The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-01-07
LARGE AUDIENCE ] ,IAs
FIRST SUNDAY SING
Forty piece Orchestra ard Chorus Of
200 Voices Lead In Patri-
otto Airs

The capacity audience of civilians
and enlisted men from all branches
OF the service filling the vast audito-
rum OF the John Marshall High
school yesterday afternoon needed lit
tie urging to make them participate
in the first Sunday sing" ever held in
the city. Even the little children nil
ing several front rows In the balcony
who came without their parents. re-
sponded generously to the patriotic
and popular selections. As the last
echo of sound died away after each
sing the applause was deafening
and 1t was hard TO tell whether the
audience applseuded because they en-
Joyed the singing or because they en-
joyed hearing themselves sing. Rich
mond audiences have seldom given
So willingly to their mutual musical
entertainment as they gave yesterday.
Just before the sing wyndhsm X.
Meredith gave a short patriotic ad-
dress, appealing to the people back
home to sustain the morale of the SOL
dlers at the front by their patriotic
support of the government. He said
the soldiers are making the supreme
sacrifice which they can make by lay
Ing down their lives, and in duty to
them and the government the people
all the possible support which can be
rendered In the successful conduct OF
the war.
Enlogixes Americas Aims.
Mr.. Meredith stated that the Ameri-
canu nation Is the only nation engaged
In the war which entered II with an
absolutely clear conscience. MIR.
Meredith also spoke OF President VIII
sons greatness as a NJ leader In this
great national crisis.
America gave Germany the choice
between peace and WIKI and ask ed
her which she would have, and tho
answer was war said Mr. Meredith.
Superintendent OF Public Schools
Chandler explained the nature of the
Sunday sing entertainment. showing
the value OF music in sustaining and
olevating the morale of the people.
p. g. Settle, district representative
or the war camp community service,
who transferred his headquarters
from New York to Richmond last
week, also spoke for few minutes on
what is being done In other cities on
the war camp activity In Sunday
sings" Mr.. Settle told OF the Sunday
sing which was recently organized
in Washington and how President
Wilson led the large audience In the
singing OF patriotic songs was greatly
appleauded.
The orchestra OF forty pieces. con-
Quoted by Walter G. Mercer perform
ed Its part well. The John Marshall
High school chorus OF 200 led in the
singing. Just before the close Alvin
Smith and his little partner" led in
the singing of over There" and
Carry Me Back 10 Old virsinny."
Another interesting feature of the
entertainment was the showing of mo-
tion pictures of historical views of
Ireland and another picture was
psychological study in eyes. The eyes
OF President Wilson. Abraham Lin
coin and General Pershing were de-
pictsd. showing ne greatness OF the
owners. just before the singing the
American flag was slowly unfuried
and raised across the platform. -
The Sunday sing" which is being
conducted under the auspices OF the
Richmond commission on training
camp activities, will again take place
next Sunday and every Sunday here
after. to which the general public will