The sun., 1896-12-10
SINGS IN CONCERT AT 81.
AGED IA ATID l.. HORTON IN THE
FLUSHIE8 OPERA HOUSE.

Tho Veteran Choir Leader OF South old
Church Eaioys . Cantata sung by
Glass OF YonnGsters and Shows Then
How 60 STAG "Ths New Jerusalen."
In the little opera house on Bridge street,
Flushing, l.. l.. last evening David Laurens
Horton, who 10 in his ninety first year, sang two
hymns and entertained q select audience. The
occasion was q concert given By his daughter.
Mrs Meta Horton Cook, who is q music
teacher In Flushing. Despite his advanced
ago. Mr.. Horton has possession Of all his
faculties. and 10 much moro spry than
many men who are twenty years younger than
he. His whole life has been devoted mainly to
sacred music and song. and although ho coupled
the occupation Of farmer with his vocal efforts,
It 10 only within recent years that he re-
tired from active work In the choir of the
village church at Southold, in which place
he has spent his life. Although he
stoops slightly In the shoulders and walks with
n slight limp In tho right foot. Mr.. Horton 10 q
remarkably well-preserved man. His COM
pleklon is clear and healthy and HE eyes are
bright. He has q high forehead and long.
aquiline nose. and he wears o neatly trimmed
full beard. His hair. which 10 quite long. and
his beard are snow white but he is far from
looking as old as he is.
Mr.. Horton sat In the front row and appeared
to enjoy the singing Of cantata called Tho
Flower Queen" by twenty of Mrs. Cooks girl
pupils, as much as any body in the hall. The
girls RANGED in years from to II. and the young
est particularly amused Mr.. Horton with their
ingenuousness. He chuckled several times as
one or another OF the little tots was striving to
sing her part with frightened attempts at ges-
tculation.
Tho stage was neatly decorated with ever
green boughs and winter plants.
After the little girls had sung the first part OF
their oontata Mr.. Horton was conducted to the
and Miss Annie L. Gaston.
He mounted the short hight of steps leading
after few moments Of delay In removing the
overcoat which he wore he appeared on the
MIR. Ellis, baritone and Miss Ray smith. alto.
There was chair In the centre of the stage
sna M Il Sppns bas pMn. foa %
iefred plain wooden ehsir, which va. quickly
led the quarts il .iSeins The 81 New Jorassie%."
singing by striking his right index, fingers on
the bars as he went along and stamping his left
quito strong. He did not falter a moment but
sang steadily through the whole stanza. After
Of the hearty " applause which crested bis effort
walked of the stage unassisted.
1t was thought that one song would tax Mr.
csiye that he consented to Sing again and
walked out as before in response to the encore.
His next hymn was How Long. Dear Saviour"
which he sang almost wholly alone. After the
singing he walked down to his seat and en-
Joyed the crowning of tho Flower Queen.
II began to sing when was quito lad" said
Mr.. Horton afterward. My father was di.
rector of the choir in our village church, and
wax anxious that should succeed him. When
was years old was selected to lead tho choir,
and for nearly fifty years continued to do SO.
l was never sick In my life until last winter.
when had an attack Of grip. ! was laid up for
Elk weeks. Miss CASTOR nursed me through 1t.
and have felt all right 90 far this winter. Most
every body thought WAS going to die. but
pulled through all right" said he. with n smile.
II have spent my whole life in southold. and
have never been further away from there than
Nantucket in the east and Newburgh in tho
west never used tobacco or LIQUOR In my life.
and have never been inside OF saloon. Up till
lew years ago did not have to use glasses. and
only them now whom read can write
without using glasses. and do most anything
else. did not use them tonight because /
know the words of those songs by heart and
Just held tho book to keep the music right. l
practise singing right along. My daughter helps
me. and go to bed early at night ana get up
carly In the morning"
AS he concluded Mr.. Horton smiled again and
nodded his head proudly. He sang In public at
the Southold centennial celebration when he
was s5 years old His daughter. Mrs Meta Hor-
ton Cook. ia a graduate Of the Boston Conserve
tory Of Music.