The Washington herald., 1907-08-29
ICE CREAM FOR ART
First Aid to Popularity OF
0ratOri0 Society.
THAT FROSTY FEELING
old Timber Handicap. Is the De-
cision of Charter MemberS-Ten
Sopranos and COntraItOs, Plus One
BaSso, Aid Mr.. wriEhtson Ia Com
posing New Organization.

Great enthusiasm was the keynote OF
the initial meeting of the Washington
Oratorio Society, held at the store Of
William Knabe & Co, last night The
meeting had been called by Sydney Lloyd
wrghtson, former director of the Wash
ington Choral Society, for the purpose Of
forming the new society. Ten women
and one other lonely man had responded
to Mr.. Wrightson's summons. and they
expressed their approval Of the proposed
organization in unstinted terms.
Mr.. Wrightson called the little gather
ing 10 orde.. and stated the purpose Of the
call. He said his position. so far as the
Choral Society was concerned. was clear
since the latter's issue Of statement in
which he was attacked.
Il never acknowledged that statement, ="
continued Mr.. Wrightson. but l will
some day make detailed reply to it,
Room for One More.
II is foolish to argue" Mr. Wrlghtson
continued. that in a city of 10000 inhab-
itants not more than one singing society.
bearing an English title, could be sup
ported by object In calling you here to-
night is to form another society, which
shall be as free as possible from al red
tape and which shall be governed by the
singers and members. The Choral So
ciety is not governed by its members.
There is a board that attends to every
thing. The members have no say"
Mr. Wrightson denied that he ever
I 80. =. -
has been charged against him in the
past. "On the contrary he said. Il
actually saved il by raising 81. 900 for Il.
| If IT had not been for that the Choral
Society would have gone under
| Referring 10 his conception Of a new
organization, Mr.. Wrightson said that.
/ backed by about forty-fve older singers.
a new society OF $50 or 200 voices could
easily be founded. and that sunday night
concerts would p0pularize the society.
My idea is 10 call on prominent men
/ to subscribe. continued Mr.. Wrightson.
"and to appoint them as advisers. For
/ a conductor, ] would call an outsider"
Ice Cream Would Help.
We ought to give ice cream soci-
ables," interjected a soprano. THAT
would help make the society popular"
I'VE don't want any Old timber in our
society suggested a rich contralto.
Because person has sung forty
years is no reason why he should occupy
the front rank. suggested another so
prano.
Conversation was beginning to wax
animated. with the bass barely audible
A mezAo-soprano confessed that the
! Choral Society was the most unsociabie
1 affair l ever knew. ! belonged to II for
years, and I must admit / never mel
such a lot of frosty people; so distant, 50
| absolutely exclusive"
SIR Wrghtson took up the solo. and
continued 20 outline his plan. He created
a most agreeable surprise when he an
/ nounced that he had secured Walter
/ i)amrosch for conductor Of the Oratnrio
( Society. NJ, Wrights0n said that ne had
made tentative plans for four concerts
/ the coming winter with Mr. Damrosch
leading; two to be orchestral and two 10
| DE choral concerts, all four to be held
on Sunday evenings, on these dates.
November IT. January 2. February "a.
and March q Mr. Wnghtson also prom
ised thar Mr. Damrosch would bring AIS
own soloists and orchestra. which, for
/ orchestral concert purposes. consists of
! seventy members. and for choral concerts
! comprises dfty artists.
Money Il No Object.
/ Mr.. Wrightson stated he would be
pleased 10 do the preliminary work free
Of charge. He laid emphasis on the fact
1 that he wanted the spirit Of antagonlsm
between the Choral and the Oratorio to
! disappear. that ne entertained only the
best wishes for their success.
| The meeting adjourned, the eleven can
didates present signing their names to
become members Of the new society and
promising to follow the banner of the
/ OratoriO.'