The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-04-13
TIE FUTURE OF THE G0UN0D
Continued from First Page,)

(Continued from First Page,) However, If throwing boomerangs affords amusement in any quarter let it continue. It would seem that the Gounod society has shown that it can stand up very cheerfully against this sort of warfare, and we shall, trust, go on standing long after the throwers are tired out.
 Just note of warning, though, about another sort of warfare more hurtful than shafts from the outside, and one from which the society can receive in finite harm. Internal dissension! Be- ware of that! Inevitable shipwreck follows in it's wake. We have not yet been caught in it's tolls, and we shall not be if we just coddle wisdom and prudence. It is one of the creditable and rare things about the Gounod so- ciey that during it's entire existence it has never been seriously threatened from within. Slight misunderstanding have occasionally arisen, only to pass away like the mists, and all through these back-lying years we have steadi- ly pursued our course with the one aim in view of contributing what little we might to the sum total of human prog ress here in our small corner of the earth. It seems to me, moreover, that we have strictly minded our business. We have chung to certain policy, found it successful and have no desire to alter it. Therefore, we are at loss to account for certain stories floating about, with a plausible semi-official air, some of which have found their way into the newspapers. They bear the marks of consanguinity and probably emanate from the same source. Twang- ing the minor string they run to the effect tha the Goudnod society is in a bad way. Such trifiing misstatements of fact are included as that the society has not paid it's way for the past six years, and that It's deficits have been made up by a certain number Ef the society, all of which will be news hot from the mint to most of us. And they lead us into still further depths of woe by solemnly deelarhg-to quote yer
 batim-"that it is generally understood the veteran Agramonte will retire this season. etc. Notice, please, the gratuitous and crushing emphasis laid on the word "Veteran!" How is it possible for a man to be of any further use in this world after he has become veteran" q am glad to be in | formed on such reliable authority that | ten years of service constitutes a veteran Most of the rest of us ! must be rapidly verging towards this condition.) Other wonderful tales are told in the newspapers, too, but, fellow
 members, can you not see that, one and all, they are simply a device to part and separate us? That they emanate from sources outside the society it can positively be asserted If any of you have been inclined to believe other wise, let me correct you The spirit in them is not the spirit of the Gounod society. It is not the spirit of your re- 1 tiring board of directors Speaking for each one of my fellow members, let me 1 say frankly that any implication that l We are directly or indirectly responsi- l ble for these stories would be sa great l injustice I can go further and say | that not a single member is in sympa- | thy with them or ever has been We | are loyal to the society's best interests l and propose as individual members to l stand by that man who through all l these successive years by giving us SC | freely of his talents has placed the | chorus in the front rank If MT. Agra monte has not largely made our repu- | tation we challenge anyone to point tc 1 any other source of our success,
 | These are the sentiments of your ! board, and with this We leave you | The guest of the evening, MT Agra l monte, presided and made a short ad | dress The announcement of his ap' l pearance was the occasion for long anc
 hearty applause, and it was an indica- ! tion of the regard and esteem whicf the society feels for it's leader and the existing bond of affection between MT Agramonte and his singers. He ex' pressed delight at meeting his co-Work CTS once again, and spoke interestingly on their future promising career. Ht
 suggested that the society put on two
 concerts next year, one without the or chestra to further show the abilities
 of the society, which at the present day is conceded to be on a better footing than ever before.
 Many letters were received from tht friends of the society. Miss Stein, wht sang with the society in the recent ora
 torio of Samson and Delilah," wrote
 that rarely had she heard a chorus | more beautifully rendered. It was { pleasure to sing with such a back ground.
 A. Parker Brown president of tht
 Handel and Haydn society, and G. W
 Stewart of the Boston Festival orches tra wrote commendatory letters.
 MT. Agramonte dwelt long on the fol
 lowing letter received by him from Pro lessor Horatio W. Parker:
 Dear Mir. Agramonte-"I want to tel you l took great pleasure and satisfac
 ton in the performance. The work wa
 excellently well given, and you hay, every reason to be proud of the chorus Allow me to congratulate you on tn
 very artistic results attained, and t.
 wish you, from all my heart. simila
 success in the future, with more heart.
 support from the public
 Very sincerely yours,
 "HORATIO w. PARKER"
 In concluding his remarks Mir Agra
 monte said the above letter bore extrt
 significance. coming as it does from
 man of Professor Parker's musica
 qualifications.
 | I2CE-TN yyrTT,IJ DADF7