The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-06-23

that beautiful little city. Some pains
had been taken to get up high class
musical entertainment. Fremont has
far more than the average musical
talent. and it was owing to the nearly
regeneration of the musical people
that the program was such success.
Independent solo singers, such as MISS
Murrell.. Miss Swihart, Mrs: Martin
and Miss Marshall, with the active as
sistance of Professors Bliss, Preston,
Swihart and Meyers OF the State NOR
NAL college, and Mr.. Doan as accom-
PIANIST was what made the work 20
through without a hitch.
The star OF the occasion was MIS-
I Allen Barris, soprano with Won
derfully sweet voice, brought TO the
highest perfection by years or STUDY
in the best schools. She came up from
Council Bluffs and donated her ser
vices Singers OF her standard get
from SIS to $500 night. An Original
niece OF music. written by the editor
~ The Independent, entitled "Nebras-
ka Homeland" was sung for the nfst
time in public. The rendition OF IL
bv Mrs. Barris and the chorus was so
inspiring that it was encorei again
and again. The first two stanzas were
simply patriotic and when sung were
encored. Then two other verses,
which apply to Nebraska politics, were
sung and they set the old pops wild.
Mrs. Barris and the chorus had TO
sing the whole thing over again. The
old pops from the west OF the state
became so enthusiastic that they could
not restrain their cheers until the song
was ended.
During the evening session MIS-.
Barris rendered several classic pieces,
gave an acting song that greatly de-
lighted the audience, and Miss May
Belle HagenOw, of HagenoW's Lin
coin orchestra, gave piano solo ana
as an encore one OF her exquisite vlo-
lin solos that bore us all away into
that happy land where nothing vexes
or makes afraid
The people at Fremont, 1t seems,
never knew that it was to be a state
convention until two or three days
before the date fixed to hold 1t. But
the Commercial club down there is
composed of courteous gentlemen and
they took hold with will to furnish
the accommodations. The convention
was held in a good theatre. Judge
Loomis and Mr.. Maynard hustled from
the time they heard Of the fact and
the delegates all highly appreciated
Mr.. Maynard's kind attentions.
When it was first learned that the
highest class of music was to be rem
dered, many said: 1T is mistake.
In populist convention, composed for
the most part of farmers, the music
should be in the nature of rag-time."
After the convention was over the
editor of The Independent was walk
ing down the street at about midnight
and there was a little knot of fifteen
or twenty men standing on the oppo
site side They asked him to come
over to them. They were all bronzed
faced farmers from the far western
counties. They said We were just
talking about the music of your
daughter, Mrs. Barris. We never
heard anything like her singing and
we will remember it and think about
about it for a year." you just tell
her. said another, 'how glad we are
that she came and sang for us.
Another man, who had been jolly
ing a good deal about putting up
program of high class music for farm
ers, saying that the thing to have
done was to get glee club like GER
tain one that was popular in the days
of the farmers alliance who sang
catchy rondeaus, the next day after
the convention he came up and after
clasping hands said very solemnly:
II have gone back on that glee club"
The Independent is working to
bring about such conditions that the
farmer and wage-worker can have
piano and time to listen to the best
music, as well as a sutiiciency Of the
other comforts and blessings OF life.
The fact is that the men and women
who come from the farms appreciate
really artistic music much more than
city dwellers, whose ears are wracked
by discordant sounds the whole year
round.
The citizens of Fremont were hos
pitable and kind. The only mistake that
was made was putting the headqnar-
tiers at the Emo hotel There were no
courtesIes there for the delegates. and