Collins, in her duet with Miss Martin,
gave assurance Of 4 very pure soprano voice,
which only needs training to become a fine one.
Prof. Gimpel, by request, played his own
transcription of ''The Blue BELLS OF Scotland''
In his own inimitabie manner, for which he was
rewarded by the hand clapping of the faIrer
portion of the audience.
The evening closed with a pretty little cantnta,
In which Capt. Conner appeared without DIS
guise (somethins. he don't often dol as Grandpa.
1t was Grandpa's birthday, and all. the little
children sang to him and about him very beau
tifully indeed. again bearing testimony to the
skill Of their teacher in training them. Grandpa
would have sang very we'll bHt for his govt,
lumbsgo, rheumatism. influenza and corns, all
of which seemed to be troubling him. OF TIE
children we noticed especially the voices OF Miss
BoxIe Chiles. who has promise Of a,rars mezzo-
soprano. little Misses New and Russell, and
Fannie Robinson, who distinguished herself.
1t WAS universally regretted by the audience
that Miss Thompson wus not well enough to
sing. Despite her apparent indispOsiticn, she
managed ntr cnsrge well. and played a number
Of accomplishments.
With Miss Thompson and Prof. Gimhel as
teachers, and such material rs the school has
had for several years. Prof. Lannsau need fe al
comparison in musical attainments with no
school in Missouri.
JUDGE VIM. T. WOOD.
! On the occasion OF the retirement of Judga
William L. Wood from the bench as Judge OF
the 9Th judicial district the following proceed
ings were had by tho members of the Lexington
bar:
Alexander Graves was called to the chair and
Xenophon Ryland elected secretary. The chair
man appointed Alfred j. Hall. John f.. Rprdep