The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-13
.SCHUMANN-HE|NK
 WILL GIVE CONCERT
 HERE IN SEPTEMBER
World Famous ContraltO Pays All Expenses Here to Sing for Benefit of
 Girls School

| Madame Ernestine Schumann-H -HeinlS.
 rated as the worlds greatest contralto. will come to Birmingham either Septem-
 Der 24 or 26 next and under the auspices
 of the Birmingham Civic association will | give a concert here. This official an | nouncement was brought back to Bir-
 mingham from Montgomery yesterday by l Secretary Manager Charles L. Harold of ! the Civic association.
 | The concert will be for the benefit of | the poor white girls of Alabama seeking an education. The beneficiary of Madame Schumann-Heinks gracious act will be the Downing industrial school located at Brewton. This institute was founded | about 10 years ago primarily to put the advantages of education, both literal and industrial, within the reach of the poor est girl.
 The great contralto singer first heard
 of the Downing Industrial school through Maj. John D. Hill of the regular United States army, now stationed at Camp
 Travis, San Antonio, Tex. Recently he visited Chicago and had an extended per sonal interview with Madame Schumann- Heink, telling her of the humanitarian ideals of the Brewton institution and it's needs. She at once became interested and at the suggestion of Major Hill, who is an honorary member of the Civic asso- citation, consented to visit Alabama and give two concerts for the benefit of the school
 Montgomery and Mobile are rivals for the second concert but the first was definitely landed for Birmingham Friday, he having matse arrangements direct with Mrs. w. A Hiil of Montgomery, mother of Major Hill.
 Tt takes great heart for an artist of this magnitude to pull away from her pressing engagements and come to Ala
 bama especially to bestow her talents upon an adopted institution. said MT Harold yesterday 'Schumann-Hei who already has given richly of her voice and attentions to the khaki-clad boys ot America in the various cantonments, now turns to the struggling girls of the south. The Downing Industrial school typi1les the new ideals of social salvation. the be- ginning of the great fight against the iliteracy blot on Alabama's s fair name This celebrated woman artist, catching the spirit of the new democracy, has con- scented to pay her own expenses ana those of the celebrated pianist. Frank La- Forge, to Birmingham, and sing in this and another concert, the entire proceeds to go to the Downing school. It becomes a peculiar privilege and pleasure for the Civic association to sponsor the coming to Birmingham of this kind-hearted woman, as our association from It's birth has ma terially aided the girl farmers of Jeffer- son county in their canning work ana brings annually to this city the junior farmer girls for the short courses or study"
 The following telegram from Madame SchumaIn-Heink was recently received by Major Hill and transmitted by copy to the Civic association:
 q can give you September A to Septem- Der 2S. Decide which and let me know. Address letters or wires to my Chicago home Everything will be forwarded'
 Pianist composer is the most famois American worldwide known, Frank La- Forge l am delighted to come. Greet
 ngs to all.
 "ERNESTINE SCHUMANN-HEINK.'
 Madame Schumann Heink was the god- mother of the Twenty-first United States infantry. stationed at Balboa park. san Diego. Cal.