Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-06-18
DAY HAS COME
Opening of the Big State SangsIfsst
 Began This Morning.

With the first trains Into the city this morning the German singers and their friends from all over Con- necticut began to arrive in Water- bury and the much heralded State Sangerfest had been successfully launched. Nothing could put a dam- per on the ardor of the Germans for this their mammoth celebration, not even the gloominess of the morning hours. As the first day part of the celebration is confined strictly to in- door work and as the advance sale of seats had been more than gratify- ing they felt that the first day was . success, no matter what might hap pen. The. American band was a busy body of musicians all day escorting the visiting societies from the depots to the Concordia hall where the first reception to the guests was rendered. The prize singing contests opened this afternoon at o'clock before big audience and the various socie- ties were still competing at press hour. Seated among the spectators were the judges, unknown to every body and will remain unknown until 1 the concert this evening when they will occupy one of the boxes in the theater. Governor Roberts and his staff arrived this afternoon from Hartford and were escorted at once to The Elton where they were the guests of Major Warren L. Hall, a member of the staff. Tonight they will occupy boxes in Polls theater. Other dignitaries present in boxes will be Mayor Thoms and the other city officials and the directors of all the societies who competed in the singing contests.
 Relative to this concert it might be we'll to say that many ladies are to occupy seats in the top gallery of the theater tonight, preferring to enjoy the concert from this vantage point. There are still quite num- Der of good seats left for the concert and 1t is believed now there will not be sitting left when the doors are thrown open. Professor Hans Saro in speaking of the concert, after praising the chorus of 600 voices and the splendid work that Mrs Shanna Cumming will perform in the | soprano solos, was enthusiastic over the singing of Mir Wegener, the tenor soloist He said that no better tenor has ever been heard in this city or state and perhaps not in the coun- | try.
 The buildings along the line of march are practically buried under decorations. The parade will start at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning and will traverse only the streets in the center and immediate vicinity. The societies, which are divided into four divisions. under the command of Col onel John B. Doherty as chief mar shal and Chauncey P. Goss as first assistant, will assemble at the north side of the green, march to North Main, to Bank, to Meadow, counter march to Grand, to south Main. to East Main, to Stanley Park. counter march to North Main. to North Will low, countermarch to West Main. to City hall, past the reviewing stand. to North Main. to North square. | where cars will be in waiting to take the people to Lakewood. where the big picnic will be held. Governor Roberts and staff and Mayor Thoms and officials will be in the parade in carriages. Three prizes will be awarded to the three best uniformed and best marching societies.
 The Sangerfest has cost the local societies about $5,000 and while
 they do not expect to realize any
 profit they believe that with good patronage of the concert tonight and
 the picnic tomorrow they will coRe
 near paying expenses and that is III they desire.
 One man arrived in the city last night who came 800 miles to be pres ent at the two days entertainment. He says he has never missed one since they were inaugurated many years ago. He has heard Mrs Cumming and
 Mir Wegener sing and he believes they are the premiers in their work. He also said that any true lover of music who missed this concert this evening missed one of the grandest programs that has ever been ar ranged in New England. He was sur
 prised that Waterbury went to such an expense to give a concert, but be- lieyes the committee knew what they
 were doing. In order to let the people
 know once more just what the prices
 to the various entertainments are,
 they are given as follows: Admission
 to prize singing contests this after
 noon will be 50 cents to all parts of
 the house; to the concert tonight
 the prices will be so cents, 75 cents,
 s1 and s1.50: to the picnic to-mor-
 row afternoon the admission will be
 9s cantc and you can huy yot,r din-