The Washington herald., 1907-05-17


ing entertainments ever given at the New
National Theater was that yesterday aft
ernoon.
L was the dress rehearsal for the
third annual song festival 20 be given to-
night by 500 school children Of the public
schools of Washington, under the direc-
tion Of Miss Alys T. Bentley. director
Of music. FOR the benefit Of the Schoo,
Playground Fund.
It was really the same entertainment
that will be presented tonight, and
its purpose was, primarily. TO give the
children confidence and an opportunity to
famiIarize themselves with the music.
II was a notable occasion. because The
singing Of the children vastly interested
President Roosevelt. and the Chief EXecu-
tive. with Mrs. Roosevelt. Ethel and
Quentin Roosevelt, and a party Of friends,
occupied a box.
President Roosevelt expressed himself
10 those IN charge Of the affair as highly
pleased with the entertainment, and com
plimented ALL
Maybe the go children on the stage
were not delighted when they saw their
distinguished spectator. Manyof them had
never seen the President Of the United
States so close before. and each child IN
the brilliant galaxy sang its best, and
it was very good, indeed.
Rises to National Air.
So good. indeed. that President Roose-
welt was delighted auditor. Every num-
Der he cucorcd most enthusiastically. and
his family followed suit When. after
singing The Flag Goes Passing By" the
little children sang in their sweet voices,
so pure and clear. The star Spangied
Banner the President was the first 10
bound 20 his feet. or course, the audience
followed him. and it was a picture 10 see
the President smiling and standing erect.
with little Quentin. a perfect replica ot
his father. standing in exactly the same
pose, his hand in the same pocket, and
looking out at the vast audience with
The same smiling face
During the inte-mssian the curtain was
lowered, but It was alterward raised a
few feet In fla meantime the Marine
Band, which played and helped out the
concert, rendered number Of selections. /
But all of a sudden the President had
disappeared from his box.
Goes Behind the Scenes.
There was a roar of childish cheering
and every one recognized that with his
great love for the youngsters. the Prosi- /
dent had gone back OF the scenes" TO /
see his little friends II turned ont after
ward thar one little girl. more brave than
the rest, had asked. during the intermis-
sin. permission 10 see the President. and
when this request was conveyed to him
Nj Roosevelt promptly went back TO see
a.. the young ones.
N0,oniy did he make them a speech; he
shook hands with as many OF them as he
could reach. and then he mounted the
directors platform. I'm response 10 the
cries of Speech, Speech" piped I'm child
fish treble. and said: God bless YOU.
children. You have done first rate I
congratulate you. 1 do not know when
have enjoyed anything more. Good luck
L. all Of you. my de8rs.'
In The meantime the audience, which
comfortably filed the house, did not al
all know what was happening The cur
tain was just raised enough to let the
sound OF the cheering through The rest
was speculation. But when just before
the intermission closed. the President
came back into his box. he was greeted /
with such storm of cheers that he had
10 rise and bow his acknowledgements. /
and. as he sat down, he patted Quentin /
on the head with a smile. as il to say: /
what do you think of thats'
The concert was given under the aus |
pices Of the Washington Playground As /
s0CiatiOn with the cooperation Of the /
board of education President Roosevelt |
congratulated. heartily Chairman James /
j. West for the success Of the under /
taking. and also congratulated Miss Alys /
I. Bentley for the fine drill and instruc- |
tion she had given her pupils.
Children Make Pretty Picture.
The children made a glorious and pic /
turesque sight. They were seated in /
pyramid form. extending from the foot /
lights upward. They were all young
children. and. although there were a few I
boys preseHt-looklng much more shy
than the girIs-the girls pred0minated /
Fer the most part the girls were dressed /
In white, but few In pink and pale blue .
lent picturesque touch of color 20 the .
scene. Every child had a strip Of the /
national Coiors pinned on the breast. and /
the whole effect was inspiring in the ex- /
treme
And how the children sang, Surely. Il /
showed the effect of long and patient /
drill All of tAe numbers were rendered /
most admirably and in q manner that /
would not have disCr3ceJ an adult chorus.
They oheyod every direction of Miss Rent-
Icy i'm beautiful way, and, altogether,
the concert was a great delight and an /
enormous success.
The song festival committee was com
West. chairman. MIS-. Henry l. West
secretary; oir. Charles $. Clark. treas
Ureri Lieut.. John ". Crawford. Mrs. VIII
fam II. Hoeke. Miss Elizabeth Oliver.
Capt. James r. oyster, and Miss Edith
e. Wastc1tt
The Marine Band was under the direc-
ton Of Lieut. W. IT. Santelmann. and the
accompanies were Miss s. #. Mason. drs.
Frank Eyram, Mrs q. Harris White. and
9-r. HUstead p. Hoover
Members of Chorus.
The members Of the song festival
chorus were:
First Division.
Ar. Charles S. C.-rz. supervising rrincipal oflcr,
Deuisn School II
sixth GRADE soFfsna-DarI, Parker katherine
Erra1, Doris Moore. Gretchen Prescott Pauline Il
Stone Edith ioaas Margaret Bell Leonard Pohl- II
mas Joseph Scaasf May Whtakcr Alic, stewart
Margaret MrCmtr.fC-. Eagmad Goodman and
Eiesn-o A-.s4ulfi A-o-Dauis Irgku0Cd Maurice
lii comb. Herbert N.Auay. TaEicr Eik5r. Ralph Il
GcldUIth J8c5 Mason and Ethel GculCy
Seventh Erada - .lur0-Aiary Haaeu Icrrora
N1l5n Joe Hsi7lt. Mildred Martin Lille Winner
William Ellis. Anita Parker Vivian Miller. Mary
Byer. EuEcrs Frsemsn. Lena Ramsay Robert
EeEr L.Tctta Goddard. Ela Gardner Helen short
Mar-ar-- Browne. TAHP GlgmoH and Hsrry
ETCI A-,-'ie1ert Hmrdcs Frank Thompson
Ear-e h-l--. David Gibtou john Eiker Cbauncey
Wlmstcad. Mary Lon Thutns. and Bessie Vel
lines.
Egath grele - Soprano - Florence Lcr- Ruth
Seiios9r, H,r-Is1 Hsu9, BESSIE Eirc1. Dorothy j
SrlHaa Fr1rcas F.rlruG-r Ethel TF.rarfh TufTfr