The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1904-03-16
From Monday S Daily.

Morgantown is today honoring
DR.. Richard Strauss, the greatest
living exponent of the divine art of
music. All other interests have been
relegated to a second place for the
time being, and all classes have I'M.
tied in giving due recognition to the
Importance of his visit. There is a
general rea ization chat a new epoch
OF music in the State begins today,
and that the y est Virginia Univer-
sity has outdone all other education
ed Institutions in the country il
this particular at least.
Official and formal coguizanos OF
the presence of DR.. Strauss ana
Madam Strauss de Alma in the city
was taken in the city and Uniyer-
sity this morning in Commencement
Hall. DR.. Strauss was accompanied
to the Hall by Mr.. Henry Wolfsohn,
Mr.. VIM. Knabe, Col. Jas. Frazer
and Dean Wrightson.
The Cadet Corps, under command
Of Major j. en- Farquher,wa drawn
up at present arms on either side oil
the walk leading to the entrance,
and when the distinguished guest
OF the city and University. arrived
the cadet band struck up an appro
pirate air.
DR.. Strauss was greeted at the
entrance to the hail by the reception
committee, consisting of DR. l. c
White, Director James II. Stewart,
Major Ferquher, Mr.. +. b. Stewart
DR.. p. B.Reynolds and Mr. l. D. Beall
They escorted him. toa the rostum
in the hall, where the Mayor and
city council, and Mr. Sturgiss await
ed him.
The appearance of DR.. S rauss
upon the platform was the sigma
for an outburst Of applause which
has never been surpassed in Com
mencement for enthusiasm and sin
cerity. The famous composer was
compelled to bow in acknowledge
ment many times, and the elapping
of hands vas only hushed when Dean
Wrightson arose and formally in
troduced DIR. Strauss to the City
Council and the people of the audi
ence.
Mayor w c. McGrow formally
welcomed DR. strauss and his wife
to the city. He made graceful
speech, reelting briefly the pleasure
Morgantown felt in having him here.
and paying a high tribute to the
geniu. that had practically revolu.
tionized the world of music added a
new meanln to the term. OF such
Importance was the visit If DIR.
Strauss TO Morgantown, he said,
that the City council, had regarded
it as proper to take official action in
recognition thereof. As the chief
executive Of the City government he
Tecomed him, and extended him
the freedom of the city.
Mayor McGrew read the order OF
council to this elect. The procla-
nation was printed in letters of
gold on banner OF blue silk, which
at the close OF his remarks, the
Mayor presented to DR.. Strauss.
who acknowledged the compliment
with bow
When the applause following this
ceremony subsidized, Hon c. Stureiss
arose and addressed DR.. Strauss. He
said:
The pleasing task has been deputcd
to me by the Mayor and Common
Council of the City of Morgantown to
represent them in the part in the cero-
monies of this occasion.
You come among us from a foreign
land, hut not as a stranger among
strangers, for your fame reaching to
all civilized and music loving people
bias penetrated our mountain valley
and reached cur ears, and we welcome
your coming with pleasurab BILE ex-
pectation, that, extending over many
months has been intensified by all
that we have heard and learned of
you and the splendor of your career
aud attachments as master 10 the
world OF interpretative musical com
position and rendition.
Music is the universal language and
makes all mankind akin, and we greet
you as Que who speaks to us in no I'M
known tongre. We greet you as one
who has created new school OF mu-
sic. who has conquered prejudice. and
won In the War OF the Critics, as did
Mendelssohn, Wagner and all the
great masters of your art who have
pioneered into new regions of the still
tc-be- fully explored realm of music.
From your continental home WHERE
your genius is ackncwled and your
productions accepted by the most
acute and competent judges as mar
yelously true interpretation of Nature
and thought and emotion. instead Of
mere musical imitation of sounds as
ISOLATED with material things, you
have come to new world that stands
ready to receive you, ard crown you
as the greatest living exponent of the
divine science and art of melody.
81 Music is more marvellous, more
mysterious than poetry" Your tone
poems are marvellous and brilliant,
and mark a new era In musical COM
position. You have "civilized wild
sounds into time and tune,n If "mu-
sic is the prophecy OF what life is to
be, the rainbow of promise translated
out of seeing into hearing" then you
are the greatest Prophet of the new
century, for, "you have caught the
dull vision of our eyes and the duller
hearing OF our mortal ears, and trans
lated them into inarticulate un-
fathomable speech, which leads US to
the edge of the intlpite, and lets US
for moments gaze into it.
You have taught US that
/