The Topeka state journal., 1919-05-05
HAD BIC CROWD
Packed Auditorium Heard SYM
phOny Orchestra Sunday.
Special Musical Features Made
Hit With Audience.
HOME SOLDIERS DECORATED
Meeting Was a Boost for Vic
tory Loan Drive.
Harry Waldo Smith Praised by
State journal Critic.

After Nthe victory loan mass meet
ing at the auditorium Sunday after
noon and after the big parade of
doughboys from France and Kansas
this morning the outlook for a full
Shawnee county subscription to the
loan is not quite so bleak In fact
the enthusiasm of the people seems to
be mounting higher and higher each
day. All that is hoped is that it will
reach the boiling and materializing
point before the official date set for
the closing of the loan Saturday.
At the auditorium Sunday after
noon the principal attraction and en-
thusiasm promoter was the Topeka
Symphony orchestra under the direc-
ton of Prof. Daniel Muller, in its
first public concert. And the orches-
Miss Florence Rowe and by Harry w.
Smith, vocal soloists, and Miss Mar
garet Poindexter and Elmer OLSON
and Dean Bredin, insfrumentalists.
The auditorium was filled with
crowd estimated at full 5000 persons
and after the four minute talk by
big Bing Bang Bill' Biby it was
noticeable that the people had ac-
Quired some new ideas concerning the
necessity OF subscribing to the victory
loan.
Soldiers We're Decorated.
The mass meeting Sunday afternoon
was also featured by the decoration
of a number of Shawnee county SOL
diers with the medals awarded them
by the military award committee of
the county, the city, and the Cham
Der of Commerce. The medals were
pinned on the men by the members
of the Military Sisterhood.
The following criticism of tie con-
cert Sunday afternoon was written by
one of the most prominent music
critics in the city:
The Topeka Symphony orchestra
concert at the auditorium Sunday was
a great success. The big hall was full
to the extent that many people stood
up thru the entire program.
The work of the soloists was of a
very fine grade of artistic finish and
! made a deep impression on the audi
ence. Miss Poindexter of the piano
department of Bethany college played
| a solo and displayed fine technic and
a clear understanding of the meaning
of her numbers. The manner in which
she was applauded proved how her
Thousands of hearers enjoyed her play
ing.
Miss Florence Rowe sang q. GODDARD
number and again proved to be one of
the city's best sopranos. Miss Rowe
has fine dramatic soprano of a wide
range and plenty of good quality. She
was accompanied by Elmer OlssoH~an
j. C. Rothermel, both of whom did
splendid work in helping the singer.
Smith Sang Two Numbers.
Harry Waldo Smith sang two num-
bers and sang them well. He has a
tenor voice of the finest kind and
knows how to sing well. If this young
man keeps his head from swelling to
the extent of getting in his way, he
will surely be heard from as big leag
talent. Mr.. Bredin, who accompanied
him and who, by the way, is his teach
er, is an artist who compels attention;
his touch is cultured and his style of
playing conveys the earmarks of a real
musician.
| The orchestra was the big gun of
the afternoon and made good far be-
yond the most liberal hopes of To-
peka. This body of players has had
| two months of training as a unit and
played very well. The program was
we'll arranged and not too long and
| the manner in which it was played
| was a surprise to the three thousa nd
people who never knew Topeka could
ever build up such a fine orchestra.
| The ensemble was fine and the way
| they responded to their conductor was
| beautiful and to him it must have
| been a source of great satisfaction
after the almost superhuman efforts
| he has made to give birth and life to
that of which all Topeka may justly
| be proud. Mr.. Muller is a trained
conductor and the order of his work
with this orchestra proves that 1t pays
to specialize in whatever line we
choose to follow profession.