Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-06-12
COMMUNITY SING
DRAWS BIG CROWD
City Hall Plaza Packed Last Night
by Nearly Five Thousand
Singers.

If any doubts had existed as to the re-
ception which would be accorded To the
Community Chorus idea, when sub
jected tn its first complete tryout, they
were foreve laid To rest b. the verdict of
popular approval registered last night hy
the attendance and attention and partIci-
patton of some four thousand people in the
audience, IN addition To the seven hundred
odd members of the choir These people
gathered by degrees ON the steps of the
Public Building, then on the sidewalk IN
front until at last the entire space out rs
far rs the car tracks was filled. And the
remarkable thing about IT was that they
remained there quietly standing, Tor a
matter of two hours, and then were not
wearied, apparently, but ready Tor more:
That WAS. perhaps, IN the case OF many Oh
them. due to the fact that they had not
before fallen under the spell of Harry
Barnhart. whose dynamic energy as q
leader stood out brilliantly, notwlth-
standing that he was not feellng tnor-
oughly well.
For some of the chorus, who occupied
the TERED seats that have been erected
on tho eastern slope OF the Dld court
House plot, the experience OF Singing
ont of doors was new one, and they felt
strange deprived of the echo OF their
own voices to which they had grown
accustomed hy practice indoors. This
soon wore off. however. and they sang
heartily and TO the approval OF the listen
ers If the applause that was gwen their
numbers be trustworthy indication
These selections were: send Out my
Light. "Barcarolle" and 'HalleluIah
Chorus
The greater part of the program was
devoted to the popular songs both the oId
favoritcs like odd kentucky Home and
odd Black Joe and the wartime Long,
Long Trail. Over There, Keep \ our
Head Down Allemand, and the rest.
Mr. Rarnhart was very successful IN get
ting the crowd gong IN taking up the
songs and echoing the strains OF the choir
n order Ia bring out the effects desired,
and again joining IN to make one grand
chorus
Particularly striking was the hush that
fell on the assembled multitude To listen
10 the thread-like hut tunefm voices OF
a group Of some thirty children who were
gathered from the foremost fringe OF the
crowd around the conductor stand by MS
invitation, as they sang My Country
Mrs. Barnhart, hrs. Watson and Mrs
Spann. secretary of the New York Oom-
munitv Chorus were present ana were
presented 10 the choir 10y Mir Barnhart
and at the close Of the sing, Mrs. |.
Coleman du Point, Just returned from
Furope. came 10 offer her congratulations,
and was enthusiastically welcomed. Mrs
du Point has been doing Y. W. 6. A. work
abroad.
A vote bv the crowd, by a show of
bands. was practically unanimous as an
expression OF approval OF the work and
desire for continuance regularly OF the
sings
All in all. il WAS a remarkable occasion
among the many demonstrations that
have filed Wilmington's war wear, and It's
success should go far toward assuring
those who have been Instrumental In
inaugurating and developing the move
ment that their devotion has not been IN
vain. and will ne even more fruitful In
civic benefits than had been hoped
In view Of the fact that MIR Barnhart
will be away for ten days the next sing
which will be held at the same place,
weather permitting. otherwise IN the high
school take place on Tuesday night,
June 25. There viii be no sing next
Tuesday night.