St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-12-27
A ROYAL GREETING.
Miss Huntington Given A Benefit
Concert at Peoria.
A Phenomenal Outpouring of the
People of That City.

Special to the Globe.
PEORIA, ILL.,. Dec. 26.--If there is one
thing more that another that Peoria is
famous for it is the partiality of its popula-
ton for good music. The greatest musical
sensation of the city's history was the
Huntington benefit concert here last night.
The incidents which led to the concert had
worked up the Peoria people to condition
of unusual excitement. 1t was here that
the Foster Huntington wrangle eliminated
in the retirement of Miss Huntington from
the Boston Ideal company and brace of
damage suits. Miss Huntington came to
this city few weeks ago comparatively un-
known and simply as member of the BoS-
ton Ideal Opera company. Mile. De LUIS
san and other ladies of the company were
praised before hand as much as possible
while Miss Huntington was merely men,
TONED on the bills as one of the leading
contralto supports. The FIRST night of the
Ideal engagement Miss Huntington with
her fine voice and magnificent presence
captured the Peoria audience. Her very
appearance was greeted with
STORMS OF APPLAUSE.
Manager Foster was enraged at the Peo-
ria discrimination against his favOrites, and
in favor of the lady for whom he mani
tested an aversion. The climax came when
the manager rushed OH the stage and pre-
vented the Peoria favOrite FROM answering
to an enthusiastic encore by thrusting his
cane in front of her and positively forbid
ding her to appear before the audience.
Rather than be made the subject of further
indignities the lady separated from the
company. The episode aroused great pop
ular indignation in the city, and public
sympathy seemed to be all on the side OF
Miss Huntington. The result was that a
movement was at once inaugurated to tender
Miss Huntington benefit concert. The
matter was taken in hand by the leading
citizens of the city. and Miss Huntington
was notified of their intention. The time
was fixed for Christmas night. The chiv-
alric efforts of the Peorians was crowned
with brilliant success. Miss Huntington
and her mother arrived in the city from
Boston Friday morning and took rooms at
the National hotel. The whole population
Of Peoria seemed bent on vindicating the
young lady's professional reputation. The
infection spread to the surrounding country
and excursion trains came in from all the
neighboring towns. The outporing of peo-
PIC w a. COlli 4iO Woiio
of the Grand opera house
NEVER HELD SUCH AUDIENCES.
The enthusiasm and the crowd were so
great that the managers of the benefit de-
termined to have two concerts, matinee
in the afternoon and an evening perform
ance. Miss Huntington sang in both. 1t
was planned to have her sing in the trio
from Victor the Blue Stocking" which
she had sung the night of the Boston Ideal
engagement when she was choked off by
her manager but a message was received
from the Ideal management stating that
Victor was exclusively the property of
the Boston Ideal company, and if any part
of it was sung at the Huntington benefit
concert, everybody connected with it would
be prosecuted. At the evening perform
ance Mss Huntington sang three songs,
one in Italian, one in German ard one in
English. Miss Davis and Schroeder. of
Chicago. and Mrs. Lepheimer, OF Spring
field, volunteered their services, and the
rest of the programme was filled by superior
local talent, including a juvenile chorus.
After the evening performance, Miss
Huntington had public reception in the
parlOrs of the National hotel, which was
grand affair. The reception committee
consisted OF the following ladies, all OF
them leaders in Peoria society:
Mrs G. T. Barker, Mrs. s. II. Thompson,
Mrs. r. S. Martin, Mrs. A. Stone, Mrs. NJ. E.
Clough, Mrs. Henry Schwabacher Mrs. J. B.
Greenhut, Mrs. c. Gehrm n Mrs. C. f. Ba-
con, Mrs. Roswell Bills, Ms. jacob Waehen-
heimer, Mrs. Judge Page. Mrs. John L. Fran
els, Mrs. John E. Blaine, Mrs. John W. Row.
cliff, Mrs. Will Day, Mrs S. W. Ottenheimer,
Mrs. Lem II. Wiley, Mrs. L. Pm. Wolf and
the Misses Mansields, Miss Lulu McGrana-
CHAN and Miss Sim Json.
Miss Huntington has been rendered a
benefit concert in Buffalo. n. Y, on the
goth of next month. -