Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-12-09
The Negro at the College of Music.

1t has been noticeable recently that the
attendance of Southern pupils at the College oi
Music has suddenly decreased. Could it be from
want of proper teachers or method? Surely II
not for lack of talent for in that balmy cline
nature is lavish in bestowing good voices, and
warblers encourages taste for music.
Wiseacres consulted. and no theory suggested
seemed TO cover the grounds or ferret out the
cause. Pupils sought in boarding and private
houses were found unapprOachabl0. Chimney
sweeps were cOrraled, janitors cajoled, yet moth
spied out the beam, and is enabled to-day to pre-
sent 10 its readers an unyarnished tale. Early
last season, among the pupils presenting them
selves at the college for instruction was one W m
type. itfs' He paid his tuition " for vocal in,
struction in advance, the terms demand
was accepted as a pupil, and of course entitled
to all the privileges of the college. lie was as
signed to Prof. Rudolphsen, and though the
artist rather denurred to the honor conferred
still he fulfilled his duty teacher to the end
of the term. At the close of the session the regu
lar public examination ofpupils came of at stated
intervals. 1t was tbs still the habit to print
programmes and allow pupils to issue the same to
guests marked on the programme; The pro
gramme for the eleventh examination for the
academic year of lSS2-3 contained the names o
pupils from the different instructors, among then
WILLIAM M'KANLASS,
to which were assigned different musical selee
tiOn to show their improvement and skill. Nc
kanlass had issued large number of these inyi
tations to his colored friends, who attended the
Dexter Hall. Their programmes, marked with
the pupils compliments; were not questioned
and until they reached their seats and received
new programmes with their friends names
omitted they had no surmise of the trouble tha
caused the change.
hours of teaching are so varied that few wer'
aware that the College of Music had accepted q
negro pupil. A quiet volcano slumbered tina
opened its crater when the young lady pupils
whose names graeed the same programme, wer,
quietly notified that their musical brother was
Q OH SAu frFr wi a "a al al
CANT wariTobes for the occasion from New Orleans
the Southern Paris, tainted at the suggestion
sghed Tge a G'hsf Sa ey caed
resident scholars shed oceans of tears fon,
mothers bosoms or in fathers close embrace
| such turmoil has rarely been seen, and tn
| lightning flash of innocent eyes, the rumblini
| thunder of outraged parents was only quiete'
name and selection from the programme.
| At this time George Ward Nichols was in New
| York City, and great diplomacy was used to
| QUIET DOWN THE TORRENT OF INDIGNA
TI0N.
| Prof. Rudophsen was not silent during the con
| troversy, and declared that if the negro's none
was good enough for the college to receive, and h
| good enough to have been assigned to him as pu
| pill, he should be permitted the benefits givel
other scholars, and should be allowed to remaii
| on one of the examination programmes. VIII
| not, then, on one published with his name?
The large number Of colOred aristocracy VIII
| had attended to see Mckanlass's victory and wcr
| disappointed, left the entertainment disgustc,
and cursing the College ofaMusic and its director
| Tor % scurNy trick-takln colored man : none
and giving him show. Between this
"DELIGHTFUL RACKET OF RACES
| and the Indignation growing hourly, the director
! decided to have the twelfth examination private
without guests, in room No |, and not in Dexte
Hall, where the others had been, and in daylight
not at night, and include the dissenting elemen
on the programme.
The following is an exact copy of the one car
ried out ON that cvcntful day:
| TWELFTH EXAMINATION-Priva
For the Academic Year lSS2-S5.
FRIDAY, JCSE Is, 10 4. NJ, in ROOM :.