The herald., 1898-05-10
EVENING OF OFfNTHUSIASM
SPEECHES BY BURT ESTES HOW.
ARD AND JUDGE HARRIS
NATIVE TALENT AND MUSIC
Miss Mary Linck's Most Successful
IL Debut in This oity-The Good
Work Of the Band

The Los Angeles theater was the scene
Of memorable gathering last night, not
by reason of numbers. for the audience in
that respect was not equal to the occasion,
but because of the earnest spirit of pa
triotism that filled even the empty seats
and at times swelled to an irresistible en-
thusiasm. Both pains and money had been
spent on the program, the substance of
which had been originally planned for the
concert Of La Fiesta. The management
subsequently decided to convert the occa-
sion into one Of distinctly patriotic sig
nificance. The concert, both on its own
merits and on account of the object. should
have been better patronized.
1t is not much use arranging a concert
in the Los Angeles theater to begin at $
o'clock, for 1t is quite certain that the
audience will not be seated by s:15. This
fact somewhat marred the effect Of the
opening number. a march dedicated to
Gen. Rosecrans. composed by Geo. Cann
the leader Of the Seventh regiment band.
and interfered with the delivery of Rev
Burt Estes Howards splendid oratory
The two orators of the evening, Mr.. How
ard and Judge VIII A. Harris, could not
have been more happily chosen. Mr.. How
ards address was fine example Of schol-
arly and thoughtful rhetoric, convincing
in its almost prophetic force and inspiring
in its fervor. Judge Harris was introduced
in happy fashion by Col. H. G. OTIS who
presided. 1.-THE son Of the south" immedi-
ately compelled the closest attention of
the audience, his impassioned speech strik-
ing home to all hearts and his jealous
words of patriotism finding a ready echo
Of enthusiasm. +
\ The musical part Of the program was
chiefly remarkable for three things: the
debut In this city Of Miss Mary Linck
the surprising playing Of the Seventh
regiment band, and the introduction of
the compositions Of four local musicians
George Cam, +. w. Blanchard Frederick
Stevenson and Dion Romandy. Miss
Linck, who is gifted with contralto voice
of rare power and clarity, scored a genu-
Inc and deserved success. At her first ap-
pearance she sang two operatic airs, and
later in the program delighted the house
with "The Star-Spangled Banner" and
"Suwanee River" The Seventh regiment
band, of about forty pieces, gave a most
gratifying account Of itself, and 1t is
strange indeed II a city of Los Angeles
size cannot support so worthy an organ
ization. Mr.. Blanchard, to whose energy
the success Of the concert was largely
due. was responsible for two numbers on
the program: a spirited national song
rendered by Mrs. Frank Colby and chorus
the soloist nobly consentins 10 take the
place of DR.. Semler at the eleventh hour
and the intermexzo from his opera "Co-
sita," which is now in the hands of the
Bostonians.
George Cam led his band with adroit-
ness and skill, and Mr.. Stevenson proved
himself to be conductor of great merit,
his own May Day" chorus going with
capital spirit and swing. j. Bond Fran
,isco played couple of violin selections
with his accustomed skill, and r. f.
Rowan, jr., sang Rubinstein's "Yearn-
lngs" and a song entitled "Old Glory"
the words by H. L. Flash and the music
by Dion Romandy, both of this city. The
chorus deserves more than passing word
of praise for its jealous efforts.
Rev. Howard's Address
In times like this, when the very air is
charged with the patriotic spirit, there is
small need for speech to stir the American
heart with sentiments of devotion to his
out from wars hoarse trump, a single
call to arms, and a nation stood upon its
feet and answered "Here!" The pulse
beat of ten million loyal sons is the drum
beat of this countrys army of defense.
There Is little danger that the men Of
this land shall be found wanting In the
high courage which counts not its life dear
when the time has come to face its enc
mics or defend It's flag. But there is dan
ger that the roar Of battle shall so fill our
ears as to make us deaf to the gentle voice
of civic duty which summons us to the
divine patriotism of peace, and that the
smoke of conflict shall blind our vision to
the larger lines on which our divine des-
tiny is taking shape. That upon this peo-
pie, in the providence of God. is laid the
vestment Of a mighty priesthood among
the nations of the earth 1 cannot doubt
No country in all the recorded ages has
been so manifestly fitted and ordained to
be the anointed of the Almighty in full
filling the destiny Of humankind
Europe was all la-tremble with that omin-
Gus nervousness which preeedes a mighty
convulsion when Columbus pushed boldly
out into the unknown western waters All
over the continent, and In England as we'll.
an uneasy people moved with feverish
restlesspess under the yoke Of repression
that CALLED their necks. The human mind,
bound long years with the fetters of big
otry and ignorance. drank deep draughts
at the Pierian spring of Grecian letters,
and in the stimulus of its new-found pow
ers, turned with resistless impetus to lib
erty of thought. Luther, the Apostle of
the New Age. was but lad of years,
playing with the toys in his fathers house,
but the blood Of Wyclif and Huss and Je-
rome Of Prague was crying from the
ground against the existing order Like
lightning flashes that leap out of the
darkening west when the storm god ga tn
ers his awful might and crouches for his
spring, the flames OF a thousand martyr
stakes were presaging the coming Of a
tempest whose fury was to shake all Eu-
rope from its center to its uttermost bor-
ders. The invention Of paper and the art
of printing gave to the new Spirit of Civ
ilization its medium of utterance, and
Thought received Its pentecost in a gift of
tongues.
With the human mind quickened and
quivering with new strength and new as
pirations, with the press scattering the
new gospel of liberty like golden grail,
among the people. the Age stood girded