Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-01-13

at is knowledge that is destined to |
nourish the holy fame of art in its
disciples" says Richard Wagner. The
search for this knowledge is within
the province of every earnest person.
Without a close acquaintance there
can be no appreciation, and the aver
age person may at least taste of its
appreciation. Music, born of mind and
muscle, is freely recognized as the
characteristic art form of modern civ
ilization. No one with any claims to
culture can afford to be ignorant of it.
There is in every being a love for
music and this characteristic springs
Up from time. to time and seeks a
means of asserting itself. Spasmodi.
cally there have sprung up in Rock
Island musical organizations. They
have lived swift, energetic life, glow
ing with the fame of enthusiasm only
tc too quickly burn themselves out
and sink back into oblivion. There
are in the city many persons of recog-
nized musical talent who in seeking a
means of developing and furthering
this gift have joined organizations
with that end in view. Rock Island
women by the score have gone to Mo-
line and Davenport and there Joined
old firmly established musical clubs.
A talented Rock Island woman,
member Of the Etude club, one of the
older Davenport musical organiza-
tons, was sent to represent that club
on program of the National Fedora
ton of Musical clubs at the st. Louis
exposition, appearing in a brilliant
piano number. In order to receive her
credentials it was necessary for her
to register from Davenport, giving to
that city an honor that should not
have been taken away from Rock Is
land. Seldom is a program given in
either of the other two cities that
Rock Island women are not promi-
nently represented. Realizing this,
and recognizing the need of some
firmly established musical society,
Mrs. W. F. Reimers, herself a talented
musician, discussed with other ladies'
the desirability of such an organiza-
ton. At her suggestion and upon the
invitation of Mrs. j. F. Robinson, five
ladies-Mrs. Reimers, Mrs. Robinson,
Miss Katherine Gest, Mrs. T. B. Reidy
and Mrs. B. D. Connelly-met at the
home of Mrs. Robinson, in February,
1909, and formulated plans for must
cal club. Result general invitation
was sent to musicians of the city to
meet and discuss the forming of a
representative musical club for Rock
Island. Forty earnest women re
sponded to the invitation to meet al
the New Harper, and on Feb. %, 1909
the Rock Island Musical club was
duly organized. Mrs. F. W. Reimers
vas elected president and has ably
held that Office since. The personne
of the first Office was:
: President-Mrs. F. w. Reimers.
l. First Vice President-Mrs A. E
Williams.
Second Vice President-Mrs. ]. R
o Kimball
Recording Secretary-Mrs. ]. R
y Tuckis.
. Corresponding Secretary-Miss Bes
sic NOftsker.
Treasurer-Miss Katherine Gest.
Program Committee-Miss Katie
3 rine Gest, chairman; Mrs. T. B. Reidy
> Mrs. Frank Robinson, Mrs. Frykma1
Miss Fife Johnson and Mrs Ed
: Lund.
Associate Membership Committee
> Mrs. J. X. Scott, chairman; Miss Ma
Culton, Miss Elsa Simon, Mrs. F. K
Rhoads, Miss Dorothy Peasants, Mis-
Harriet Larkin and Mrs. Leo Wynet
Officers and the chairman of prt
= gram committee form the executiv
= board, and the executive board an
. program committee form the examiI
~ ing committee.
A constitution and bylaws wer
, drawn up and adopted at an adjourne
- meeting, and at the same time plan
!. formulated for three programs in III
- spring of 1909. A memorial program
. April l, commemorative the Tooth al
niversary of the birth of Chopin;
Mendelssohn program, April %, an
miscellaneous evening, May
~ were the clubs offering for the fir:
3. spring term of its organization.
r. With the beginning of the fall Sc
v, son, Oct. ., 1909, study programs (
IN composers of all nations were take
I'd up. German, French, Polish, Italia
II, Scandinavian, English, American al
e. Russian composers were studied
O. the order enumerated, with one pr
gram of Christmas music at the hon
OF Mrs. Frank Robinson, a sacred T
cital at Broadway Presbyteria
Or church and three miscellaneous eve
ne ing programs. During the first YET
u all regular meetings were held
sc Elks' hall, the last two years Il
er place of meeting has been the Ne
rs Harper
An auxiliary ladies' chorus was +;
important department of the club dU
ing the first two years of its organic
%, ton, and under Mrs. Edla LunC
., efficient leadership did excellent wor
"a 1t was found advisable to discontinl
10 the chorus work this year.
m The club membership is divid
N into active, student and associa
no members. At the time of organic
,it ton there were As active, IL stude
and 1879 associate members total 2: