The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-07
Finding Mrs. Johnston at her desk

Finding Mrs. Johnston at her desk
 at the Clark & Jones Piano Co. busily engaged getting everything
 ready for the first of the all-star converts, which she and Mrs. Shipman are presenting this winter, l was very much afraid she would not have time to talk to me, but when ex- plained that l wanted her to tell me something about her work as presi- dent of the Music Study club she re- piled;
 "Yes, indeed, 1t Is always pleas
 ure to talk about my administra- tion of the Music Study club. Really
 one of the happiest years of my life
 was the year I served the club as its president. Naturally, I feel ma terial interest where 1t Is concerned, because I was one of the organizers and moving spirits in its inception. Mrs W. s. Lowell preceded me as the ! presiding officer and that mantle of
 hers with it's splendid appreciation l.of the best and most beautiful in everything, I feared would be hard one to wear. But her idea of organ 1 ization and the good foundation upon which she had established it's devo- l lopment made it much easier for me.
 The clubs personnel at the time l became president was under 50. My first plan was to increase the active and associate membership. This was the years 1911 and 1912. At the end of the year I turned over to my most worthy successor, Mrs. Victor Han
 son, a memerbship of several hum dred. At first our weekly programs
 were held in the private homes of
 members, in the mornings, but to-
 ward the latter part of my regime the
 meetings took place at Cable hall. | Three times a year each active mem-
 Der had the privilege of inviting two | 4 fnfN Inh Aa
 afternoon musical. The hostess for
 these events was chosen in the be- | ginning of the year by the program committee cooperating with the president and they were very bril- | liant and beautiful functions, always
 enjoyed by a large assembly. At that
 time. the invitation meant much In | the art life and social life of our city, | growing not only in population, but
 in its appreciation of music and a-t We gave a great deal of effort to
 knowing our own talent-finding out
 the strangers who came to the city ! who were either talented In music, l played or sang, or who were just
 appreciative and would like to be as
 sociated with the club In It's study
 and promotion of the arts. I remem-
 Der the coming of Mrs. Charles
 brilliant pianist. We found her out
 she soon became a member and gave
 a program at one of our morning
 meetings. Mrs. Wells was another
 newcomer from the east, a brilliant
 violinist, and enthusiastic musician.
 She was immediately made a mem
 Der and was introduced to society
 and to the musical world by the
 Music Study club. Mrs. Laurens Block
 played as brilliantly as l ever heard it. the Webber Concerto one morn 1 ing just after she came to Birming-
 ham. Mrs. Percy Tabler was a new
 comer. and delighted the members
 with her lovely voice. For one of our
 afternoon musical teas. to which each
 member of the club had invited two
 guests, Jeptha's Daughter was given. | The Country club was the place and
 Mrs. w. D. Smith was the hostess.
 Mrs. Harriet Wiswell O'Neal, Miss Ila | Nunnelly and others took part
 Clarence Klenk arranged the orches-
 tra score, and 1t was beautifully
 given. At the beginning of the after | noon the hostess and members of the
 executive board received in line anl
 after the musical program refresh ments were served. My sister, Mrs.
 Fay Miles Benton, and Mrs. Solon
 Jacobs were the other two hostesses
 for the season and also entertained l at the Country club.
 PRINCIPAL ACHIEVEMENT
 What do I regard as the principal 1 tiSHioNCihOhl Ol my dumlnlStratlOn
 l would answer two things. The first
 being that I got through the year without being refused by any one
 to do anything l asked. l have never known such cooperation. Whether it was in arranging programs-decorat- ] ing the hall--reading paper-playing an instrument-enterta guests
 CT singing song-it is a matter o! l history that the president of the 1 club that year was not one time
 turned down on any request. I really | thiak that the greatest achievement
 of my administration. The next best
 I should say was establishing music l by band, in the parks. We had a 1 splendid summer of music at Wood row Wilson Park. I asked the Mu- siciahs' union to organize a band and
 arrange a complimentary concert for
 one evening. They did so and gave a beautiful concert to more than | 1000 people. Then a small commit l tee went with me to see if we could | get band stand donated. MT. D. O. | Whilldin was asked for plans. He donated them. We then solicited the | sand, cement. the work and even the | plant. We soon had beautiful little band stand ready, and the people of 1 the city. corporations. the city s.d- miHistration itself and private in : dividuals contributed the money for | two concerts a week. The concert ts were very popular. literally thou- | sands attending them every time they were given. I never think of those band concerts, but l recall the late