The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-02-03
Mrs. Johnston Chairman of the Opera Committee,
 Thanks Birmingham for Its Cooperation and Loyalty
By DOLLY DALRYMpIr

III must be very pleasing to Mrs. Rich
 ard F. Johnston to know that she is = held in such high regard by the peo- pie of Birmingham that whenever a great public enterprise is attempted the first comment it.
 Tt will be a success if Mrs. Johnston will take charge of it.'
 There are very few women who have the executive ability that this clever woman has; there are few men indeed whose business acumen is as keen; and above all there are few women or men who have the tremendous. energy. the faculty for work, and the civic patriot ism that this ingenious woman possesses. and who are willing to lend sH to every upift movement. social, musical or oth- erwise.
 Mrs. Johnston has, since her girhood, been interested in music; she has studied music and knows it technically and prac- tioally and therefore is judge of good music she is the possessor of a fine voice and in days gone by was always gener- ous ir lending her talents to those things that needed her assistance.
 As one of the early presidents of the Music Study club, Mrs Johnston made fame for herself as an organizer and un- der her administration this club, now one of the most influential in the entire south started on its road to success and through her efforts attained a tremen- dous membership which has proven loyal and steadfast through the years.
 Mrs. Johnston's most successful activi- ties within the past few months place the appearance of the Minneapolis orches- tra here last season as predominant in a musical way; when she and Mrs. Edward T. Rice brought this big organization here packed houses honored MT. Oberdorfer and his orchestra at each performance.
 This season Mrs. Johnston has very graciously accepted the chairmanship of the opera committee for the Boston National Grand Opera company which will give two performances here today at the Bijou theatre.
 Few realize the amount of work that Mrs. Johnston has done as chairman of this committee; she has labored .unceas- ingly in every possible way to make this years opera a success, so that in the future MT. Rabinoff and his excellent company will give us really "a season of opera
 Mrs Johnston has a word of thanks to offer those who have so kindly CO., operated with her in her efforts and yes- terday she said:
 T have always known ever since have had anything to do with musical affairs in Birmingham that all that was neces- sary to have the citizens of this commu- nity give their hearty cooperation is to present the subject to them properly; if the cause is worthy they give their un- stinted patronage to it; in all my deal ings with the public in musical matters have found the most kindly reciproc- ity.'
 Even as far. back as when I was a charter member of the Treble Clef club, ? Mrs. Johnston continued, "and went in for bringing the first unpretentious, but worthy musical affairs to this city, there was definite cooperation on the part of music hungry people to bring good attractions here and always there was a large enough number to make the affairs possible. When the Music Study club was