Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-03-27

ers would be justifiable III paying 5000
per unit for the small percentage OF
potash which is now being used. he
said: "Most assuredly not for the fol-
lowing reasons: That two units OF
potash would cost $1,000 in potato
goods, and that $1,000 invested in bone,
blood, fish and nitrate of soda would
be much more profitable as an invest
ment for the farmer than to pay such
price as that for potash"
| Mr.. Hubbard paid his semi annual
visit to the Searsport branch last
Thursday and Friday.
| Miss Ruth Brown, University of
Maine IT, is cast for the part of Bot
tom In the Shakespearean play Mid
summer Nights Dream" which will be
presented. this spring on the campus as
has been the custom during COM
mencement week in the past few
years. Miss Brown will be pleasantly
remembered as the Christmas guest Of
Miss Katherine Dow.
! Prof. Frederic Ross Sweetser has
been engaged as musical director of
the First Congregational church,
Searsport. Prof. Sweetser is a musi-
clan of rare ability, a master of the
piano and organ, and a successful
teacher of both these instruments
He left Searsport when young man,
and has since been located at New
London at the Mohican Hotel, re-
turning each summer to Searsport to
his old home. His services have al
ways been freely given, and it is
through his efforts that the best music
has been presented to Searsport music
lovers.
| For several summers Prof. SWeetSer
has been in charge of the vesper SER
vices at the First Congregational
chufch. These services have been de-
'lightful, occurring once or twice
month on Sunday evening. A feature
! of these concerts was the piano and
organ duets, with Prof. Sweetser at
the piano and Miss Shute at the organ.
! Prof. Sweetser was born in Sears
port, the son of Capt. Jeremiah and
Susan French Swpetser, and attended
school here. When very young he
studied music with Miss Emmeline
iNickels, sister of the late Capt +. d.
tP. Nickels, who is now in Portland,
Oregon. He studied in Germany with
F. w. Van Cedar and in England
with Lewis. For three years he stud
led in Boston with Julius Eichberg,
who was at that time concert master
of the Symphony Orchestra. Then he
studied with Hugo Leonhard and
James II, Tracy.
Later he located at Rockland, Me-,
and was organist Of the Baptist church
and also of the Universalist church.
In 1874 he was called to New London,
I Conn, to become the organst of St
James Episcopal church. For 25 years
he was director of the choir and or
ganist of this. church, which is one of
the oldest in the country. 1t was one
of Upjohns churches, and beneath it is
buried the first bishop in America,
Bishop Seabury. 1t is a very beauti-
full church, and very aristocratic.
| Later he had an engagement with
the Roman Catholic church, st. Mary's,
and directed the choir there also.
For IA years he was at the head of
the musical department of lockwood
manor, an old and well established
school for young ladies. situated at
Lyme, Conn. For six years he was at
the head of the musical department at
Miss Browns School at Groton, Conn.
For seven years he was engaged on
historical programs, series OF private
musicals, all an invited, limited com
pany, and all those specially interested |
in musical research. For five years |
Prof. Sweetser was pianist for the !
Mozart Club, an instrumental club at !
New London, and for three years he |
was pianist for the Orphers Club. a |
male chorus. He was pianist for the |
New London Music Club, a club of |
mixed voices. giving oratorios and big |
works of that character.
Prof. Sweetser is an intimate friend |
of the world famous singer, Annie |
Louise Cary--Mrs. RaymOnd-has |
been frequent guest at her home,
and had the pleasure of entertaining !
her at Searsport last summer.
When young man, Prof. Sweetser
assisted at e6hcert given by Miss !
Clara B. Nickek of Searsport, prior to /
her departure for Europe. This con-
cert was held July 10, 1876, at the Hay |
ford Opera House, Belfast. 1t is re-
membered that nearly everyone in |
,Searsport attended.this concert. which |
was an event of that season. The
program was most interesting. and in
cluded the famous Annie Louise Cary |
The other artists We're: Miss Abbie r. |
Clark mezzo soprano, Miss Persis |
Bell, the distinguished violinist. Mr.. |
William Willis Clark of Boston, tenor
and Mr.. Frederic Sweetser of Sears
port The lesser lights were extremely |
nervous at the thought of singing be
fore the great Cary, but she in a sim
pie unaffected way. soon put them at |
ease.
For some time Prof. Sweetser has |
been hearing the call of the Maine |
home, and last December gave up his |
apartment at the Mohican Hotel, New |
London, Conn, and moved to Sears !
port: Prof. Sweetser is the uncle of |
Miss Joanna and Lincoln Colcord. y
CANAAN