Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-14


recital already given makes It practically
certain that the guarantors can be told at
the close Of this season, as was done the
last two years, that no part of their guaran-
ties is needed. The possibly onerous posi-
ton of guarantor is in a fair way of be-
coming a sinecure.
Some New Features.
An interesting feature of the society's
work is its monthly bulletin, four-page
paper. issued TO its members, active and
sustaining. now numbering together
in regard 10 the plans OF the
season as they mature. This. too. Is q nov
city first tried this season. without a prede-
cessor on the part OF any other like So
c!ety IN the country Every active and sus-
tanning member gets copy each month
and learns fully what is being done at
present. what has teen the outcome of the
past concerts. financial and artistic, and
what is the prospect for future work.
The society has also this season carried
on a valuable work in Its sight-singing
classes. These have been held all the sea-
son on Tuesday evenings at Sheldon's Hall,
and Mr.. VIM. A. kirkpatrick of Trinity
Church has carried on drill, both for be-
ginners and for advanced students de-
signed TO teach them the art of reading
music at sight. Nothing will so much help
the progress OF musical art in the nation
as the general knowledge of sight-singing
II music can be read like a printed page
the way is open to ready learning of all
works and their easy performance.
Thus the society now stands; but this for
tunate position was not reached without
many struggles. This is its seventeenth
season, and its next concert Is its fifty
seventh and that In this country where the
and IN this city, where the population Is all
ways changing. is very striking tribute to
the energy Of its members.
Origin of the Society.
The society really originated with Mrs
John Jay Knox. who was at that time the
most prominent figure in Washington's
musical life Its first concert was on Feb
reary %. 1884. She was ably assisted by
Mrs Q. A. Pearson, whose untimely death
was n great loss TO local musical interests
The first musical director was the much
lamented DIR. Sherman-Harry Sherman he
was generally called-and he remained at
the head of the society for eight consecu-
tive years. until Ill health compelled him to
give it up at the close of the season of 1890
'9l. resuming the dictatorship for only one
year. 1896. before his sudden death in
the fall OF 1896. The active members of the
first year included such welI-known singers
as Miss Clara Baker. Miss Eva Mills Mrs
Annie r Kaspar, Miss Carrie KidwelI, Mrs
Nellie McCartee. Mrs. Dayton Ward, Mrs.
s. IL Bodtish. Miss George Metzger Mrs
II. G. Sherman Mrs. F. r. True Messrs
W. H Daniel. H. c. Pearson. John o. Pugh,
r. c Bernard. Charles r. Dean II. A.
W. Middleton. c. K. Rice, w. A. Widney
and Warren Young.
OF the ladies who were in the chorus at
the first concert only two-Mrs. Dr. John
r Winter and Miss Ella f Johnston-stiIl
remain. Mrs. Winter has the first soprano
position at the present time and has an al
most perfect record Of attendance during
the present season. Miss Johnston a CON
tralto. is equally devoted to the society's
work and has been most constant In at
tendance Mr.. Francis A Wilson was then
member and has belonged continuously IN
to the present time. There are several
others now in the chorus who sang in the
IrSJ C'hcert-Mrs. r. Z. Middleton, Mr. G.
i. Johnston. Prof II. NJ Paul MIR r. q
Sutton and Mr.. Alfred Wood: but Ali nj
these We're for some period out Of active
membership. Miss Emily CovIe. who Is ON
the original list of active members. has re
tanned her connection with the. society nar-
manently bun more recently as a s,,st,iPpIr1 -. =
member. Mrs. .. a. Pearson was one 81
TIE ruling spirits for the first few wears
serving as pianist until 1880. Those VIII
were associated with her will ALWAYS re-
member with the greatest pleasure her abiI-
ltN IN guiding the affairs Of the society q nd
her remarkable skill at the pira1o
The society has been particularly fortu.
nate in its musical directors. DR. ShernnS =
was succeeded in 1891 to 1885; by ICaite,
DamrpSch, and he by Mr. Joseph Kasnsr
VINO has since 1899. except for one season
had charge Of The soc!ety's work Il 4
OWING to the fortunate circumstance M
nattAs slch Conductors that the society's
Continued existence is due
Fifty-seyen Concerts Gix.r
Thirteen Of the society's fifty-seyen CON.
certs have been devoted TO Handel's Mes
siah," nearly one-foUrth of the entire num-
Der. Three performances have been giyer
OF Bruch's "Arminius'' and Dvorak's ..Snec
Tres Bride, and two each of MendeIssohp',
Elijah" BerlIoz's .'Damnation of Fanst >
One OF these in Baltimore. memorable be