The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-11-10
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AOlA Hoemsteadn Qunrtetfe.

That enviable cluster of nightingales the old Homestead" Quartette. claim ed. in view of the rainy weather, a complimentary house last evening at the Montgomery Theatre at the first entertainment of the Lyceum course. Their honors were won singly and as a whole. The finest of the music-in- clined in Montgomery paid tribute to the excellently arranged and varied display of Samuel J. Bennett,
 This quartette, without the bestow- al of any praise. is of the highest class. It is lyrical in the extreme Because 1t is lyrical it necessarily is soulful and that was the reason that the mem- bers made such an effective though subdued appeal to the cultured audi ence of last evening. The plaudits from the listeners which were polite enough, were of the sort that bespoke unmistakable appreciation.
 The fact that the quartette might be chased as almost exclusively lyrical makes way for the assurance that the finest eeffcts of combined voices were secured. All the aesthetic shades of voice and enunciation were obtaina- ble with the keys pitched little high CT than the average. The undulations ran smooth, and the waves were found capable by the singers of carrying that tickling sense of wit that suffers of necessity in mingling of the lower notes. The voices. in other words. tripped and guaranteed a light and especially pleasing effect.
 Undoubtedly the feature of MT. Ben nett's entertainment is the variety of the program which he offers. With only four singers, he puts forth steady run of very enjoyable pieces, both of recitations and songs, lasting for over an hour and a half. In fact 1t is not known when a similar en- tertainment has come to this city in which there was shown so much yer satility with so few principals. Be- sides the quartette songs and solos, there were dialect limitations by Mir. Bennett. violin soloes by H. A. Eddy and piano skits by MT. Eddy, too.
 And if possible the encores proved to be more popular last night than did the listed numbers of the entertain ment. The Bill of Fare song rendered by the quartette was one of the most dis tinct hits of the whole lot. This song Is an excellent crescendo and for the time that was used the unison was remarkable. In many other songs the gallop was preserved with an unfail- ing unison and this especially in the waltz song that carried the farewell and good night.
 As the capture of every member of the quartette was so signal it is a difficult task to say which of the four made the most of the encores. We will venture to say, however. that the palm of the evening was taken off by J. A. Spouse. the second tenor. The second tenor, it may be said, has the best of it in a competition but barr ing any prejudice whatever, MT. Spouse seemed to touch the audience with more intimacy than any of his fellow singers. He used an extraordinary amount of expression in his efforts and therefore acted his cue as well as sang. He appears to be the young est of the quartette and with a little adz work in the technique of his train ing he should climb to the top rung of Americas leading songsters.
 Nothing fundamental could be found the matter with the voices of A. F. Lawson, the basso, and Mir Eddy, the baritone. MT Lawson's basso Is not fathomless like some we have heard but it deserves to be put in the class of premiers.
 This was the first of the Lyceum course that is to have a seasons run at the Montgomery Theatre The suc- cess of the first night is good indication of a kind reception of them that are to follow.
 Al. Wilson will be at the theatre to- night in "A German GypSy"