The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1908-11-26
The Concert of Nations.
A Brilliant And Unqualified Success, Mu-
sically, Artistically and Financially.

A Brilliant And Unqualified Success, Mu.
sically, Artistically and Financially.
"The Concert of Nations" given under the
patronage of the Ladies' Social Aid of the
Universalist church in the Belfast Opera House
last Thursday and Friday evenings was one of
the most thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated
productions given in Belfast for number of
years. Both evenings the crowded house so
we'll deserved by the excellence of the pro-
gram greeted the rise of the curtain, while the
Opera House presented gala appearance.
The flags of many other nations, combined
with Old Glory were most effectively arranged
about the balcony rail, and the little fir trees
which filled in the corners at the side front
were also gay with parti-colored national en-
blems When the curtain rose, each night, the
involuntary 'oh' which swept softly over the
packed hall was in itself pretty tribute to the
picture revealed on the stage. The entire back
drop was covered with two large flags, and the
wings and drops all bore red, white and blue
bunting and smaller flags. The chorus, about
70 in number, were seated on raised platforms
on the stage, the black of the mems coats
serving as an effective background for the
ladies, all of whom were becomingly gowned in
white On the front row were seated the typ
ical characters, in fetching and appropriate
costumes. So well adapted were the young
ladies' to the nationalities they represented
that it was hard to believe that some of them
had not been imported from lover seas" Tor
the occasion. They were as follows: Columbia,
Miss Katherine Brier, Miss Florence NJ Hill;
Indian maid, Miss Ida M. Ames; The Navy,
Miss Annette A. Shuman; Gretchen, Miss
Marian M. Head; French maid, Miss Irene
Shaw; Tambourine girl, Miss Edna d. Craw-
ford Spanish maid, Mrs. Clarence E. Read;
Daughter of the Republic, Miss Katherine Z.
Quimhy; Japanese maid, Mrs. Edwin P. Frost;
Porto Rico girl, Miss Marian NJ. Perry; Mex
lean maid, Miss Ethel R. Hutchins; Swiss peas
ant, Miss Alice NJ Nickerson; Irish lass, Mrs.
Clement W. Wescott; Chinese maid, Miss Flor
ence Libby; Scotch lassie, Miss Marian Wells.
The overture was by the Entire Nous Or
chestra, was brilliantly executed, and was a
strong recommendation for this new organi-
zation, composed of the following young peo-
pie: George Hart violin; Miss Cecil Little
field, cornet; Clyde Pettee, clarinet; Charles
Decrow, trombone; Miss Grace Littlefield,
piano.
The opening number on the program was
by the chorus ''Let the Hills and Wales Re
sound" 1t was thoroughly enjoyed and gave
the audience a foretaste of other good things
to come. Mr.. Ralph l. Morse's solo, "My Wild
Irish Rose" by Olcutt was finely rendered.
Belfast people were delighted with Mr. Morses
voice in solo work and hope to hear it often in
the future Duet I'm the Isle of Our Dreams
from the popular ''Red Mill sung by Mrs.
Clarence E. Read and Mr. Arthur Johnson was
extremely pretty and effective. The chill
dren's chorus was next on the program, and as
the forty little girls, gowned in white, with red
sashes and red hair ribbons, rose at the signal
from their seats at the front of the hall there
was a hush and then rustic of interest as the
audience bent forward to see the effective
entrance of the children. They filed onto the
stage to march time and formed in double
row. Each little girl carried a flag, which she
waved at intervals in the chorus of the song,
At the close of the song, whose stirring lines
were charmingly sung by the small musicians,
Miss Freda Sylvester stepped forward and
sang very sweetly "The Flag That Has Never
Known Defeat" The children Joined in the
chorus, and again their hags came into play.
The colored lights thrown from the center
balcony were used for the first time with this
number, and were great addition to its beauty
The little girls never looked sweeter than
when singing away with their hearts IN their
work and an earnest expression on their faces.
One of the youthful chorus had remarked pre-
viouslv that "Them red ribbons amt becomin
to some of the kids" but if that was so the
audience surely were none the wiser.
Mrs. Cleera e. Read was dressed as a Span
ish maid but sang her solo, Hungarian love
song, to perfection, and with much feeling
One of the prettiest of the choruses followed
Donazetti's 80 Italia, Italia Beloved" and it
was finely rendered, as We're all the chorus
numbers. Miss Marian Wells as the Scotch
lassie sang the s'Bonnie Sweet Bessie" and her
magnificent soprano voice was never heard to
better advantage,
The ladies' asartette, formed by Mrs. E. p.
Frost, Mrs. G. W. Wescott Miss Emma Sksy
and Mrs E. S. Pitcher, sang Legends by
Mohreng, and it was one of the delights of the
program. Their voices blended perfectly, and
their rendering of the beautiful song would be
worth long journey to heay. Mr. Bert L.
Davis as Hiram Green" sang "Reuben Has
kins" in costume in his own inimitable way
and, as usual, brought down the house. A Sc
we're cold prevented Miss Katherine Brler,
who was gowned as Columbia" from singing
her solo, much to the disappointment Of the
audience She looked the part to perfection,
however, and was the center of attraction dur
ing the chorus rendering of Columbia the
Gem of the Ocean," She was unable to be
present the second night, and Miss Florence
M. Hill substituted for her, and looked as love-
ly as did the original. The lights thrown dur
ing this number were most effective, and the
tabeaux were striking ones. Mr.. John Par
ker, whose appearance upon the platform IS
always hailed with delight sang "Forget the
Past" The first part of the program ended
with the singing of Gouno DIS Lovely Ap-
| pear by Miss Marian Wells and the chorus
The Ladies' Zobo Band, led by Mrs. George
E. Havener, was one of the hits of the even