The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-22

lished of the receipts and expenses Of the late
musical festival. 1t is not strange that there
should be public curiosity to know the re-
suit of that apparently very successful enter
prise. A great deal of pardonable blowing has
been done over it upon the supposition that it
was highly successful in a pecuniary way, as
we are certain it was in professional and ar
tistic way. But as we said, there has been
, no statement of the receipts and expenditures
made public, and so the public is left to guess
work entirely. However, if it be true. as has
been reported, that the committee in charge
have forwarded to Professor Barus, the creator
and director of the chorus, which was the
backbone Of the festival, the sum of $500 for
his services, we may reasonably judge that the
festival was pitiable failure financially,
and the committee was driven to desper-
ate straits to pay the enormous expenses of
the enterprise. Only upon such supposition
can there be a creditable explanation of the
committees action toward Prof. Barus. He
gave nearly three months of his time to the
work, seven weeks of which were spent in act
ual rehearsal, and it is not to be presumed
that the committee would have insulted him
with such gift, for any other reason than
that they were unable to pay him more than
might reimburse him for his actual outlay.
Fraulein Lehman was paid $500 and ex-
penses; the members of the orchestra were
paid at the rate of Sc a day, and we cannot
suppose that the committee rated Prof Barus's
time and service at the same value as a second
trombone. 1t is pity, and we are sure it
will be public surprise to learn, that the mag
nifcent, artistic and professional success of
the festival was not coupled with an equally
gratifying financial success. In this view Of
the matter it is not strange that the commit
tee have not felt any great enthusiasm in
making public declaration of the balance
sheet
Of course Prof. Barus will feel the deepest
embarrassment because Of publicity in this
matter; but in view of the general and gener-
Gus public appreciation of his service in the
creation and direction of a chorus which it is
hoped may be permanent attraction Of the
city, and in view Of the further fact that at
the time of the festival, the chorus were quite
anxious to give their director benefit. we
make bold to renew that. suggestion. There
should, at once, be movement entered upon
to tender compliment to Prof. Barus and
we are sure that the chorus and the public,
not less than the committee whose necessi-
ties have forced them to make such meager
recompense to the man more than any other
to be credited with the artistic success of the
festival, will heartily unite in once more fill
ing Tomlinson Hall to repletion Such a
compliment would be an earnest of the desire
OF the people to have and to hold all the ben
eft to be derived from the permanence of the
magnificent chorus that has honored Indian
apolis as it has not been honored for years, If
ever. 1t is not necessary for us to say that
the Journal speaks without the knowledge or
suspicion of Prof. Barus, but at the sugges-
tion of some members of the chorus itself,
who have learned the facts we give