The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-09
The Harmonic GeSang Verein
Opens Its Annual Sing
ing Festival.
ON JOHN S. ROSTERS RANCH
Care Was tremendously Burnt and
"Tyrannus Octopus" Made
Sad Moan.

>. Roster, among the reuWOOOS, near Dou1-
der Creek The singers and their friends,
to the number of 100, went down on the
morning and afternoon trains and fell at
once into the spirit of the occasion, so thai
every one abandoned himself to pleasure
Care and sorrow were burned with most
picturesque rites on a great pile of blazing
timbers at midnight, after revel In the form
of topical play with topical songs and
most wonderful parade of uniformed ba-
zoo band through the grounds. All yes
terday was given over TO continuous
round of pleasure, excepting when, N the
early morning, strains of sacred song
blending in beautiful harmony foated
through the forest like music from one
mighty, mellow throat. in the afternoon
there was a bullshead breakfast, prepared
nv Spaniard from jacksonville, and after
that shooting for prizes. The festival will
close this afternoon with grand final cho-
rus which, no doubt, Will mark the conclu-
sion OF an open-air celebration which has
no counterpart IN all America ana mas
come to be as much OF q characteristic
Californian fete as the forest jinks of the
Bohemian Club.
The Harmonic Verein is the leading Ger
man singing society in California, number
ing among its active and enthusiastic mem
bers many of the most prominent German
citizens of San Francisco. Those present
were:
Henry Plagemann, president; Julius Never,
vice-president; s. Blum, secretary; Henry
Droeger, financial secretary; William Won Wan
kowski, treasurer; Professor Franz Fisher,
director; William Lewe; Albert hayser. H.
Roseub baum, II. Won Konsky, Robert W1eneke.
Carl Roller, Adam Miller, Peter Herder, H:
Saunders, H. kandrian H. Wreden, John
Lasker. Charles kirehner, Adam Brehm,
Il. Pankow, Christ Hansen, H. Evers,
L. Schumacher, f. Schoettler, Charles
Niquet, Charles stepp, John Augustini,
William stapf, Herman Sehafer, George scha-
dolph Mohr, Adolph Becker, A. Wrinkle, c.
KreckeT, II. kistenmGcher, c. Schuett, Philip
Kiefer, c. REIN. Henry Hoch, Robert Benlow
Henry Helfrich, 5. Levy, F. Plagemann, C.Erb,
Joseph Budde, George YoltZ, W. Rustmeyer,
W Schroeder. August VESSEL, J. Goldstein, Fred
Miller, Judge Bahrs, Frank Elsie, f. Feustel
William Ehrenfort, George Clements, William
Goez Joseph Hirschback, Bernard Jaulus and
Z. GuttersOn.
Committee of Arrangements-Julius Meyer,
chairman; William Won Wankowski, Robert
Wieneke, Phillip Miller, H.. Pankow, Max
Denow, Lewis Roesch, S. Levi, S. Blum, John
Plagemann, H. Hauser, Hans Veroni
When they arrived Saturday they found
themselves in the heart of the redwoods,
where Mr.. Roster has his summer resi-
dence, Just six miles from Boulder Creek.
their accommodation. Tents were pitched
in the yard and in open places, and each
was given the name of a San Francisco
hotel which fact occaSioned endless mer-
riment during the night. Tables were
erected among cluster of redwood giants,
and there city caterer and his men pro-
vided good things to eat and drink in pro-
fusion, while fruits and ranch dellcacles
were supplied from Mr.. Rosters stores.
Lunch was served at 2:30 P. NJ, and when
all had refreshed themselves President
Plagemann delivered an address, intro
ducing the host in fattering words, and
thanking him on behalf of the verein for
his cordial invitation and his kindness.
Professor Fisher lifted his baton and the
singers gave Itch Gruesse Dich' ('1 Greet
YOU'D. The insignia of the presidents
office was given Mr.. koster-a crimson
ribbon, with large jeweled Maltese cross,
which was hung around his neck to signify
that the host was head of,sthe verein
throughout the festival. Mr. Roster re-
sponded, saying he was happy to see so
MANY prominent German citizens on his
place, and bidding them welcome. The
verein sang "Dein Wohl, Mein Leibchen, "
and scattered through the vineyard, or
chard and the ma estic groves.
The event of the festival took place late
at night when the gardens and redwoods
were decorated with strings of lamps and
Japanese lanterns and great bonfire
threw its shafts of light over the animated
scene. 1t was then a strange and impress
sive spectacle.
On a stage that had mighty trees for
wings and dense green youngsters of the
woods for scenes a comedy entitled
"Tyrannus Octopus" by Hans Veroni Of
the San Francisco Abend Post, was en-
acted. The characters were Major Dom
Cos, explainer, Robert Barth; Tyrannus
NV
Hans Veroni; Fidelio, his son, dude. S.
Blum; Huntington, chancellor to the
octopus, William Schroeder; Oberon, King
of the Els, H. Hauser; Diana, his
daughter, Louis Roesch; high priest,
Charles Erb; Croker, servant of URANUS.
Adam Brehm; Oscaricus and Henricus,
sheriffs, William Rosenbaum and +.
Goebel; Jocus Hummer, tramp, Max
Denow; Saui Serge, fallen beauty, Sam
Levi. Soldiers, hunters. priests, funeral
directors, knights, people-and fresh air.
Scene, Boulder Creek.
In the character of Tyrannus Octopus
Hans Veroni appeared on the stage as a
Greek king welding the scepter OF supreme
authority.
"Here am I happy" he began. Here /
feel so well, for l can tyrannize every
hour. What can l do for my people to
make them happy? Ha! the best thing is
to raise the rates. Forsooth l cannot
understand my people. In the last cleo
ton for mental officers of my great State
they voted against me! Aha! my people,
what say your and smaller are my friends.
Though in this, my fair metropolis, my
City, San Francisco, have / not my
'Soliden Acht?' ] have put Hirsch in my
garden, and then with Morgenstern, Wag-
ner and Bunker l own the four-leaved
clover that brings me all good luck. What
want / more2 Hirsch-a goat for the
garden-the goat destroys the garden.
BAH
In depression Tyrannus declared the
German people of San Francisco were
sorry to see that four Germans belonged
10 der Soliden Acht"; sorry to say that
these men forgot their duty and their
promises. But Germans caused him sore
distress from other quarters, for was not
Claus Spreckels building the Valley Road
and Sutro an electric railway that will as
sure continuance of Scent fares TO the
ocean. He asked why Governor Budd had
proclaimed against permitting foreign So
cieties to parade with foreign flags when
the German-American veterans nov visit
ing the Fatheriand were allowed to carry
the Stars and Stripes and multitudes in
German cities took off their hats to the
emblem of America. There were many
similar timely sllits which excited great