Connecticut western news., 1914-12-24


 Sunday.
 tions with itself, its conductor and tAss rest of the world, which is more than. can be said by all of Europe and MoxisoN. In the problem of attendance, we k@ws> followed the best musical authoriti@Ez aud made "a strong attack" in taas- problem of paying our bills, we follow ed the same rubrics, and are 90 and @ half notes ahead of the score. The se@- son has been a great success, from ths> overture to the coda; and we close ths- year more grateful than ever that was live within auditory distance of Norfolk and that we have Kaiser Paine to reignmL over us.
 To begin at the beginning, as the- crane said when he swallowed the eeA head first, we made a special drive fox good attendance An extra invitation was promised for every maker of a per- feet score and corresponding losses fox delinquency. Large boards containing records of each member were plsceS conspicuously in the hall as a reminder It indicated at a glance each oDe'ss grace, disgrace or scape grace, acoord- ing as it showed the mark for 'adsunA, 'r the zero for "absum," or the x fo@- Excuse me, kind sir" It looked SO foreboding to some delinquents and presaged their finish SO we'll. that oaw- conductor called it "the tombstone 'T However, it accomplished its purpe@e,- and we were able to show a marked inn provement; 31 had perfect records ansk :, xNF an mlx en cent. Considering that we draw fromR wider circle than any of the ''ava- towns" the average is very good.
 The esprit de corps of the choir Sss admirable. There are no jealoussa~s perceptible to the naked eye, whiefxaisv more than can be said of the MetseYpz- tan Opera company and there auas mo. factions. The choir gives good atsem- tion to the autocrat on the thrones ha holds us with his glittering eye, .ansal we obey his slightest whim. We ww' fortunate in having as our accompanies gentleman who is also an able comH- ductor, and who knows how to rsSn.- force or emphasize faulty passage witka rare touch and perspicacity. hE- Paine's picturesque descriptions of thes musical setting, his abundant humor- enlivening the drudgery of rehearssAss i. and his occasional rendition of ths- arias, as sung by Emmie Destinn, Ger. aldine Farrar or Robinso Carusos has added to the gayety of nations The social amenities were amply cared for at the annual meeting, when a hne' musical program was presented by loeah talent, also the dietetic succeeded the' diatonic and the chef came after the, clef in masterly style; for ham, as snAsa Wegg once remarked to Mir. Boffinr i#s very mellering to the organ"
 The distribution of our invitations was accomplished without friction andh with general qualification. 1t ia he-- lieved that all persons in the town are- fully persuaded of the impartiality and well-considered equity of the adminis- tration of this trust. So thoroughly iss the system now organized, with com plete back files at command, and a sur vey of all app lications in advance, that5 no reasonable request or worthy listensr- is ever liable to be refused. No invi4a-- tion scandals have ever originated inS our constituency and the instructions Ol OOI iiOhOiSu bShS1uSVoi dlN NaSAlkAo0S observed.
 The cause of music itself, of wbdoIla this choir is a sacred shrine, is steadily advancing in our community. The sp-- preciation of noble music is growing, in consequence of the world famous rendition at Norfolk. Tbe public schools have a training teacher from Winsted, and, when song books were wanted, they were spontaneously sup piled by music lover of the town The feature of Christmas eve this year will be community Christmas tree, electrically lighted, surmounted by sp star and furnishing a rallying point for all the singers in the vicinity to gather and sing the Christmas hymns, Bur which printed copies were furnished tos every school in town, askind of revlvAE of the song associated with the festival from the beginning.
 In conclusion, let me continue to- voice the gratitude, deeper than can be- expressed in tongue of men or of angels. for all that we have enjoyed this year 3: for the patience and painstaking of the patient and taking Paine; for the gen jus of great masters, whose music willi outlive the roll of British drums or tn trumpet blasts of Gabriel and for th. philharmonic philanthropy, that make Norfolk the musical center of our sola system, and that places the whitehouse in the middle of the heart.