Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1907-10-16
WILL NOT RESIGN.
DIRECTOR IN CHIEF CHAPMAN
WILL STAND BY FESTIVAL.
WANTS HELP, HowEvER-AND SEEMS
LIKELY TO GET Ir--ACTION IN
BANGOR AND PORTLAND.

CONSERVATION was thrown into the
camp Of music lovers throughout Maine
this week by the report that Director-in-
Chief w. K. Chapman had resigned. This
was tantamount to saying that the Maine
music festival, which closed last week in
3 blaze of glory, had sung its last song,
and after eleven years Of renown was to be
no more.
Happily the rrror proved to be I'M
founded; wnnt Air. Chapman did make
plain, however, was that be could not
continue unless he had better support
that is, be relieved of no small part Of the
drudgery and detail that can and ought to
be Gone by others.
His position instantly met with the
warmest kind Of approval. The executive
committee Of the Eastern Maine festival
association summarized the situation in
the following
To the Editor Of the Bangor Commercial:
The information received from Portland
Thursday morning that MI. Chapman has re-
signed his position as director Of the Maine
music festival, coupled with the intimation
to the same effect, which he gave us when
here, brings us face to face with most de-
plorable crisis ir the affairs OF this institu-
tion, for 1t is safe to say that, II he should
persist in this determination it would write
+" FINS" on this great work.
There may be few musical directors in
this country. and they are but few, who
possess the requisite ability, musical knowl-
edge and acquaintance with the great artists
to carry on the work, il they were willing to
do SO, but assuredly there Is none possessing
these qualities who would do this at the
financial remuneration that we can offer, and
these would not begin to under take the
drudgery and eleme ntary work that Mr..
Chapman has unainchingly and uncomplain-
ingly gone through for the last eleven years.
1t has been great pleasure to us to find
that the great value Of Mr.. Chapmans ser
vices mas been more and more recognized each
year, and it is surely time that all carping
criticism of his personality and methods
should forever cease, in view Of the untold
benefits he has conferred on our State, and
which we shall all recognize to the full, when
it is too late, should he persevere in his de-
termination to withdraw himself. We regret
to think that there are still few whose mar
row minds cannot rise to the height of imag-
lining that there can be, in this world, striv-
ing after noble ideal.
NOT GETTING RICH.
We have hitherto refrained from publicly
noticing the erroneous impression that seems
to prevail in some minds that Mr.. Chapman
Is getting rich out of these festivals. His
action in Portland would seem effectually to
give the final quietus to such All opinion SO
far as regards the western association, and so
far as the eastern association is concerned we
know what we are talking about, and make
the statement with unquestionable authority
when we say that it is more than doubtful if,
after paying his travelling expenses, ETC., Mr..
Chapman has made more than an ordinary
mans days wages during his con-
aection with US. any statements to the con-
trary, emphatieally. Notwithstanding.
And how hard and tirelessly the man has
worked for our benefit More than once.
after conducting great concert in New York
he has hurriedly changed his garments and
rushed off bv the midnight train to stir up
interest in Aroostook or Washington coun-
ty, or even, sad though the admission is.
right here in Bangor. Surely this necessity
for drumming up trade" is derogatory to q
man Of Mr.. Chapman's acknowledged genius.
and the public sentiment of our State ought
to render it no longer necessary.
None can now deny that Mr.. Chapman has
great, wonderful ability. We very much
doubt if any impresario, at any time. in any
country in the world, could equal the proud
record that Mr. Chapman has made for HIM
self; for eleven long years he has brought
here the greatest artists in the world without
single break or disappointment-we think
we can safely challenge comparison, on his
behalf, in this respect.
RESULTS ACHIEVED.
Nor do the evidences of his great ability
and wise management end here; consider the
masterpieces of musical art that he has pre-
scented for our benefit. with wonderfully APP J,
propriate artists that he has brought for their
rendition. Recall Elijah. the Gre .tion, the
Requiem and last week Samson ID Delilah.
where The singers not infrequently seemed to
lose their individualities AMI become the
living embodiments of the characters they
for the time represented.
Then think of the great chorus. to break up
which would seem to be little short OF a
crime, brought together from all sections of
eastern Maine. trained under different
'e-eheHs' anu yet, WIN one snort rehearsal.
under the power of mis- magic wand, what
perfect harmony and musical skill have we
witnessed. And who, before him, ever
d reamed of bringing here that marvellous or
chestra, with which we have been SO much
the past two seasons?
Anyone who will carefully and candidly
consider the history of the last eleven years
must admit that Mr.. Chapman has amply
his fitness for place among
the few really great musical directors of our
day. The severance of his relations with us |
would be a dire misfortu ne and IT is hearti,y