Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-04-26

Litta was naturally the center of at
traction and scored a genuine triumph
in her introduction to Lancaster
audience. Her opening aria furnished
a vehicle for the most advantageous dis
play of her vocal talents and it is fair to
say that she made the most of it, COM
pletely bewitching her auditors. Her
voice is full, clear soprano, of good
timbre and although in some tones
showing tendency towards stridency
when forced, is, on the whole, very ac-
ceptable. Her technique, as shown in
the handling of bravura passages gave
evidence of hard study combined with
intuitive qualities of the highest order.
To the hearty encore she gracefully res
ponded with Coming through the Rye
rendered with a picquancy that brought
out heartier encore than the first, end
there is no telling to what point the
enthusiasm would have gone had the
prima donna not begged off with cour-
tcsy Later on "The Last Rose of
Summer" and "Old Folks at Home''
increased the obligations of the au-
dience.
Miss Della Oakford, the bright little
contralto of the troupe, made nit second
hardly to Litta herself Her first num-
Der, Bedouin love song, was rendered
with a nonchalance and absence of
the fire of passion that created rather
unfavorable impression, but warm
ing to their work under an encore Miss
Oakford began to develope grace and
archness, combined with an apprecia-
ton of the dramatic possibilities, even
OF simple ballads and waltz songs that
carried the house by storm. In that
captivating little moroccan mo sir,''
she aroused the house to a perfect furore
OF enthusiasm, showing that this num-
Der was without doubt the popular sue
cess of the evening. Miss Zelina Man.
tay, the lady violinist of the troupe, sus-
tanned in an unusual degree the advance
claims made for her, but alas, a blind
man was most able to appreciate the
real beauty of her efforts. The tenoro
robusto of the troupe, Signor Baldanza,
appeared to be laboring under an indis-
position, which led his voice into range
somewhere between fog-horn and a
steam whistle, with all the volume of
the one and the melody of the other
If the Signor had been able to chain his
powers down to the capacities of an or
binary pair of ears, his efforts would
doubtless have met with the apprecia-
ton they deserved. Signor Bereghy,
the basso of the troupe, seemed to have
fallen under the same unlucky star as
the tenoro, and, although be was able
to get through the evening according to
schedule, was plainly not up to his usual
standard or where his standard ought to
be. Mr.. Jos. Harrison the pianist of
the troupe was very acceptable, both in
his different numbers and in the accom-
paniments. The entertainment in its
entirety was such as would lead to. a
warm welcome, should the troupe visit
this city again, at some future time.
The organization of a Grand Army
post, mentioned some time ago, is pro-
crossing slowly, but still progressing
Some ten or twelve signatures have al
ready been obtained and double that
number could be set down with few
hours active work, to say nothing of the
numbers which would come in from
the outside. 1t might be looked upon
as simply a reorganization of the old
post, which faded away late in the
sixties. This at one time had an organ
ization of between forty and fifty and
was in existence two or three years.
Mr.. David Schreiner was the last COM
mander. 1t is thought, however, that
thO .CduScs W ulCu leu W luo utcedSe Vi Tile
old post would have but little effect on
new one started now. The aims of
the society, as stated in circular issued
from headquarters are: to strengthen
the fraternal feelings welded on the
field of battle; to preserve and perpet-
uate the memories of those who died
that the nation might live; to assist
needy companions in arms and the
widows and orphans of those who have
passed ON to await the great revielle;
to maintain true allegiance to the
United States; to disparage disloyalty
and rebellion and encourage universal
liberty, equal rights and justice to all
men. The order has recovered from
the depression of some years ago and
is now rapidly increasing in all sections
of the state, A post in Lancaster, it is
thought, would serve as rallying point
for considerable section, while the in
terest awakened would serve to hold
comrades together in an indivisible
bond. A little more push, little more
active response and the post is estab-
liShed.