The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-01-03
CAPITAL SINGERS
Do. BIT CHEERING
KHAKECLAD SICK
j. Mach.

Service" seems to be the watch
word of the musician with the dawn.
ing the new year-and II is service
for the lads in khaki that is awak en-
ing a sentiment and devotion that is
beautiful in the lives OF the American
people.
The story OF how music brought
cheer and happiness to the many boys
in khaki at Walter Reed Hospital on
Christmas Day, boys too iii sometimes
TO raise their heads. and others able
TO follow the singers from ward to
ward in a varying array OF neglige,
brings home a touch of reality that
We needs must accept.
In the early dawn of Christmas Day
the quartet OF Calvary Baptist Church
gathered at the foot OF tie elevator
shaft of the hospital, and at o'clock.
the hour for awakening, they sang to
could hear the Holy Night" of
Christmas. and greeted them with
Joy to the World. the LORD is Come"
and other carols. The quartet is COM
posed of Miss Roberts, Mrs. William
T. Reed. Richard Backing, and T. A.
Donaldson.
Sing in Wards Again.
Again in the afternoon and under
the personal direction OF Miss SADIE
Styron, many OF the Friday Morning
Music Club chorus went through the
hospital and sang in the different
wards, giving carols and solos.
Mrs. Charles Fairfax sang, among
other things, the Holy Night" with
harp accompaniment by Mrs. Brosius,
and Mrs. BrOsius also gave solos. The
chorus was accompanied on the violin
by Mrs. Duff Lewis.
One singer said that the joy they
brought to the faces OF the men was
compensation enough. These services
of Christmas cheer were under the
auspices OF the war service commit
tee OF Calvary Baptist Church. and
this committee alone sent out 500
Christmas boxes and 500 cards for the
boys in brown.
Have you seen the distinctive Red
Cross buttons of the Musicians Unit !
of the Red Cross? They bear the
motto: 81 gave a days pay, did !
YOU" This is placed as a setting in |
white letters on a narrow blue ring |
around the usual pin OF the Red |
Cross, and it specializes the pledge |
OF the musicians to the cause.
1t is Just such service as John Nc
Cormsck is now giving. and he holds
high office in this unit as does Mr..
Paderewski. The musician who has |
always been proverbially generous is
perhaps today the most cheering in
fIuence in the lives of our soldiers.
And so, with all he has to give given
freely, the New Year greets him with |
appreciation.
Interesting Situation.
Out of the retirement OF DIR. Kun
valid as conductor of the Cincinnati
Orchestra, because of his
position as an alien, has arisen an
interesting situation.
The policy of the Cincinnati Or
chcstra at present is to have guest
institution much
used in Europe but seldom existing
here. The guest conductor is TO have
the orchestra a brief time and then
pass it on 10 other con=uctOrs.
Musical America speaks of the
condition editorially as potential
boon" saying: THE most favorable
aspect OF the Cincinnati situation is
seen in the opportunity suddenly Of
Tered conductors heretofore lacking
occasion to demonstrate their capabil-
tiles"
Walter Henry RothweII. OF New
York, formerly conductor OF the ST.
Paul symphony Orchestra. was the
first director TO act in this capacity
IN Cincinnati. He impressed his per-
Sonality most nOticeably upon the
compositions given at the first con
cert and received a decidedly favor
able verdict from his audience.
This one eIcmcnt-thc test OF per-
through the change in con
ductors- awakens immediate interest.
II is not a situation that could en- I
1UTc for long without detriment to
an orchestra, but II does offer in the
matter of novelty and in the expert
ment with new blood a vastly at
,ractivc prospect for the regular pa
irons OF an orchestra. The guest
could well become a perm
lnent factor just now with so many
OF note living in this coun-
Try and with, also, the goOdly list of I
available men belonging here with ;
whom the public at large is not ac- I
iuainted.
The Chicago Grand Opera Com
,any that "discovcred' for this coun-
ny the phenomenal voice OF CALL
'urci, the colOratUra soprano, has an