The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-08-28
THE MUSICAL FEAST.
Our German Friends had Possession
of the City Friday, Saturday
and Sunday,
Parade. Speeches. Singing. Etc.

street Saturday was fOrcibly i'm
pressed with the fact that the Ger
mans never do things by halves.
When it comes to decorating they can
give the Yankees pointers every time.
The artistic profusion with which
they have hung out their flags and
banners and mingled the colors of
their native with those of their adopt
ed land must be admitted by every
one. The city has never before been
so nicely decorated. Besides the
wealth Of drapery and festooning that
is everywhere in sight, four large
arches have been erected across Front
street.
The first, between Rock and Elm
streets, displays few appropriate
words of welcome, and Iifelike por-
traits of several noted German music
ans, and gives the names Of the vari-
Gus societies represented in the Saen-
gerfest. The second, between Elm
and Washington, bears the portraits
Of several other musicians; the third
between Main and Walnut holds forth,
besides numerous banners, the Eng
lish words Welcome Singers from
Abroad the fourth between Hickory
and Jackson consists Of three pointed
arches surmounted by banners and
holding forth words Of welcome to the
visitors. Besides these one has been
erected on Main street much larger
than the rest, with a large platform
on either side. This was a beautiful
sight during the parade this morning.
Each platform was crowded with lit
tie girls handsomely dressed and sur
rounded by eyergreenS and flowers.
flags and banners, draping and mot
toes.
The excellence and completeness Of
this pleasing feature Of the Saenger-
fest reflect great credit upon our Ger
man friends not only for their IN
bounded enthusiasm but for their ar
tistic taste as well. Our citizens of
other nationalities have caught the
spirit of the occasion and are lending
their aid to make the enterprise a
great success.
The opening session Of the Saenger-
fest Friday night was all that could be
desired, and proved that the Germans
know how to enjoy themselves when
they set about it. The speeches of
welcome were all very brief, none Of
them exceeding five minutes. Mr.. f.
G.. Heinze, the president. spoke on be-
half Of the state association, Mayor
Willard on behalf of the city. and
Mr.. Jos. Mosberg on behalf Oh The To-
cal society. Mr.. Grahammer, Of Du-
luth, spoke earnestly of the fact that
the Germans in this country, although
they love their fatherland, are loyal
to the core tosAmericaaand American
institutions. Mr.. Grahammer is an
eloquent speaker and the applause
that greeted him showed that he eX-
pressed the sentiments of his audi
ence. Mr.. Miller, Of Shakopee, spoke
humerously Of the Germans natural
sOciabiIfty as shown on such occasions
as this. After the speeches, a good
social time interspersed with plenty Of
excellent music, filed the time until
nearly Il o'clock.
The paradeSaturday morning was car
ried out in the order given in Thurs
days paper. and large crowds gather
ed at every corner to see it. As the
procession passed the arch in lower
town it was greeted by bevy Of little
girls dressed in white carrying flowers
and banners. As it passed the arch
on Main street the crowd Of little
girls stationed there greeted it with a
shower of flowers. The parade, like
everything else thus far, was an at
tractive and pleasing success.
At the grand concert and prize sing
ing in the afternoon the Opera House
was packed with an appreciative, en-
thusiastic audience.
There were no awards made at
the prize singing Saturday afternoon,
but by general consent the honors are
evenly divided between the Concordia
Of St. Paul and the Mankato Lieder-
tafel.
At the business meeting Of the
Saengerfest Sunday morning the
attendance was limited to delegates
only, and the committee on credent-
ials, consisting of Messrs. Platte, chair
man, Jashishek and Koenig, reported
twelve societies represented by three
delegates each.
After the secretary's report and the
acceptance of numerous bills, it was
decided to hold next years convention
of the Saengerbund at Brainerd and
the next Saengerfest in St. Paul in
1893. The following officers were
elected for the ensuing year:
President-Wm. Platte, ST. Paul.
Sec'y-Adolph Jashisheck, ST. Paul.
Treasurer-Henry f. Koenig, St. Paul
The delegates extended a rousing
= 80 I, L. L