The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-09-16
THIRD EDITION.


The rehearsal of the grand Centen.
NAL chorus by 400 voices under d.
reetion of Prof. Dushane Coward in
the Convention Hail at Washington,
u. G., Is spoken of by the different
papers as grand success. nearly ., 900
persons being present. The Post
speaks of 1t as follows:
The Immense audience listened to
the great roll, the first bar of "My
Country. IT'S OF Thee" that came as
II from one colossal voice. with
breathless intentness. On fionted the
strains Of perhaps the most melodious
of this conntry's national hymns, until
the finale died away in echo without
a break or hesitation from band or
chorus.
"Whoopl" cried the old gentleman
again. and the spectators took up his
cry and sang out n thunder of ap-
plause. Prof. Coward waited until
his Listeners had exhausted themselves,
and then, turning his back on the
chorus, said: Everybody join In the
second verse"
Everybody except few people with
bad colds joined. and the rafteis OF
the big ediiice iostleo in tempo.
:. From then on the chorus had 1t all
Its own way.
The next number was THE Heavens
are Telling"
Now they will iail.n said some of
the old croakers. This IS hard: this
Is one OF the most difficult selections
that ever was written"
Fail! There was no such word in the
lexicon of WushlnRton's greatest
chorus. They sang the trying parts OF
the most Intricate choruis with the
tone and the theatrlc effect of n con.
certo quartette at Ii charming musicale.
and won another round of well de-
served p.audiis.
'Hail Columbia" followed. and then
dudley Bucks exquisite lie Deum" in
u Hat. The last-uamed selection made
the artistic hit of the evening.
Prof. Cloward had devoted endless
energy in drilling his chorus for this
number, and they reaped II rich rewal d
the appreciation of the Iii altitude
counts Tor anything.
Before the first bar, I'VE praise
thee, oh, Lord had been sung, tic
well nigh perfect drilling OF tht
CHORUS was plainly evidenced, and
later ON, in the sweetlv sacred air, the
way the one hundred odd soloists SAM
their parts in unison was little shorl
OF wonderful
The pause after the passage "Wher
Thou fookest upon Thee to Deliver
Mnn, affected some OF the special or.
80 that they could not contain them
selves, and they broke into applause
a wave OF the baton slenred them
though and the most inspired worl
OF Americas graatcst com iJoeer was
finished In an uwed quictuIe TINT be
spoke mora than endless rounds o.
handclaps and cane raps.
Charles T. Hanford was then intro
duced,and Professor edward an
nounced that by special request he
would recite The star SpaHgled Ban
ner." MIR. Hauford had caught the
humor OF tho audience. and he reclteG
the famous words with grace o.
gesture ana dramatic force that again
set the audience wild Women stood
up in their chairs and waved tLeil
handkerchiets. and ono mUn in {
burst OF enthusiasm picked uu his chaii
and threw it at the wall
The people that surrounded him
were too much Interested in the en-
thusiasm to pay any attention 10 tn,
little incident, and it was allowed tC
pass by tho policeman near at hand.
Mr. llanford responded to the encore
with jacques lauEhahle recital. met
g Tool In the forest" from AS You
Like It."
One or two more numbers were
sung, ana then tile great chorus
and band rendered Home, Sweo.
Home"
Tho plain.ive old melody worked IT,
way to the hearts OF all present in It.
peculiar, mcsmorlc way, ana tho audi
once dispersed after an evening thu
Will live in tho TlsWOry ot all present
Tor many long Gay.