Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-08-01
THE MUTE CHOIR.
BY ESTA BROOK.

u
"That is So" said Ella Chamber
lain "they want us Young people
to raise hundred dollars to finish
out their minister's salary, aud will
not make any effort to help or en-.
courage u.s."
"It is The old story of bricks
without straw" said Brainard le-
rOy.n
The committee on entertainments
had met at Kate's house to sum up
the result OF a concert which had
been given "A few nights before,
and were dismay ed at the small
amount LETT after deductiUg the
necessary expenses.
"The other sixty.three dollars
must be raised somehow" said
Roland Wright.
81 wonder il it could be done,"
said Kate, musingIy.
"lt must" replied in unison the
other four members.
81 mean my idea. | have faint
outline which I want you all to
help fill III said Kate, her eyes
twinkhrg with fun. "What do
you say to mute concert ?"
"Serve them right" said Brain.
arr "if they won't come to bear
us warble, make them come to
make believe and hear us not"
"What do you mean = asked
Ella.
"Wby, we might do some of the
songs in pantomine, and not make
a sound all the evening"
"Good for you, Kate You are
always equal to the emergency.
Bat please throw more light"
"WelI," said Kate, dali put on
thinking.caps and we will see what
five heads with active brains will
do. We will select such of our
songs as can be enacted, and while
one or more actors are performing,
the choir can appear as if singing"
"Or," said Charlie Winthrop,
who, being a lawyers clerk, felt
called upon to attend to the proper
Sequent, "while the choir is sing.
ing, the actors will be pantomim.
ing
Il see," said Kate; "improve-
ment number one. Now tor sug-
gestiOns and additions from the
rest OF you"
owe must introduce prizes, for
they always tAhe," said Ronald.
ooh, yes; we will not announce
the names Of the songs, bnt have
the skeleton of programme to be
filed out by each one Of the audi
ence, and have prizes for those v ho
guess every song"
"What shall we call it ?"
"Grand Concert by the Mute
Singers
ave Will make the first number
an easy one to guess, and that will
put the audience into a good hu-
NOR, for each will think he is par
ticularly smart" sagely renal ked
Brainard.
1--WE have a month to prepare
for It, for We must make next
months entertalnmentatOne for this
ignominious failure; so let us work
hard and compel a success"
The five took counsel and met at
each others houses, re.enllsted the
twenty singers who had given their
unappreclated services for the con-
cert, and bound each and all to en-
tire secrecy-fOr humanity dearly
loves a mystery.
The result was an entertainment
quite unique.
Large posters had been affixed
to fences and barns in conspicuous
places bearing the announcement
of a "Grand Concert by the Mute
Singers" Flyers were freely dis.
tributed giving the date of the con-
cert, name of hall and price of ad.
mission, and an invitation to try
for a prize. All information about
1t otherwise was carefully withheld
and the choir scrupulous kept its
oath of secrecy.
Tickets sold rapidly, and early
OF the appointed evening the large
hall was well filled. At the door
each person was given a pro-
gramme with merely the class of
song to which each number belong
ed, and A space under it. There
was small pencil attached after
the manner Of ball order OF
dances, and note at the foot re-
questing the holder to write the
name of the soug when guessed,
and promising prizes to all who
succeeded in correctly guessing the
whole number of songs.
The singers moved noiselessly
, in, took their places, and opened