Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-12-20
Christmas
Joy Begins
Songs at Community Festival Last
Evening, Expressive of the Univer.
sal Joy Which This Holiday Season
Brings.

Over two thousand people assem-
bled last night in the auditorium to
celebrate the festival of Christmas.
peace and goodwill which has a
peculiar significance to the people of
the world this yea The Victory Sing
will be remembered by the people of
this city as one of the most stirring
occasions. and one of the most demo-
cratic gatherings that this city has
witnessed in a number Of years.
In the words of William w. Norton,
who directed the magnificent project
of last evening, the people Of Grand
Forks assembled last night to express
their joy in a victorious peace, and a
Christian peace, in the universal Ian
guage, song. The occasion came as a
fitting close to the efforts of Mr.. Nor
ton in this community during the past
nine years, in helping the people to a
lov and appreciation of the best in
music.
The song festival, last night. d.
vided itself into two distinct themes
which merged into one complete
whole, as an expression of the facts
uppern1ost in the minds of the people
as this Christmas season approaches;
the thanksgiving for victory, and the
joy in a world peace. A community
chorus under Mr.. Norton's direction
led the AUDIENCE in a number of
songs, and also rendered several beau-
tiful chorus selections. Songs Of
home and Thanksgiving, and Christ
mas carols made up the song pro-
gram. Special features of the eve
ming were a number of vocal solos
and a solo dance, by Miss Doris
Payne.
The Power of Song.
Following a band selection, which
opened the program, the audience
Joined in the singing of the national
anthem, THE Star Spangled Banner"
and Rev. Thomas II. Gallagher pro-
nounced the invocation. Mr.. Norton
why We Sing" in which he empha-
sized the power of song as a means
Of community expression. He char
acterized music as "the universal Ian
4guage."
H. Alden Enyeart appeared as tenor
soloist and stirred the audience with
his rendition Of 1.-The Americans
Come" a son and poem based on ar
actual incident Of the welcome of the
Stars and Stripes in war-stricken
France. when the Boys Come
Home" a contralto solo by Mrs. Irma
Mallory Fisher, made an especial ap.
II bSoA " SbbS ouA4SAISNS ~ IAiAo POpuio
soloist vas received with the usua'
display of enthusiasm. The victory
Il chorus Of $50 voices, was we'll re-
ceived in a number of victory songs
notably Peace with a Sword" @
dramatic expression of Americas
love of peace and freedom. The com
munity singing in which the entire
audience Joined. proved a most happ,
test Of the spirit In which the. people
participated in the festivity.
JOY of Christmas Expressed.
An appropriate setting for the en-
actment Of the Christmas theme, tn,
second part of the program, wa
found in the immense Christmas tret
which decorated the stage. In tn,
solo dance. THE Spirit Of Christmas
Doris Payne gave an exquisite inter
probation of the peace and exultatiol
which combine to make perfect tn,
Christmas spirit. The beautiful
Christmas carols, in "a number o
which the audience Joined, made III
The body Of the Christmas theme
Mrs. II. Alden Enyeart appeared q
soloist in the selection 1.-The Chris
Child" and ~ supported by tn
community chorus.
The occasion last night came as
closing Decentralization Of NJ. Norton