Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-07

titude Of pupils, and what Cowper does,
be It teaching or singing, he does we'll. His
wife Is a capable organist. Mr.. Cowper and
l are arranging to enter a ping pong tour
next season, whether rs an adjunct
to an Omaha festival concert or not / do
not know. The people want ragtime Tin
Omaha-they have outgrown 1t In other
places). and l knov they want ping pong,
and why not at a musical festival7 AS the
balls are sent flying, a most musical sound
is heard when the ball caves each bat, es-
~pecially the "vellum" ones. Ping pong Is
Just as appropriate TO a musical festival as
coon song. 1 congratulate Signor Rivela on
his courage in keeping to the straight and
narrow path Of good music. He has hosts
of supporters.
I was seated at dinner in the hotel at
which l was staying last week, when I
observed a clerical looking young GENTLE
man Of prepossessing appearance and I'M
mistakable priestly garb at an adjoining
table and, after having looked at him
carefully. 1 felt sure enough OF his iden-
tity to send my card with this inscription
on the reverse side: ITO the Very Rev.
DR.. Russell Wilbur" Sure enough It was
my old young friend, Russell Wilbur, son
of Mr., ]. e. Wilbur, both OF whom are SO
well known In Omaha. The honorable
clergyman is doing a mighty good work;
he is a model type OF the young minister
of that great temple whose principal work
is to emphasize the brotherhood of man
and the Fatherhood of God. He is no
prude, nor dude, nor canting hypocrite,
this young soldier of the cross. He works
in the prisons, the poor tenements, ETC.,
and is a man, every inch Of him. He has
sacrificed a musical career for his beloved
work, for he has q beautiful tenor voice
and is a musician of the soul.
I would urge upon my friends Of the
Roman Catholic church to be sure to visit
the church Of "Our Lady Of Sorrow when
in Chicago. It is a stately, splendid build
ing Of massive proportions and It contains
an organ whose superior 1 have yet to
hear in this country. It was built by
Lyon & Healy of Chicago, and through the
courtesy of Mr.. Schmidt, the head of the
organ department Of that firm, 1 was
enabled to hear the clever organist of that
church, Mr.. James Watson ian &C.
complished musician and one Of those
men you take TO your heart at once) in a
private recital. The organ is divided into
two parts, one on either side of the i'm
SAoo WANO NhuICng 4 ubb IOuT mdnualS
or keyboards, and is capable Of the most
thrilling effects. Louis Falk Of Chicago
and Mr.. Simon, a choirmaster Of the larg-
est church in Louisville, KY, were present
at the same recital.
On Sunday morning last / played q double
bill, that is. 1 heard the new chime and
the organ and choir Of Grace Episcopal
church, Chicago, and leaving there during
the "Jubilate" l fastened down town by
cable car to hear the farewell sermon Of
Rev. Frank Crane, formerly Of Omaha. As
to the former, all 1 have to say is that
the new chimes were a sore disappointment
to me, the bells being ordinary and the
belfry altogether too low TO give good re-
suits. Trinity. Of Omaha, Is good enough
for me. AS to the choir, under Harrison
Wild, ! will simply state that 1t is not by
any means necessary for an Omahan to 20
to Chicago to hear fine church music. The
conclusion is s~elf-deductible. You can
draw it yourself.
The farewell sermon Of DR.. Crane was
delivered In the First Methodist church, In
the second story of a third-rate building
down town. There were modern hymn
books scattered through the pews and opera
seats Of the Auditorium (horrors! the
dismal dinginess OF it,, and 1 could not
decide which was worse. the hymnals, the
music or the ''meetin' house." DR. Crane
made a mastery "apologia pro vita sua,''
and be was followed by speakers and "reso-
luters" and so forth, one of the speakers
being the celebrated senator, whom, l note,
Chicago people speak Of as "Billy" Mason.
The speeches were so fulsome, SO absurd
and an nanaaaffn0 that hyhan mr. Nro-n
arose to thank those who had done the
act he said: 81 feel as though 1 had beer
walking In a graveyard and reading my owr
epitaph."
Having happened to sit near Mrs. Crane
and her eldest daughter, 1 vent down t
shake hands with the victim OF the hour
and as l did SO in q crowd, / stated Il
said Victims: MY name is Jones; 1 cam,
up to view the remains" When he saw
that I had imposed upon him he said-bu
never mind what he saidl Those VIII,
know Frank Crane NOW just what h,
would say In q case like that.
Mr.. =. O. Towne, tenor, of New Yorl
City, has settled in Chicago. He haI
been heard in Omaha. He will do con
cert work and teaching. I understand tina
some Omaha pupils went over to Chicag
to study with Mr.. Wareham. I have no
heard one good word for Mr.. Wareham'
singing or teaching from any Of the leEiti
mate teachers there. But they do say tina
Mr.. Wareham is a good musician. AL
good voice teachers are musicians, bu
ali good MUSICIANS are not voice teacher
by a long way.
Mr.. and Mrs. Calm have returned fror
their eastern trip.
Mr.. and Mrs. Keck n Miss Joy Kec
have returned from their vacation.
Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas ]. Kelly have com
back to Omaha after their vacation.
Mr.. Sigmund Landsberg has returne
from his western trip. He has been /
Colorado, where it's cool.
Miss Marie Swanson, harpist, has com
back from her vacation tour.
am told that the Jewish synogogue be
engaged Miss Danforth. from Chicago, fo
soprano. Mr., McCreary for tenor and NJ
Manchester for basso for the coming ses
son. Mrs. Allen P. Ely. contralto, an
Miss Boulter, organist, have been r,
engaged. The Marscher Bureau Of Mus
furnished two Of the new singers.
TLInMMA0 4 rnHH