Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-05-14
c. II A 7

One OF the most beautiful as we'll as
uplifting events that has ever been In
Atlanta was the Music Festival, just
over.
II was patronized by music lovers from
al over the south, and was an appro-
pirate christening for the big audito-
rum that Atlanta's public spirited citi-
Gems have recently given her. Imagine
room so large that eight thousand peo-
pie can be comfortably seated. vet SO
well proportioned that il looked like a
stately hall. instead OF a big barn. Then
imagine the acoustics so exactly bal
anced that the faintest echo OF voices
that were as sweet as birds could be
heard In every part OF IT, As / sat there
yesterday afternoon and looked at the
picture spread before me 1 though OF
Miss brakes beautiful description of the
scene as Il appeared TO her the previous
evening. and I'm going 10 give you heI
words;
with the chorus spread like a great
white fan tipped with black behind the
wonderful orchestra, smaller fans bright
with color Of the Japanese. represented
by the boxes and the tiers OF seats rising
behind them. the great arena looking
like Titfan's palette set with every color
Of sea and earth and sky. the great build
ing was a picture framed in the rcd and
white and blues of the stars and stripes
Martin. and the exquisite melody OF their
pulsing. throbbing threats. their gracious
generosity in responding to encores. and
evident appreciation Of the storm of ap-
plauss which greeted their every appear
ance."
Every performance was worth all one
paid for IL, and one enthusiastic girl who
expects 10 devote years TO her music said
that II was worth a year OF hard work
~ Nnw zrr-a hal vr-frf
agree with her. One can only rise as
high as ones ideals. and II a girl has
heard Miss Farrar, Miss Lansing or Ma
dame Fremstad. she has Just that much
better idea Of real melody.
Miss Germaine Schnitzer is pianist
that captures one with the very first
chord she strikes. Her touch is sym
pathetic ana her memory prOdigious l
couldn't begin 10 tell you how many OF
the masterpieces she rendered, and
never used her notes one time. In a
concerto in Z flat she amazed the audi
ence with her memoriZing. The entire
orchestra used notes every time and it
made her omission more noticeable.
There was one thing in the audience
that especially pleased me. and that
was the good sense shown in their ap-
parel. Every one had on her best, 1 sus-
pect but 1 don't believe many stayed
away D~C1uSc AnSF uAu not nave as SOOu
as Mrs. SO-and-So. / was glad to see
the beautiful dresses OF those who can
AFFORD them. I think we should take the
lilies and roses for models and look as
pretty and be as sweet as we can. In the
afternoon side by side l saw organizes.
crepes and plain white shirt waists and
skirts. and the women in the latter en-
5oyed the festival as much as the former
did In the boxes were dresses that cost
hundreds OF dollars, and. as said, was
glad to see them Some of those ladies'
were the wives. daughters and sisters of
the men whose gifts made the auditorium
an actual fact You and 1 could never
have built il. so let's appreciate it and
enjoy with them the good thing made pos
sible by money and generous hearts. Mr..
Gray OF our own paper spent lots Of his
valuable time and money making possible
this great festival Besides his gift to the
auditorium fund, he used his influence to
get Miss Farrar released from a contract
and spent two weeks in New York per-
fecting arrangements.
tell you these things because 1 think
some OF us are not as careful to give
honor where honor Is due. OF the many
thousands who congregated in the audi
torium the FIVE times its doors were OPP
ened I suspect that less than a thousand
made II possible for the rest of US to be
there. Some paid ninety dollars for a
box and heard no more nor were any
more comfortable than was.
'.Music." said Martin Luther. ''is a
fair and glorious gift from God I would
not for the world renOunce my humble
share In music
Carlyle says. Music is a kind Of mar
ticulate. unfathomable speech, which
leads US 10 the edge Of the infinite, and
lets US for moments gaze into it
Let's all enjoy the music that comes
20 US Some have the birds. the sOughing
wind. the tapping waves Others have the
cooling voices OF little children, the thank
you OF an invalid or Nle God bless
you" OF some heart buTdened by grief.
But all OF US can have the echo in our
hearts OF the "still small voice. that tells
Us we have done the best we could.
Faithfully yours,
n