The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1898-01-21
ENTERTAINMENTS.

cannot WlCn6SS more OF Sucn Cndfm-
ing programs as was rendered there
last Friday evening.
1t was miserably mean weather;
the wind blew a gale and the rain
poured in torrents, and the night
was as black as ink. But with all
that some two hundred people dared
the elements rather than miss the
treat in store. In the audience were
more than twenty of the Institute
ladies, and as many more from the
Mcdowell school, and both Prof.
Merrill and Mr.. Moore felt greatly
complimeDted by their presence.
The program was in every particu-
lar delightful; varied, not too long,
and every number rendered by an
artist. Prof. Merrill's interpreta-
ton of Mr.. Moore's work gave new
charm to these delightful "songs
and stories," and the cultured au-
thor himself says that he wondered
at times himself if he had indeed
written the things. The HERALD
will not venture suggestion as to
which of his selections were the
best, they were all so good; his con-
ception so perfect and his art so ma
tural. In hearing him read we for
got the reader In the naturalness of
his art, and saw only the characters
as they lived and talked, laughed
or wept, rode on that staggering
terrible ride across the plains on Old
Tennessee, or won, with Old Mistis,
the greatest race ever run on Ten
nessee soil. A great critic has said
that simplicity is greatness, and in
all his interpretations Prof. Merrill
has proven the saying to be true.
Free from stage acting, from unnec-
essary display, from the tricks Of
smaller artists and the showiness of
lesser spirits, he rises, in each and
every instance at once into the art
of a happy conception of his charac-
tiers and puts them before his audi
ence in the simplicity of truth and
with the unerring instinct of a mas
ter. His voice is wonderful in its
versatility, his expression equal to
any demands and his gesticulation
simple, easy and natural. ~ t.i
Barring Prof. Merrill, it was dis
tinctly night of Columbia talent !;
Mrs. Henry o. Fulton on the piano,
Miss Elizabeth Dale and Mrs. For
gey with their sweet songs, Prof. j.
Hough Guest, on the violin, accom-
panied by Miss Camille Herndon
all of whom sustained fully their
well earned regulations in their re-
spective lines, and added additional
fame to their names. Mrs. Fulton
is pianist of rare touch and tech
nique, of great scope and depth, and
acquitted herself bea utifully upon
this occasion; Mrs. Forgey and Miss
Dale, both of whom have more than
local reputation as "Columbia' g
song BIRDS" never more richly de-
served the enthusiastic encores they
received. Miss Dale's selections
were not difficult but wonderfully
sweet, and she never looked pref
tier nor sang sweeterin herlife. Mrs.
FOrgey had not sang in public for
some two years, and the audience,
many of whom had been attracted
by her name on the program, were
hungry for the music of her voice.
Her first selection was most diff
cult aria, which showed to advan-
tage the training and wonderful
flexibility of her beautiful voice, but
her encores, sweet, simple and
catchy, were possibly more enjoyed
Prof. Guest is genius of whom his
native town is proud. 1t is probable
that not so good violinist for his
age exists in the South, as this
young man, reared in Columbia
and who has spent so many years in
study, perfecting himself in his art
Miss Herndon is great favOrite in
Columbia, where her talents are
highly appreciated, and her friends
were glad to welcome her again af.
ter her long silence.
But "Trotwood" inspired it all
But for his genius there would have
been none of it. He was the back.
ground to the beautiful picture, anC
it was the master stroke of his magic
pen that wakened the music Of
our song birds and gave a melody to
the voice of the reader. Mr.. Moore
Will wake up famous some of these
days. Such purity of thought, such
simplicity of expression, such melt
ing pathos, such truly poetic songs
and stories, will grow into the
minds and hearts of the readers O.
good and wholesome literature, anC
live forever. 5000
PROGRAM.
. piano Solo Mrs IT n En1ton