The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1902-05-28
Bfushy Creek Singing Convention.

Dir. Editor: The singing at Mt Airy
last sunday, given under the auspice. of
the Brushy Creek Singing Convention,
was most enjoyable OCCASION to the large
crowd that was present. The C0nveu-
tion was greatly disappointed when the
announcement WAS made that Prot. Will
lis, of Anderson, one or the invited sing
ers, could not be present. 1t was not
generally known, also, whether Prof.
Durham, the other invited singer, would
be present or not.
Soon after 10 O'Clock, however. there
was heard In the direction OF Piedmont
the sound Of a heavily loaded wagon
which seemed to be nearing the appoint
ed placs of song. All eyes were turned
In that direction, when shortly 1t was
whispered around thai it was q wagon
from Piedmont. and that Prot. Durham
was one OF the occupants. A pleasant
smile, mingled With u sliRh. surprise,
passed from face to face. In few min
utes 1t was generally known that for the
past week Prof. Durham had been teach
ing y class in vocal music at P ed mont
and that he had voluntarily brought ,ev-
erel OF his best singers with him.
The Church was soon filled to It's ut
most seating capacity, with many LEFT in
the yard. With Prof Durham as leader,
Miss Anna Wilson at the organ, NIessrs
Thomson, Rackley and Merritt OF Pied
mont; c. y. Foster, of Mt. Airy; NJ. M.
Merritt, Of Siloam; Porter and H. A.
Foster, OF Fairview; Elihu Pickeus, of
dickens Chapel, Luther Bagwell, Of
Plsgah. aud &; Q. Wigington. OF Mt.
Springs, as sub-leausrs of the male voices
IN bass and tenor: aud with the harmo-
NOUS voices OF the fairer Sex, whose
names ara too numerous to mention and
who lid the thing up nice aud brown"
with soprano and alto, the whole air Tor
rocs around was filled with music such
az has no, been known to b. produced al
Mt. Try in years. Even the III. Jdiuua
VO! q, OF ihe BIRDS, tl!.tiog ;rum tr:e 10
tree, vera apparently hu,Ecd il profound
sllehce AS the approach OF su:h striking
Tibrttnns in the mir s,rnck their sensi-
tive organs OF hearing, aud even the tired
bodies OF the good old faithful ir.rn,.s Of
the equestrian race appeared IL h3 con
Slderhuly re!resi ed at tne sOuuG ut such
,Eilslc AS Mas ovtrywhers To be felt judg-
dug tr"in thu manner in which they would
s-ai++ their heals ir I'M a good old "Suuday
rest Htiu exteuu thH,r Auricular Appen-
daReS f"ward tho Chu ch in a thank ul
RititlGe.
Alter leading the class for a considera
o!e time, Prot. Durham asked To ne ex-
>cus;d Tor few minutes In which he could
get Srino much needed rest. Several
selections were then led by Messrs.
Thomson, j. ,rter and Merritt, each Of
whom showed their ability ss leader
almost equal 10 that they had ready
shown IN bass AID tCno-.
Vuo nour anQ nall hAVlEG O6tn Spe Mt
in the grove, during which time many
groups could be seen circled ground the
out.spread baskets Of dinner, the crowd
re-assembled in the Church ct the first
sound OF the organ. The afternoon was
most pleasantly spent In listening 10
songs and addresses.
Prof. Durham made most interesting
and instructive address on music, setting
forth the many excellent reasons why a
person should learn this, one OF the most
important Of the fine arts. The president
of the convention, Mr.. j. r. Tripp, who
was prevented from being present at the
morning session, gave good talk to the
younger persons IN tho congregation,
giving some good advice, which, II prac-
ticed, would help greatly toward the sue.
cess OF any public gathering.
One feature OF the day which deserves
special mention was the singing OF sew
eral solos by little Milton Bishop, Of Pied
mont, who is only nine years OF age. He
has remarkably effective alto voice,
which II properly trained and used Will
very likely In future years make him be-
oom famous in the musical world. For
bo at his age to get up before large
audi, =: of strangers and sing with ap-
parent. as little embarrassment as he
did Is e-nngh to put many person Of
ripper yo~, 10 shame when he but only
thinks ut the many wasted opportunities
that could have been better used.
Many thanks are du" Prof. Durham,
by the Cu.veutiOn, for his valuable as
sistancs In rendering the program Of the