The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-05-21
UNITED SINGERS OF CITY
They Will Contest at Nilkes-Barrt
on June II and II.
HISTORY or PAST EISrEDDFODs
1t Shows That Whenever Scranton Sing ers
Have Lost They Have Been Divided
Against Themselyes-W Have Now
Ono Harmonious Organization.

Against tTheinselycs-Wc Have NOW
Ono Harmonious Organization.
On June II and 12 an eisteddfod will
be held at Wilkes-Barre that will be
famous In the annals Of such musical
events In this valley. 1t is attracting
the greatest attention in this state, and
ever far outside of the confines Of the
Keystone commonwealth, because the
big cholrs of Scranton and Wilkes
Barre will be pitted against one another
for the two great prizes, the first of
which Is $1,000, and the second $500.
For the first time in years Scranton
Will go into the contest with one united
choir, which Is no little factor in awak-
ening great interest, for IL the Electric
City could send such wonderful singers
as the Cymrodorions and members Of
the Choral union to the Worlds Fair
and win the big prize when divided
against themselves, what ought they
not be able to do with one harmonious
organization Of carefully selected and
trained singers to meet the common
enemy.
1t has. unfortunately. been the fact
that rarely have the singers OF the
city laid factionism aside for the musi-
| cal advancement of the city as they
have at present The history of the
eisteddfod of this region proves this.
In 1876 the first big eisteddfod was held
In this city in a tent owned by Gilmore,
the famous bandmaster, which had a
seating capacity of 5000. 1t was pitched
tI,a
of spirited contests.
Three Scranton Choirs.
Three Scranton choirs competed, one
under the leadership Of Robert j.
James, father of Hector James; Sec
ond under the leadership of G.. M. Will
liams now mine inspector of Luzerne
county, while the third was directed
by Robert Jones. father of T. Reeves
Jones, the eminent pianist. There was
one choir from Wilkes-Barre and two
from Plymouth, but the big prize was
won by Robert ]. James choir, and the
second by the singers led by Robert
Jones.
In 1880 another eisteddfod was held
on the West Side under the auspicies
of the Welsh Philosophical society. A
pavilion, capable of seating 5000 per-
sons, was erected, and in this the con-
tests took place. Again Scranton en-
tered three choirs for the leading prizes,
two from the West Side and one from
Providence. A West Side choir, led by
William Evans, father of Hadyn Evans,
was the victor. 1t was at this eistedd-
fod that Bauer's band first entered in
a competition, and made itself famous
by winning the prize for the best rendi-
tion Of 1.-The Heavens are Telling"
The Lackawanna rink, on Adams
avenue, was the scene of the next big
eisteddfod, which was held in 1885.
Two Scranton choirs were opposed by a
Plymouth choir for the chief prize, and
the latter won to the lasting regret of
Scranton music lovers, who knew that
If but one Scranton choir had entered,
culled from the best material in the
| two, It's victory would have been de-
| cisive.
Victory in Philadelphia.
The bi-centennial caused a big els
teddfod to be held in Philadelphia in
1887, one of the biggest in the history
of the country. The chief prize was
$1,000, and Scranton sent one choir to
oppose others from Schuylkill county,
Plymouth and Wilkes-Barre Scran-
toms representatives. under the leader
ship of Howell 7. Jones, carried the
big prize, but in 1888 another eisteddfod
was held in Philadelphia, and this time
Scranton sent down two choirs, and
allowed Plymouth to capture the chief
prize.
Two choirs went to Wilkes Barre
from the West Side in 1891. One under
the leadership of Professor Daniel
Protheroe, known as the Cymrodorions,
the other led by Haydn Evans. Proth-
eroe's choir won, but two years later
the choirs of the same conductors met
at the Worlds fair. in Chicago, and
this time Mr.. Evans was the victor.
Scranton spent upwards Of $4,000 to
send these rival choirs to Chicago, and
beside the great expenditure Of money
much bitterness of feeling was en-
gendered among the singers. To soften
and obliterate this rivalry has been the
aim of many good men since, and they
have been so successful that the Scran-
ton United Choral society," under the
leadership of John T. Watkins, rs the
result. 1t is great musical organiza-
tion, made UP of the best voices Of the
old choirs and If properly supported by
the people of Scranton is sure to win
great fame for the Electric City.
Names of the Committee.
The gentlemen at the head Of the or
ganization have spared no labor or ef-
fort Of any kind to bring about the
present harmonious condition of affairs
and to assist them m the work of plac-
In the choir on firm, permanent foot
ing the following general committee
has been appointed:
William Connell, John Jermyn, w.
II. Smith, o. s. Johnson, e. N. Will
lard, =. B. Sturges, T. H. Watkins,
c. d. Simpson, Reese G. Brooks, p
8. Page, ]. T. Beetem, Honorable
Judge Edwards, Honorable John H.
Fellows, Honorable w. ]. Lewis, Honor
able John F.. Barrett. Honorable ]. A.
Scranton, Captain w. A. May, s. p.
Fenner, d. M. Jones, ID. w. Powell,
John T. Williams, T. d. Davis, ex-