The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-11-29
Grand Theater Packed with
People Who Enjoy Express
sion in Song and Make
It Great Occasion.
HEARD GOOD ADDRESSES
Victory Sing in Keokuk was
Worthy Of Thanksgiving
Day and Religious Ele-
ment was Marked.

keokuk people paCKeu the vi any
theater to the doors and the top OF
the gallery before the hour set Tor
the Victory sing Thanksgiving after
noon, heard adequate soloists ana
good chorus, and themselves sang
best the songs that expressed the
highest ideals for which the world
war was fought.
| They saw flags everywhere, from
some in the foyer and many over the
balcony balustrade to mass OF them
on the stage. They were American
flags, except for two stands OF allied
colors on each side of the stage In
f, front. The entire background OF the
stage was the giant flag belonging to
the Elks.
The audience was composed OF a
fair representation of Keokuk, men,
women, boys and girls. elderly peo-
pie, middle-aged people and youth, OF
all the various phases Of life found
here.
They Sang Hymns Best.
1t evidently grew weary at the
long delay after o'clock before the
curtain rose and the chorus entered,
the women in white, and the beaut1-
full music of the professional rose in
volume gradually and the big concert
had begun.
The people sang THE Star Span
gled Banner" high note and all. as
though they enjoyed 1t, and sang
with gusto the peace song written by
Chaplain George D. Long to the air
of America" They sang very well
each of the other songs on the pro-
gram for the audience, but there was
a marked difference when Onward,
iChristian Soldier was reached. This
seemed to express what the keokuk
people felt most-at least they sang
lit with better expression, and more
iof them sang it than any other song
THAT afternoon They made the mu-
Isle roll out in a grand, martial diapa-
lson.
Also. they showed their delight In
IsInging "The Old Folks at Home"
with much expression of its meaning.
Everybody Did Well.
Director P. G. Hayden again DEM
lonstrated his excellence in handling
with the baton large body OF sing
ters. The big chorus on the stage
was always all that a chorus should
Ibe. Mrs. Daisy Snyder at the large
lorgan played with real assistance to
THE singers and added much to the
fbig songs. Mrs. John r. Irwin at the
Ipiano for the solos showed her high
iappreciatfon Of what an accom2ani-
ment should be.
The soloists, Mrs. Leo B. Gredell.
mrs. Florence Wright Schouten, John
Hudson and Miss Hazel Jester, all
met the needs of the occasion.
John Brazil made hit by his
reading Of the lines Of Land OF
Mine" and the audience sang the
chorus with him with much gusto.
Miss Beulah We'll gave the highest
dramatic touch to the whole concert.
The program called 1t a solo. She
made 1t a musical recitative OF
blind French soldier speaking to his
daughter as the Americans arrive in
his village With the simplicity OF
the greatest force, she accomplished
wonderful dramatic power By direct
expression of face and remarkable
tone quality.
Some Of the Persons.
There was much interest in the
song, "The Hosts of the Republic
the words by Miss Cornelia Meigs
and the music that Of familiar
hymn. The audience had read the
poem on the program sheets the first
thing, and sang it next best to the
other hymn.
There were three speaking num-
bers on the program, the fervent
prayer of Rev DIR. Ezra Butler New
comb, an address by Chaplain George
~. Long of the Nineteenth division,
and the remarks of Right Reverend
James w. Gillespie Of st. Peters
church.
Chaplain Long was striking fig
ure as he stepped forward TO the
footlights. Tall, large of frame and
rudy OF complexion, broad shout
ders and firm and graceful on his
feet, he needed only riding crop to
be a typical English country gentle
man Or, in bis perfectly fitting uni
form, he suggested major general
of the old army, in spite of his shout
der straps.
The Right Brought Victory.
Father Gillespie gave very dis
tinct religious note to the occasion,
dwelling on the omnicience and ON
impotence Of God in all the affairs of
this nation, which He has led onward
and upward from its beginnings to
its last great triumph
I'VE came, we saw, we conquered,
we went over the top! That's why
we are here today, singing in graft |
tude and praise to God for the vic
tory" he said, land we triumphed
because we trusted in God. the God I
of battles, the God of justice. We
knew that II we were right He would |!
bring us to victory.
Let me warn you not to be vain !