The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-10-07

man of the quality of Put Dana, these shall
"follow as the night the day."
THE BANCROFT TESTIMONIAL.
On the evening of September 30, large
audience assembled in Blanchard Opera
House to listen to Frederick w. Bancroft
in his "Songs Of Home and Country "a
testimonial concert, arranged by his friends,
as some slight expression of their apprecia-
ton of his was public spirit in the years
Of his residence among them, and OF their
sorrow that he was about to leave them.
This selection had been made from his
four ballad recitals as especially suited to
the character of the occasion. The stage
had been beautifully decorated, under the
superintendence of Mrs. M, e. Smile. A
background of palms and delicate locust
branches was relieved by masses OF
starry yellow blossom, while ferns and
yellow roses were, by an unerring ar
tistic instinct disposed about the stage.
The Montpelier Orchestra, under the lead
ership of Mr.. George e. White Told asso-
ciates of Mr.. Bancroft, with whom he had
sung again and AGAIN., played several se
lections with excellent taste and feeling.
When Mr.. Bancroft came upon the stage,
he was enthusiastically received. He be-
gan his lecture by dwelling upon the pow
| erty of the material with which he had to
deal, and by reminding his audience that
| America has neither national song, prop
|
songs; for the latter belong to the infancy
of race, and we, az a nation, were born
"of full age" In spite, however, of this
dearth OF musical achievement, it became
at once apparent that Mr.. Bancroft, had
compiled lecture full of interest and va
riety. Touching upon certain obscure In
dian airs, he continued with selections com
prisng many old, half-forgotten favorites
which had years ago been common at the
Preside, or whistled or sung in the streets,
| Guua Hnrna1 xuaa tonahipu1u
dered, inevitably suggesting to every mem
Der of the audience the intimate personal
character of the gathering, and the empha-
sis with which the familiar words must that
night have appealed to the singer,
Kathleen Mavourneen brought up
some especially interesting recollections of
Professor Crouch, the composer, whom Mr..
Bancroft had met, and who, in his old age
and with the ghost OF voice, had sung for
the young man the song which had earned
no reward OF money, but only the keen
pleasure inseparable from popularity. The
artist went on, after the heartbreaking emo
ton Of the "Old Kentucky Home" to
"Dixie and my Maryland" and then
diverged to the patriotic airs of other ma
tions, from Portant pour la Syrie" to the
splendid insistent phrases of " Die Yacht
am Rhein - and the stirring periods Of the
Marseillaise One of the best features OF
the evening was his exquisite rendering OF
&" The Wearing of the Green given by re-
Qutbl), luuO WuiCli ny SOhO happy
ton which seems ever new, he throws all
the longing and pathos of most distress
full country" The concert ended with the
song, 1.-THE Sword of Bunker HILL" given
with much fire and vigor. The evening had
proved delightful one though tinged at
every point by the sadness inseparable
from the thought that this was the last time
for many months in which Montpelier would
listen to her beloved tenor. Applause was
frequent, but oftener still came the tribute
of wet eyes and quickened breath
At the close of the entertainment most OF
the audience repaired to the brilliantly
lighted rooms of the Apollo Club, where an
informal reception was held. Mr.. Bancroft
moved about the rooms greeting old friends
receiving congratulations on the high-water
mark of his achievement and often
expressed regrets at his approaching de.
parture, while the Montpelier orchestra
again played appropriate selections. In a
significant pause, Professor Joseph A.
DeBoer advanced, and, in an excellent
speech of well-considered phrases, pre-
sented Mr. Bancroft with the undiminished
proceeds of the evening. Mr.. DeBoer re-
ferred not only to Montpelier's pride in Mr.
Bancroft's musical ability and the perfection
which his art had reached, but to its recog-
milton of the fact that he had, in long
course of years, been so unfailingly gener-
GUS in the use of the talent confided to him
He had sung for whomsoever had needed OF
asked it; no plea had ever been offered in
vain. But, altnOugn tnOSe WnOm ne was
about to leave had believed they had nei-
ther his gift nor, perhaps, the opportunity
of cultivating what little talent they might
possess, they were at least rich in apprecia-
ton. They could estimate his endowment
and they knew what they were about tC
lose, for only the material goods of life may
be left behind. When man takes his de-
parture, his houses and lands remain, but
the intangible graces of the mind and soul
J abide with him, and can neither be loaned
nor transferred. Therefore the loss of 6
man greatly gifted is loss indeed. In con
, clusion, Mr.. DeBoer assured Mr.. Bancroft
of the loyal friendship felt for him by his
native town, and in happy paraphrase de-
clared that, although 1--WE may forget the
song, we shall not forget the singer"
Mr.. Bancroft was much moved in reply
ing, but his few words were spoken with 6
simple and natural dignity which empha
sized the fact that they came straight from
the heart. He thanked his friends ant
townsmen not only for this present testi
monial of their affection, but for the un
falling encouragement and appreciation
which they had accorded him in the past
He ended by assuring them, in burst o
, spontaneous feeling, that If their welcome
were likely to prove half 80 warm as thei
} farewell, he should long to come back
Reluctant good-byes were spoken, ending
an occasion which had been unique ant
perfect in every respect