The Republican journal., 1917-09-06
The Belfast Band Benefit.
A Social and Financial Success

tlcally everyone in the city Ieel grateIul
to Mr.. Charles Bradbury for this second
and very substantial benefit to the Band 8
treasury, derived from the pop concert
and dance Friday evening, Aug. 3lst, in
the Belfast Opera House. This will en-
title Mr. Bradbury to his second degree
as the Bands honorary member. The
hall was simply but very appropriately
decorated with flags of assorted sizes,
under the direction of Mrs. Bradbury
Large ones formed butterfly decorations
around the balcony railing and stage
front, while over each section were sew
eral small flags. Small tables with dainty
lunch cloth coverings were centered with
single flags of the Allied nations. The
favors were small balloons, which furn-
ished great sport later as they were in
! flated and floated over the heads of the
guests. These tables were reserved prin-
cipally for those who INDUCED in dane
ing. The spectators seats were also well
filled. There were parties from North
port, Searsport, Bangor and Rockland
present. For a midsummer function it
was an unusually animated scene.
The Band never presented a better ap-
pearance than when they marched in
with their new uniforms and took chairs
reserved for them in the center of the
floor The program opened with the fol-
bx,
Band under the direction of it's new lead
er, Elbridge S. Pitcher:
March, High School Cadets, Sousa
Song, All the World Will Be Jealous of
Me, Ball
Selection, Grand American Fantasia,
Bendix
Finale, Star Spangled Banner, with Miss
Doris Sweat as Goddess of Liberty.
Charles F.. Hammons was announced
as soloist in the song selection, but was
unavoidably detained at Castine, where
he went on business. His absence was
generally regretted, as his solo work in
the Band is one of its most attractive
features.
McKeen's orchestra of six pieces, with
Mrs. Bessie Keyes of Belfast, Mrs. Ralph
L. Flanders and Mr.. Richard E. Stevens
of Boston, accompanies, furnished de-
lghtful music for the dances under the
floor direction of Fred G. Spinney. The
dances-the waltz, one step and fox
trot, were alternated with the concert
numbers by artists of unusual merit, only
two of whom were local people of whom
Belfast is Justly proud.
Little Miss Doris Sweat was very
dainty and charming in her wonderfully
clever costume solo dances-Columbia,
The Summer Girl and Spanish Dance.
While the child gives promise of excellent
work in this line she will never be more
attractive than she is now in her SIM
plicity.
Mrs. Clement w. Wescott is always
greeted with applause by Belfast audi
ence, as she is general favorite and has
a beautiful contralto voice that is charm
ing and restful. She was heard on this
occasion in the solo "Still is the Night, u
by Carl Bohm. She very graciously re-
sponded to an encore.
The majority of the audience, remem-
bering the many, many times they had
listened with pleasure to Emory F. White,
the Belfast boy, were anticipating a rare
delight when he should sing the tenor
solo-'Love, Here is My Heart" by Lac
Silesu, and their anticipation was fully
realized. Mr.. White is now teaching
music and engaged in solo work in New
York and his home friends appreciated
the opportunity of listening to him again
The duett-"Pas ge-Birds FAREWELL by
Mrs. Wescott and Mr.. White was also
warmly applauded.
Miss Mary Thorndike of Rockland
known in vaudeville circles as Shirley
Thorne of Boston, who is spending the
season at Northport, played several banjo
selections with orchestral accompaniment
and was recalled again and again. Hel
rendering of group of Southern songs
was specially pleasing
Mrs. Alice Houston Stevens of Boston
former Auburn girl, and said to be the
leading soprano soloist from Maine at the
present time, was heard for the first time
in Belfast. Her voice is both charming
and fascinating; there is unusual strength
even on the highest notes. She sings
with perfect ease and her enunciation il
very distinct. She sang GOOD Morning
Sunshine" and responded with "Phil.
osophy."
Belfast feels especially grateful to Mr.
Bradbury in securing the consent of Mr.
/ T. George Dodworth and his charming
daughter, Mrs. Pierre Tartoue, to present
his new society dance, "Army and Navy
Taps" and the "Parisienne Tango az
they learned it in Paris and as Mr.. bod.
worth teaches it in New York. Botl
numbers were refined and entirely fret
from the Objectionable features that maj
many of the popular dances of the day
Wnen grace and dignity blend as they de
in dances of this kind it is pleasure tt
the spectator as we'll as to the participant
Roscoe Arey catered with light refresh.
ments through the evening and large
number of young ladies under the direc-