The Leon reporter., 1900-12-06
A Small Company of Stars.

The Mexico, Mo-, Daily lntelIlgencer
of Oct. 30, speaks as follows in regard
to the Quaker Male Quartet which ap.
pears in Leon on Friday evening. Dec.
IA. They come under the auspices of
the Slayton Lyceum Bureau and are one
of the attractions in the Slayton course
of entertainments secured by Manager
Van Werden:
"Messrs. Buckley & Barnes are to be
congratulated upon the style of enter
tainment, and its excellency, which
opened up their Lyceum Course season
here on last Saturday evening. The
Quaker Male Quartet Co. was a pro-
nounced 1avorite with the audience of
that evening, which can truly be said
was an appreciatlve one. The mem
bers of the quartet are all polished sing
ers and control superb voices which
blend so harmoniously that it inspires
one to listen to their singing.
1t is unnecessary to speak OF each
members attainments vocaily with sep
arate commendation, for they are not
endeavoring to entertain the audiences
before whom they appear here and
there, individually but altogether and
as company.
Mr.. A. j. Gahring's sweet tenor voice
as lead is excellent, but no more beau
riful than the soft, soothing singing OF
the second tenor, Mr.. j. A. Williams.
The baritone work of Mr.. w. N. AM
undson was always received by his lis
teners with due applause Immediately
after his singing. He was at all times,
when in conjunction with the other
voices, helpmate to MIR. N. l.. Baker,
the basso, than whose voice more cul-
tured one never went out across the
tootlights of that stage. His bass is SO
smooth and rich and absolutely free
from the usual offensive and cultural
qualities possessed by many bassos, that
it is restful to hear him-a poultice to a
tired brain when he sings and an inspir-
alton to an active mind.
In spite of the fact that each voice in
the quarter company is above the criti.
cism Of the writer who knows good music
though not an adapt at criticising it.
it must be admitted by those who heard
them that Mr.. Baker is alone an eve
ning's entertainment in itself, and were
it necessary could be the "whole show.'
His resources for entertaining an au'
dience outside Of his rich singing, are
wonderful. With faculty for stepping
from the ludicrous to the pathos anc
back to the humorous again withou
any gaps or jumps: with his ability tt
| be natural one moment and reallsticall,
mimical the next, with the connectinj
thread of speech as smooth as film,
| string of cobweb; with genuine goot
humor in his face blending at once bu
J softly into sadness of expression Will
he yet talks to you, reminds those VIII
knew the talented Field in his colleg
! days very much of the "Children'
| Poet" An old class-mate of Eugen
Fields, who was present the other eve
!: ming, noticed this and upon being tol
so after the performance, Mr.. Bake
stated that especially did he feel con
|: plimented by such comparison for tn
reason that it came from one who kne
l the talented Field in his young and bes
!: days.
AS to Miss Nellie B. Turner, the read,
! and elocutionst, let it be said that thel
!: are few better accompanies or MOI
I natural readers on the stage and tt
i young men can thank her for furnishir
a very large part of this most excellel
Y entertainment, which so pleased tt
i audience on last Saturday evening
!: the Ferris Grand.