New-York tribune., 1908-02-23
GOSSIP OF THE BOROUGH
Arion Society to Sing for President
Before European Trip.

The uewspovs of the Borough Hall district
have found new sport since the opening OF
the under river subway tube. From a casual
glance il appears 10 combine the pleasures of
eel spearing with those Of high finance. The
subway builders themselves furnished the play
ground which is the open ron grating in the
sidewalk in front of the steps OF the Municipal
Building. by which The tube is ventilated
About six or seven feet below the grating is a
sheet of metal. somewhat larger than the open
ing in the sidewalk The crowds that daily
enter or pass out CT the subway entrance, half
dozen steps away, must walk over the grating.
Going in almost every one is searching his
pockets for five cents in change for the subway
ride, and those coming out are getting their
nickels ready for use on the surface or elevated
cars As q result many coin drops out of
sight through the grating Some wise youth
among The neyysboys soon devised a plan for
securing the booty. lie got long stick stuck
one end into the greasy axle OF a truck, and
then proceeded 10 pick up the coins from The
shelf beneath the grating. 1t IS now the usual
thing 10 see two three youths indulCing in
the pasti1ne Of getting something for nothing.
The Arion Singing Society has about com
pleted Arrangements for the t~lp which seventy
five Of its members and l::3 friends VIII take 20
Germany this summer. The party viii leave
Manhattan on the Lloyd Line steamer Bar
barossa on June % Before the return the So
ciety VIII sing before Emperor William. Some
time ago Henry Fuehrer. the president sent
letter TO President Roosevelt telling him about
the trip and stating that the singers would be
pleased 10 visit him before their departure and
sing some Of the songs which they will later
sing in the EZaiser's presence Mr. Roosevelt re
Plturned courteous reply in bis own handwriting
"a few days ago. thanking the singers for The
= thor
at Washington or al Oyster Bay. lie said that
he had requested the Secretary Of State to com
rllunioate with the foreign representatives, and
instruct them TO DO all in their power 10 make
the trip OF The singers pleasant.
The singers expect 10 have merry trip. Am
bassador Cha~Iernagne Tower has been cooper
sting with them in Europe. and so have the
American colonists in Germany. They have
received invitations from various cities. asking
them 10 stop their way. The heartiest in
vitation has come from Chemnitz. in Saxony.
where the largest American colony is situated.
The party will visit most Of the chief cities of
the Fatherland. including Berlin Leipsic
Dresden. Munich ard Wiesbaden. 1t VIII stop
a. weimar, famous for its memories Of Goethe
and Schiller. Here the visitors VIII see the
tomb of Goethe. At Wartburg they VIII sing
.n the hall where wagner's ''Tannhauser' was
singers VII give a concert for the benefit of
charity
The concert before the Kaiser will be early in
August Among the songs which viii be sung
will be Dixie Old Black Joe" and old Folks
at Home" The party Win return TO America
or the Lloyd Line steamer Grosser Kurfurst on
August 9.
President Monsen viii give The first of the
illustrated lectures Of his series al Asso-
citation Hall Saturday afternoon and evening.
Eis topic VIII be old Mexico" The lectures
are under the auspices OF The Brooklyn Institute
of Arts and Sciences The New York SYM
plaony Orchestra. whose conductor is Walter
Danrosch. VIII give its fourth Saturday matinee
concert at the Baptist Temple on March al
3 O'Clock presenting Eugene Onegin" an opera
in three acts by Tschs iko-ssky. Nine. Cadski
will give her third song recital At The Baptist