Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-12-11
VICTOR HERBERT
MAY WRITE CITY
PAGEANT MUSIC
Noted Composer interested in
Anniversary Fete-Pageant
Master Criticised.

Victor Herbert win probably be se-
cured to write the music for New
arlk's pageant next year. c. Mortimer
Wiske, the conductor Of the Newark
May music festival and friend of
the noted composer. told the pageant
committee of the Committee of One
Hundred last night. Mr.. Wiske said
that the $1,000 the committee is pre-
pared to offer would not attract Mr..
Herbert to the work, but that he be-
lieves the composer viii overlook the
size of the financial remuneration. III
view of the nature of the occasion.
He said the composers annual in
come Is understood to be $3.50, 900.
Members of the committee felt they
were fortunate in securing Mr.. Her
bert at 81 900, and Henry Wellington
Wack, executive adviser, said he
would be cheap at $1,000.
The original music figure in the
committees budget was $3.50, but
some time ago, when the name of
Mr. Herbert was mentioned, the mem
bers showed a disposition to increase
1t to the sum of $1,000 for the pur-
pose of making an offer to Mr.. Her
bert. Mr. WMke was instructed to
deal with the latter. and reported last
night that Mr.. Herbert had said he
would be very glad to consult with
Pageant Master Thomas Wood Stew
ems. It developed that Mr.. Stevens
had not yet communicated with
Mr. Herbert or taken active steps in
the matter. Former Police Commits
sioner Alfred L. DeVoe, chairman of
the committee. ordered the secretary
to write Mr.. Stevens Immediately and
instruct him to "get in touch with
Mr. Herbert at once and let the COM
mittee know the outcome
This lack of definite knowledge OF
the musical situation was indicative
of what was to develop all through
the meeting. 1t was the first meet
ing at which any difficulty had de-
veloped for the pageant COMMITTEES,
but there was enough of 1t, when 1t
did come, to make up for all that had
been missing in the past
Before adjournment had been taken
the members were face to face with
the realization that they are in un-
enviable straits. Practically no actual
Accomplishment in the preparations
for the presentation of the pageant
has been effected. The whole affair
was shown to be alta standstill with
the opening night less than six
months away.
COmmitUee All ht sea
The costumes committee does not
know what costumes are need
ed, the cast committee is ig-
norant as to how many per-
sons of each type desired will be
required the lighting committee is
awaiting the work of the auditorium
committee, which is hampered by
lack of knowledge of the specific stage
requirements. and the book of the
pageant, from which much of the
needed information could be gained,
has not been written by Mr.. Stevens,
and will not be, according to Mr..
Devoe, until the middle of january.
Mr. Stevens was not present last
night. Mr.. DeNoe made it plain that
the pageant masters presence was
needed at every meeting, and said:
"I think this committee should meet
every week. hereafter and I want to
see Mr.. Stevens here. We miss him
very much tonight"
Mr. Wack criticised the condition
of affairs. IT took hold of the REG
ords ten days ago and found them
yerv much muddled," he said. II
found they were kept In personal
way. rather than by system. 1t is
well for us to look at Mr.. Stevens
aims. but we must have the business
machinery behind them.'
Mr.. Waclx outlined a system for the
committee to adopt, including a. card
index OF members of the cast, gen.
eral bookkeeping system for all de-
tails of the work, and the presence in
the committee headquarters of a
woman secretary who would be at the
committee members service at all
times. His plan was well received
and he said he would have matters
Started right within twenty-four
hours. Mr.. Waclx Joined with Mr..
DeVoe in regretting the pageant
masters absence at so important a
meeting,
The subcommittee reports showed
plainly that the pageantryI body is up
against the same difficulty which
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