The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-02
ANOTHER is OUT.
Mrs. Geo. w. Parkhurst Resigns
From Washburn Faculty.
Frank IL. Foster Discusses Res
ignatiOn of Prof. Penny.
THAT BIG PIPE ORGAN.
Imperative to Have Some One
to Play 1t.
Would Make Him Official Munic-
ipal Organist.
THAT BIG PIPE ORGAN.


the Washburn school of fine arts today.
THE removal of Prof. Penny from
Topeka would mean a material loss to
the musical life of the city and GER
tainly a great handicap to the pipe or
gan association said Frank H. Foster,
president Of the association.
L have known him intimately" he
continued, land know that he has the
confidence and respect of the citizens
of Topeka. It is a matter to be re-
gretted that a change was made in the
music department at Washburn. It is
only by some connection with some in
stitution that we could hope to retain
Prof. Penny in Topeka for it would be
impossible for US to raise a salary Suf-
ficient to maintain him in the position
of a municipal organist. Prof. Penny is 1
a $4,000 or $4,000 man and the city is
not big enough to raise such a fund.
He would of necessity have to have
some connection with an institution in
order to make up sufficient returns to
warrant him in remaining here. There
are only two other municipal organs in
the United States that 1 know of. The
one is in Pittsburg, Pa, where they pay
their organist a salary of $4,000 year
and the other is at Allegheny where the
city pays their organist a salary of
$500. He has connections with num-
ber of musical institutions in the city
which help to swell his salary up to
something like $1,000. Prof. Penny pro-
bably could receive $500 by popular sub
Scription, another $500 from the Choral
society and the remaining sum from his
work as a teacher. However, that is
problematical. We have a number of
organists in Topeka but we have none
of the ability or rank of Prof. Penny
and the city would be absolutely with
out any one who could take his place
There are numerous occasions when the
organ at the Auditorium is called into
use. At state club meetings, at sessions
of national scope, at lodge conventions,
when a short organ programme OF Su-
perior merit is a desirable part portion
of the public exercises, the need Of an
organist of rank is imperative. With
the absence of Mr.. Penny we would
have to give that up. We have no one
here who can display the organ to its
best advantage aside from him
"The pipe organ association cannot
but help feel his loss. He contributed
in a great measure to the sue
cess of the association in Secur-
ing the organ for Topeka. His en-
thusiasm never waned and was instru-
mental in making the undertaking the
great success that it was. If he re-
turns to Topeka 1 known that the only
reason that will induce him to return
will be his connection with the organ
and his interest in it.
"Of course 1 cannot speak from my
own knowledge concerning his abili-
ties as a musician and an Organist. L
am not sufficiently versed in the art
to Judge, but 1 have the opinion OF
others. Those who were sufficiently
trained in music to act as judges, nave
told me that he is an organiSt who
ranked fully with some of the best.
AS man I have known him as gem
tIeman, som ething which has not been
as true of his predecessors as directors
of the choral societies in the city.
There has not been the least taint of
suspicion regarding his standing as
gentleman. He combined the tech
nical training of a musician with that
of a college graduate; an unusual COM
bination.
You seldom find a musician who
has at the same time had university
training. He was graduated from Cor
nell university. He had not only his
subject as a musician but he had the
training necessary to talk of it in an
interesting and compreh ensive man
stI have been led to believe that he
would return and certainly success
should attend him in the founding of a
school of music here, should he so
decide"
Mrs. George w. Parkhurst who has
been assisting in the vocal department
at Washburn college has severed her
connection with the institution and will
not teach this coming year. 1t is ex-
pected that Mrs. Scherubel, wife of the
new director of music at WaShburn,
will assume a portion of the duties
which Mrs. Parkuhrst formerly had.
Mrs Parkhurst in speaking of Prof.
Penny's resignation said: His loss will
be certainly felt in Topeka. Prof
Penny's resignation came as a surprise
to me, though knew that he was con-
sidering it. I didn't however expect
that he would resign now and thought
that he certainly would remain and
teach this year. There has been no
one who has been so successful in Sc
| curing large musical attractions for us
| as Prof. Penny and as to what it would
mean to have an organist of his ability
remove from the city I can simply state
| that to secure such a one is almost i'm
possible. I know we tried recently to
secure an organist and we had a most
difficult time.
| 1--WE would have no one in the city
| capable of securing the best results
from the Auditorium organ should he
decide not to return. As for myself,
| l have decided not to return to Wash
| burn. There are fine lot of students
I there, and I believe the possibilities of
a great school of music, but the equip
ment is not satisfactory. They
! changed US from room to room as it
suited them. and 1 know that this is
one of the things which Prof. Penny
was disappointed in. He worked hard
to secure the department of music To-
Gated entirely in one building"
| Mr.. James Moore, who is well
known in local musical circles, said /:
81 believe Mr.. Penny will return. But
it certainly would be a loss if he
should decide to remain away. I have
become acquainted with the man, and
grew to like him very much"
Mrs. Frank H. Thomas: prof.
Penny has done a great deal for the
advancement of Topeka along musical
lines. I am very sorry that he is likely
I tn Iaava