Connecticut western news., 1918-12-26

other towns in Litchfeld County could be considered, the membership might readily be raised to two thousand members. The local branches give concerts in their own towns, and in the month of June the chorus, after three preliminary mass rehearsals, combines for the annual three to four concerts are given in meetings at Norfolk, where from the Music Shed, all of the expenses of which are assumed by the foun- ders, admission being as indicated in the dedication. ....-
 All the plans and purposes might have come to nothing had not the right conductor been found in the person of Richmond P. Paine, veri- table giant in music and in bringing out the best qualities of men and women. Of the highest aspirations and consummate ability in his chosen art, possessing to an eminent degree the divine quality of patience, to him alone is due the great credit for the wonderful results attained by the chorus Nordenskjold entered the polar basin, not to compete for the foolish bauble of the discovery of a useless block of ice called the North ] Pole, but to perform a service to mankind in the making of the North east Passage. Emin Bey gave the better part of his life, not to force religion on the ignorant blacks of I Africa, but to teach them the gentle arts of civilization, believing that man should be civilized to under stand religion. In this spirit MT. Paine began his missionary labors in l the musical wilds of Litchfield Coun- | ty. He is generously dedicating his life to the cause of good music in this County, and, by reflection, in all lands where the art is known. Dur ing past years he has led his forces from the first and easy oratorios to the most difficult compositions writ ten, and competent judges acclaim his work with chorus as unsur- passed in this country. Many thou sands bless his labors, and genera tions to come will speak his name with gratitude and reverence, as the man who first led them into the blessed fields and refined arts of the higher life. e
 The above matter was printed in 1912, and we may safely say that the Union has held fast to it's promise to provide the people of Litchfield County with vocal and orchestral music of the highest order. We have presented in the best possible way all of the great choral works, and our efforts have given birth to thirty orchestral compositions in the larger forms Our work is known throuh- out the world, and while American composers have been given the pref erence, foreigners have not been overlooked, and the future will show the broad cosmopolitanism on which our musical structure is built. Near l ly 100000 people have heard free music of the highest order during our existence, and there are few households in Litchfield County which have not been benefited, di- rectly or indirectly, by the work of the Union. A great cause always draws together men and women who are working for common ob- ject, and in it's social reflex is per- haps found the greatest result which the Union has achieved.
 Few people appreciate the vast amount of detail which has been ne- cessary to conduct our festivals in past years, and the itchfeld County Choral Union, as well as the public at large, is under deep debt of gratitude to Edmund Brown, the sec retary of the Union, and Winthrop Cone, the business manager for their labor or love during two decades.
 Season of 1918.
 It was thought by some persons that the festival of 1918 should not be given, but in this matter we fol- lowed the precedent of France and England when the authorities en- couraged music in every way possi- ble, and we feel that the spiritual needs of the American public should be met by uplifting music. President Wilson takes the same view, as he wrote:
 "The man who disparages music as luxury and non-essential is do- ing the nation an injury. Music now more than ever before is a present national need. There is no better way to express patriotism than through music"
 Our festival was practically one of music composed by Americans, and was universally declared to have been the most striking exposition of American music ever given. The at tendance inside and outside was over 10000 persons. The chorus sang in both vocal compositions with even more than its usual beauty of tone and called forth the highest praise from critics and the public alike. The orchestral evening added some new works to our imposing list, and while we have given equally fine festivals