River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-09-02
We Olde Eolkes Concerto.


The Old Folks Concert drew a
crowded house at "Thelander's Great
Hail. last Thursday evening, and
added upwards of seventy dollars 20
the building fund Of the new Nj. T..
church. People from town and all
over the countryside were eager to
see picture Of We olden times and to
hear its glOries celebrated in song. So
when the curtain went up at shortly
after eight. and disclosed the
company of about % singers faithfully
costumed, the old people in the pit
nudged each other with approval and
the young folks laughed outright at
thought of the spectacle their grand
fathers must have presented in pig
tails, knickerbOckers and stock-ties.
For the costumes and make-ups in
nearly every instance were cleyerly
carried out, and that too, without
exaggeration or any suggestion of the
green-room. The frills and furbelUws
were there, the huge ornamental hair
comb, the poke bonnet, the hoop skirt
WITH us rs widths. the periwig, brass
buckles and claw-hammer coats. And
With all this exhibition of colonial old
clothes went an air Of puritanic
starchiness and sanctimOnious self
approval The old times were given
a very fair showing, but with just
in n
everybody feel that though they were
| all right in their day they cut rather
sorry figure beside the year of our
Lord 1897, when the women dress
vastly prettier and the men have cast
aside their romantic togs for harness
that's far better suited to a contented
draft horse.
The chorus singing, in view of the
limited time Of practice, was sur
prisingly good and whether lively OF
grave produced the effect desired
David's Lame so delicate both in
its time and feeling, was exceptional
| ly well done. But il was in the part
songs that e olde folkes got the best
| hold upon their audience. Cal
john by Mrs. Toby. Mrs. Powell and
MessrS. Rasmussen and Armstrong
was decidedly happy in its effects and
"Old John Cross" by Misses johnson
and Chapm an and Messrs. Fuller anC
Glass, also brought its need of ap-
plause. The duet by Mr.. and Mrs
Hurlburt was another bit of part
singing.
Probably the hit Of the evening wa:
made by ''ye six little maids
| Daniels, Sadie Norum, lnez Toby
Allie Griffin, Bessie Hatch and MablC
Hallett-who came out with emphatic
curtsies, dressed in pantalets and
| prim finery, and got an encore fol
their pretty behavior in singing
Mountain Maids Invitation The
duet by Mrs. Powell and Mr.. Pratt
was another piece that warmed the
| hearts of its hearers, though in some
what different fashion. These two
| voices, always sweet and sincere, and al
times peculiarly affectingin emotiona
force, touched delicate key in sing
ing days that Have Gone Seem the
Brightest" and the piece made a
charming impression. Some of the
solos were also happily rendered
notably those of Mrs. Radcliff anC
Miss Williams.
Much of the credit for the enter
tainment is due Mrs. Toby who not
only drilled the choruses and super
vised the concert, but practically
compiled the program as it was
given. The clever circular, distribute
ed before the concert, was also hel
device. Another feature that added
to the success of the concert was the
happy willingness of the other
churches to cooperate with the
Methodists in the cause of their new
building.