The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1899-02-02
"Under the Palms,
The Cantata Given at the First Baptist
Church Tuesday Evening.

The Cantata Given at the First Baptist
Church. Tuesday Evening.
The cantata Under the Palms. which
the members of the First Baptist society
and others associated with them have
been rehearsing for several weeks past
was given Tuesday evening, under the
direction and II D. ruciion of Mrs. Philo
Steward at the First Baptist church.
Though the evening was a cold one, the
ardor of the people to listen 10 an enter
ment of this kind readily overcome that
oil lection and before the hour of begin
ming the church was filled and settees
were placed in the aisles to accommodate
those who could not be seated in the
pews.
The pulpit was removed and the plat
form extended forward aud to both
sides to make room for he singers,
booths and decorations. On the left
side OF the rostrum were booths and on
the right side pine and representation of
x
tastefuly arranged, the whole intending
to assist In the portrayal of scenes OF the
return of the Jews from captivity to
Jerusalem, b. C. 457. The chorus con-
sisted of nearly fifty voices including
the children, and the costumes which re-
sembled those used In ancient times
were very attractive and odd.
The cantata Is a popular production of
Geo. L. Root and those who have heard
1t before In large cities speak OF the rem.
dering of 1t here In very complimentary
terms. Those who have never before
enjoyed listening to 1t, were very atten-
tive and the warm appreciation of the
audience was shown by the hearty APP
plaud given the parts.
Certain phases of Jewish history in
explanation of the story of the cantata
were given, before the musical feature
was entered upon, by Mrs. John Murray,
and later, in the proper order, Mrs. f..
w. Marble recited poem to which there
was response by the chorus.
Mrs. Philo Steward took the part Of
Miriam and in the solos her POWERFUL
rich voice filled the church and was
heartily enjoyed by music loving people,
present. Among the other soloists were
Mrs. W. j. Estabrook, Misses Fannie
Webb, Hattie Marble, Flossie knights,
Elsie Walton, Eldena Smith, Florence
Wyman and Ethel Wentworth, Messrs.
M. g. Baker, j. n. Smith, Elmer Harris
and Harry Palmer. Many of these dis
played exceptionally pleasing voices and
showed the result of careful training
Mention ought also to be made of sew
eral of the duets and quartettes, the
participants being selected from the
chorus because of the harmonious blend
ing of their voices.
The work of the chorus WIS admirable
and RI flected great credit upon Mrs.
Steward, the leader and disciplinarian
thereof. We are proud of the achieve
ment, particularly of the young people
composing this organization, as dem
onstrated by this entertainment. They
must have given much tine, close at
tention and great patience to the work
otherwise their success would not have
been 80 marked.
The instrumental part of the program
was we'll sustained. Miss Annie Allen
presided at the organ, Miss Mary Good
win and Mrs. Philo Steward alternately
presided ut the piano and Mr.. Henry X.
Huse, of Newton Theological Institute,
who occupied the First Baptist pulpit,
Sunday last, assisted in several parts on
the flute, all with good taste and .ff'c-
tive renderiog of difficult passages.
The entertainment as q whole in de-
tail, in conception, arrangement and ex-
ecution, was a pronounced success, and
credit to those who did the large
amount of work necessary to make it
succeed.