Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-07-30
st. Olaf Band Tour.

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Rugby, n. D., July %, 'o9.
EDITOR LEADER--It may be Of in
terest to the people OF Lincoln county
to hear about the second great tour
OF the St. Olaf Band, so l thought I'd
write a brief account of the trip up to
this place.
The band left Northheld, June q,
after a couple of weeks spent in re-
hearsals. We have given over forty
concerts up to date and have general
ly been successful in drawing large
and enthusiastic crowds. Our largest
crowd was at Devils Lake Chautau-
qua where we played three days. Last
Sunday a special excursion to Devils
Lake had been advertised and the
crowd was estimated by the Chautau-
qua management to be between five
and six thousand. We expect to fin
ish our North Dakota schedule the
first week In August and will then
make about fifteen towns in Mon
tana.
Our engagement at Spokane begins
on the 2lst af August. After playing
a week In the parks of that city we
leave direct for Seattle; we also have
a weeks engagement at the fair, and
1t may also be said in passing that
this is the only professional band
that vas able to secure an engage
ment at the Exposition. Before re-
turning home we will play in Port
land and Tacoma and possibly one or
two other places. So far we have
played in Crookston, Moorhead, Graf
ton, Grand Forks, ETC., and are max
ing a fairly clean sweep Of the state.
Our reception has been most crafty
ing, aud the prospects are good for a
very successful trip.
The band Is a much stronger or
ganization than ever 1t "a thought
at the time we made the Norway trip
that that band would be the best
that could represent the college for
many years to come, but this band
is much superior in every respect.
AINCi oCSVlOlA 10 oUlouk SlAN lOlAo1lS
and there is greater uniformity in
technique and sustaining power
among the individual players than
formerly. There is also vast improve
menti in tone, shading and ensemble.
Many OF our concerts have been
played in open air in parks or groves,
which is very fortunate, as such a
large band Is necessarily too large to
play with good effect in any but the
largest auditorium.
We have had good weather the
greater part Of the time, not yet hav-
ing missed an out door concert on &C
count OF rain. We have had severel
trip across country in automobiles
and Surveys and sometimes, when on
account Of the weather such convey
ances we're not available, in rigs not
quite so comfortable. We have thus
had a chance to get an idea OF the
country and the prospect for a good
harvest. What seems to be the prin-'
cipal crop and juduina from the couh-
we1 passed through, it will
be a bumper. WeFhave on several &C.
casions been entertained at the farms
of some of our st. OLAF friends. There
are many evidences Of prosperity up
this way. Many booming towns are
spring up. Everywhere we see fine
homes and almost everybody, es-
pecia)ly the farmer, travel around in
fine lare automobiles. They seem to
be the cOmmonest means Of convey
ance hereabouts. l have on several
occasions been agreeably surprised to
meet old Canton friends. At May
Vile l met Joseph and Richard Tet-
lie and l "a entertained by Mr.. and
Mrs. Gudmunsen, who moved there
from Canton about 3 years ago. They
are doing we'll and like their new
home very much. At DEVILS Lake
Hon f. II. Cuthbert entertained us in,
fine style and also showed US around
town in an auto. At Churches Ferry,
between trains, we saw Miss Jose
phine Rambe.g, who was on her way
home from this city, where she has
been teaching school. We have a
pick up ball team In the band and
have done some transforming in ad-
dition to our concerts. Have so far
captured three games and lost none,
and for this Joe Tetlie deserves the
most credit.
We have our own sleeping car and
baggage coach and are very comfort
ably quartered SC everybody is enjoy
ing the trip and we are feeling fine.
Yours, p. NJ. SKARTvEDT.