Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-30
WHAT CITY CAN DO.

Minneapolis has not yet recovered
from congratuiating herself over the
success achieved by the great saengcr-
fest which took place under the auspices
OF her German citizens in that metropo.
lis last week. With such attractions as
Campanini, Blanche Stone Barton.
Myron w. Whitney, Del Puente, Glenn
entina De We're, Gilmore's great band
and other celebrities, assisted by a
local chorus Of more than three hundred
trained voices, the festival was truly
one of song and music never before
equaled in the northwest. What added
to the interest of the occasion was the
fact that the city was filed with musical
societies and visitors not alone from all
parts of Minnesota, but from Wisconsin,
Illinois and Iowa as we'll.
The occasion, therefore, was an
important one from musical
as we'll as from a financial point of
view.
Other cities not thousands of miles
distant from Minneapolis with resources
equally us great have attempted musi-
Cal celebrations on a scale as grand as
that undertaken by the metropolis of
the north. Whatever success they
may have achieved musicaliy was said
to have been purchased by financial
loss to the projectors and for that reason
the undertaking of future festivities of
like character were discouraged.
The good fortune OF Minneapolis, how
ever, was not due to a magician's wand
On the contrary, the prosperous issue
Of the festival was measured by diff
ferent rule. The citizens OF Min
neapolis came forward and
raised guarantee fund of
twenty-five thousand dollars to secure
tho recent saengerfest. 1t WAS UNDER
stood that twenty per cent OF that
amount would be called for to cover the
deficit, which was calculated to be not
less than eight thousand dollars. 1t
was found, however, that for the three
evening and two matinee concerts the
| total attendance amounted to thirty
thousand people, and the net proceeds
were within three thousand dollars Of
covering the entire expense of the
great musical treat. For that reason
| Minneapolis has voted her saengerfest II
success, knowing that the loss OF few
| thousand dollars directly had been
amply repaid to her business men and
citizens through other channels.
1t Is just three years since
Omaha inaugurated musical fes-
tival in the new exposition building.
With such artists as Fursch- -MahdI,
Agnes Huntingdon and Tom Karl, and
| u magnificent orchestra, it was pro
| nounced musical success. AS financial
experiment, however, it was lar from
satisfactory, due to a. lack of executive
management. Nevertheless, our bust
ness men proated by the visitors
who were attracted to the city. But be
that as 1t may, the fact can not be dis
| guised that the Omaha OF 1889 Is not
| one-half as enthusiastic as the Omaha
| Of 1886 and is far behind her sister cities
In enterprise, as illustrated by the
Minneapolis jubilee, which is but one OF
| number of annual attractions OF thai
city. 1t may be too late in the season
to advocate musical festival for
Omaha, but there is wisdom in putting
| forth efforts to draw thousands OF visitor.
aud 10 make Omaha a center of enter
tainment. Those who have charge o.
the fall exhibition 10 be inaugurated
should pluck up heart and make it NJ