The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-12-26

(C1 OMEHOW the Christmas season
IN spells "Glee clubs;' somehow the
~ Christmas season wouldn't be quite
as Christmasy and as happy if the splen-
did young college boys didn't come to
visit us with their tuneful college songs
and ditties, choruses and specialties;
somehow Christmas and glee clubs go
hand in hand and right royalty does Biz
mingham welcome at this happy Christ
nastide the University of Alabama Glee
club, the pride and JOY of every loyal
true citizen OF Alabama.
Mr.. Tom Gafner, the widely known
and greatly beloved director of the Glee
club, paid Birmingham a visit Few
days ago relative to the approaching
concert which the Glee club VIII give
tomorrow CThursdaD evening at the tut
wiler, and while he was here he was
corraled for a bit of history concerning
the club. Nothing pleased Mr.. Garner
more than to talk about the Glee clup'
and why shouldn't it, because the Glee
club and Mr.. Garner are almost synony-
nous. Csc is so closely allied with the
other that when you mention one you
instantly think of the other.
Mr.. Garner has done wonders for the
Giee CLUB. He has been its patron saint,
so to speak and the hundreds and hum
dreds of University of Alabama men all
over the country honor MIR. Garner and
appreciate his work for the Glee CLUB
because it is laudabie, worthy, splen-
did work.
Withal Mr.. Garner is modest, very.
about his own achievements and era
ciously pays tribute to one OF Burning
hams splendid citizens, Mr.. Hill FeTgu-
son, to whose enthusiasm and loyalty
TO his Alma Mater, Mr., Garner declares
is today responsible for the fine organi-
cation which is known Is the University
OF Alabama Glee club.
In speaking of the club aud its work,
Mi. Garner said among other things:
THAT there is Glec club at the Uni
versity of Alabama today is due to the
suggestion of Hill Ferguson of Birniing-
ham, whose enthusiasm for his alma
mater sets a splendid example for all the
sons of Alabama. There had been pre-
viously a pioneer musical organization
and at the bottom of this movement
was a woman. That woman is now Mrs.
W. S. Keller of Montgomery, the wife
of the state highway engineer Then she
was Miss Annie Searcy of Tuscaloosa and
a student at the university. 1t occurred
to her that q musical club would be of
advantage to the institution as well as
to the individuals COMPOSING it. She laid
her plans before President Abercrombie
]. P. Ludebuehl, the director of music
at Central college, the girls school, oc-
cupying the old state capitol building at
Tuscaloosa
For some reason glee clubs of mixed
voices have not succeeded in number
of instances. Whether it is because the
girls are more musical and better readers
and thus surpass the boys in learning
| the songs l cannot tell, but at any rate
| Alabama's experience was not unique
| The club prospered for a while, but soon
| became quiescent," continued Mr.. Car
ner This was in the fall of 1904, / be-
| lieye. About three weeks before the
commencement of 1905 Hill Ferguson
asked me to get some boys to sing some
| college songs at the alumni banquet.
had had a little experience with a Young
| Mems Christian association glee clut
| sometime berore, but | had never heard
| any college glee club except the Wander
| bilt club There is an old adage, how
| ever about a certain class of people who
| rush in where celestial beings fear to
| tread and so I undertook a proposition
| that I did not know anything about very
! readily. / made a trip out to the uni
versity, made a talk in the chapel ano
| in response to my appeal there met me
| that same afternoon 16 loyal souls. witt
i whom / started to work. I accepted ev-
| cry fellow who applied and proceeded
| to divide them up into first and second
/ tenors, bases, according to my best judg
ment We worked steadily every day
| and that the fellows went at the enter
prise vigorously is indicated by the 1ac
i that it was during examination time anc
1 vet our little programme was ready.
II have always had a tender feelins
for that little band of pathfinders,' sait