Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-19
V|CTORS WELCOMED
Reception to the United
Singers on Their Return.
MET AT THE STATION
CITIZENS ESCORT AND THE q. 8,
MARINE BAND.
Crowds Throng the Streets - Speeches
at National Rifles Hall by the
District Commissioners.
MET AT THE STATION

Several thousand people gathered in the
vicinity Of the Baltimore and Ohio depot
| last night In honor of the United Singers
and their leader. Henry Xander. who car
| ried off first prize. a bust of Handel, In the
| inter-city contest at the Baltimore Saenger-
| fest. The train bearing the victors arrived
| at 1850 o'clock and they were greeted with
cheers on reaching the street. where they
found drawn UP to greet them several hun
dred members from the several German
organizations, who. with the United States
Marine Band escorted them to the National
Rifles Armory. The marchers were sup
piled with small American flags or flags
| bearing the picture of Handel and twigs of
| oak leaves which they wore in their hats.
Arrangements for the reception had been
| hastily made by a citizens committee head
| ed by Mr.. George w. Spier. who were on
| hand at the depot. A detachment of mount
ed policemen headed the marchers and
Grand Marshal Otto Bech Beuchert and his
aids were in charge.
Crowds lined the sidewalks along the line
of march from the depot to the Rifles Ar
mory and at intervals red fire was burned.
The citizens committee who arranged the
reception and were at the depot were:
George w. Spier. chairman; Anton Lerch.
F. Joiss, H. SCHUYLER Karl Xander. HI.
Rothschild. Otto Wehner. Simon Wolf.
Charles Dismer. Christian Heurich Karl
William Hahn. Gus Lansburgh. Jacob Karr.
William Berens, Charles Graft Z. F. Droop
and John G. Barthel.
Welcomed by Commissioners.
The exercises at the National Rifles Ar
mory were OF a patriotic nature as well
as Of exultation over the success Of the
Washington singers In winning the bust
Of Handel as first prize In the inter-city
contest at Baltimore.
The major portion of the audience that
| more than filled the big auditorium were
lGerman-Americans. while District officials
men in public life and other citizens
trfbuted to making it a representative gath
ering.
The president Of the evening was Mr..
| George w. Spier District Commissioners
Mcfarland made the first address of the
evening. He spoke felicitously of the work
of the Washington singers. and on behalf
of the people of the District OF Columbia
congra tulated them upon their success.
The meeting he said, was a formal well
come to those who had come back from a
fruitful mission to another city. He said
the welcome was not one from the mu-
sicians of Washington alone, but from the
whole city of Washington. for 1t was the
citizens who had followed the singers In
their contest in the suburbs of Washing
ton as he jokingly referred to Baltimore.
He said the citizens of Washington wev
proud of the work of the German Azneri-
can singers He said he hoped the prizd
would be placed In some public park in ths
city and that he would take pleasure III
recommending to Congress that an appro-
priation be provided for the purpose. He
thought the site should be near the new
public library, Mount Vernon Park.
Commissioner West said he was glad to
see the patriotism of the singers, as evi.
denced by the miniature American fiaga
they carried in their hands. AS did his
colleague before him. Mr.. West paid
handsome compliment to Mr.. Xander
Patriotism Of German-Americans.
Mr. Simon Wolf also spoke of the pa
triotism of the German-American citizens.
1t was gratifying he said. to know thai
while they were able to win prizes in peace.
full contest. when occasion had ever
arisen to defend their adopted country they
were ever ready and anxious to shouldef
their muskets and fight for the land Of
their adoption.
Mr. Wolf said he had always advocated
music because OF its tendency to idealiza
social life: to make more congenial the
conditions of life; to take one away from
business cares.
He advocated the placing of the Handel
bust in Mt. Vernon Park. in front of the
public library. He said 1t might be the
beginning OF placing the busts OF other
men, distinguished not only in music. but
In literature and art.
Mr. Wolf congratulated Mr.. Henry Kan
der. a Washington boy. who had brought
as he said, three societies with discordant
methods into one harmonious whole.
Tribute to Mr.. Henry Xander.
Mr. John Waldman, president of the
United Singers Society, spoke briefly. and
presented Mr.. Xander with handsome
bunch of roses on behalf of Mr.. Henry
Pfster On behalf of the ladies Mrs. F.
Carl presented Mr.. Xander with bouquet
of American Beauty roses. Mr.. Spier pre-
sented Mr.. Xander with large laurel
wreath saying 1t was from the citizens
of Washington. who were convinced that
the prize would not have been won had IL
not been for him. Mr.. Xander responded
feelingiy.
Major Richard Sylvester made few re-
marks In happy vein. closing with quos
ia ton in German. After the speechmakinG
the singers and the different societies who
were represented at the meeting marched
to the hall OF the Washington Saenger-
bund. C street near Sd, where an informal
irnch was served and a general good time
had Songs and instrumental music en-
vsned the rest Of the evening.