The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-23

A brilliant audience heard the open ing of the music festival last night. So- ciety here uniformly gives it's most flattering interest to musical events of high order and, as usual, glacing over the throng during the superb programme one missed few of those who have become identified with Bir- mingham's musical development. In a very throng of music lovers Mrs. Tru- man Aldrich, Jr., after her number on the programme was completed, could be seen with a party of guests. Ani- mated, keenly alive in her silent inter pretation of the music that followed her own wonderful concerto, she 4was a charming center of an interested group Her concert gown was one of those su perb creations that are giving her rec ognition for perfect gowning as well as for wonderful art. It was fashioned of rich white satin en traine and yelled with an iridescent white net. With a touch of black velvet about the hem and on the corsage, and daintN gar land of pink roses, it was a costume of exceptional character. Its whiteness but emphasized, too, the vivid color of the gorgeous American Beauty roses which meant so much more than mere gift of flowers in that they breathed the homage of the most dignified body of business men in Birmin ingham-the Chamber of Commerce-which in coun- ell assembled decided upon this means of showing their appreciation of her art and her efforts in behalf of artistic development in Birmingham. It was after the completion of her concerto that these great, long-stemmed blos- soms, in company with flowers from personal friends, were brought upon the stage. With the roses was note from the president of the Chamber of commerce which, after they were pre- scented to her, was read to the audience. It we'll expressed the pride of the com mercial body in this exponent of Bir- mingham's musical talent and was as follows:
 My Dear Mrs. Aldrich:
 Signal achievement should meet with recognition, compensurate with it's accomplishment. While it has never been the policy of the Chamber of Commerce of this city to take official cognizance of achievement excepting along commercial directions, it was deemed proper that 1t should depart from its usual custom to make public recognition of your eminent achieve ment, as an artist.
 In thus honoring you the Chamber of Commerce but honors itself and the city of Birmingham. What this organ ization has been doing for the further ance of the commercial you have been doing for the artistic and the aesthetic, thus not only giving fame to our city as a musical center but aiding greatly in making Birmingham a more beau tiful town, more desirable place for residence.
 For me to refer to the high regard in which you are held by the musical world or the loving esteem of the cit izens. of our beloved city, would be but
  those I could never have written Ma toma,'" said MT. Herbert The revenue from them was assured and consequently, could 20 on at leisure with the other. 7 ''It has been charged against you that in being the greatest of American com posers that you are not an American?' suggested.
 T can't help that replied MT. Her bert. T was born in Dublin and l am proud of 1t, but Il was educated in Ger many and nv enthusia smS are American