Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-03-10

Nearly half a hundred members of
the Augusta Symphony Orchestra
and their special guests assembled
ar the Augusta House Sunday even
ing for the fourth annual banquet,
which to the members is always one
OF the mast enjoyable and important
of the seasons activities. The as
scmblage of last evening was more
like a great big family gathered
around the festive board laden with
the good things of the menu. All
through the banquet hour a fine
Spirit Of good fellowship prevailed,
and the camraderie amongst the mu-
sicians, which has been one Of the
chief reasons for their continued and
increasing success through four won
derful seasons. was apparent to those
favored few who were permitted to
!, join in this annual observance.
The members of this active Au-
gusta musical organization assem-
bled in the cosy lobby of the Angus
tt House shortly after o'clock and
at $50, lead by their director, Ernest
+. Hill, filed into the banquet hall,
where a decorating committee and
the hotel staff had made exceptional
preparations for the event.
AS the party entered the banquet
room, a most beautiful scene met
their eyes. The tables had been
placed In 4 great "U" and a color
scheme of red and white was carried
out in the tall red wax candles in the
silver candelabra which adorned the
tables, also by narrow ribbon stream
ers of red which graced the places,
and again in the bountonnieres which
graced each plate, a white or red
carnation.
The place cards We're inscribed
with the date of the event. and were
decorated on one corner with an ap-
pirate bar of music and on the other
by a tiny lighted wax taper, sealing
red and white ribbon streamers. The
banquet which had been organized
for the members Of the orchestra and
their guests by the hotel Management,
was exceptionally sumptuous and
carefully chosen, and was GREATLY
enjoyed by all as was evidenced by
the hearty way in which the guests
carried out their parts in this fea-
ture.
During the banquet, after an intro
duction by Aaron Ripley. Miss Caro-
limo Fenno Chase. the president of
the organization. delivered n perora-
ton to the director, Mr.. Hill, in her
usual charming manner. Mr.. Hill
OBLIGATED as toastmaster for the brief
post -prandials. and remarks for the
benefit OF the Augusta Symphony Or
chestra were made by Messrs. East
man, Beauchaine, Hilton, Shaw and
Bcane.
Among the honored guests at the
banquet last evening. were Miss Alice
Goodrich. the talented Young Augusta
composer. whose "Marche Millitaire,"
will be the first number for the next
public rehearsal of the orchestra
hich will occur two weeks from yes
terday. Mrs. Antonio N. Landry. the
soloist for the next program, was also
guest Sunday evening.
Mr.. Hill made it an occasion to ex-
tend his personal thanks and appre-
citation to the members and to the in
diTiduals. who have played sLch i'm
pcrtant parts in the enviable success
of the orchestra, throughout the
year. The committee which had the
decorations and arrangements for the
banquet of Sunday evening in charge
was composed of the president. Miss
Chase. Miss Irene Tetreault. and Mr..
and Mrs. Fremont Dearborn.
The toast to Director Hill. written
Miss Chase was in verse and was
as follows:
To-day we are four years old,
| Ard Mt birth n tale was told
That n symphony could not be done.
| That Augusta was to small
Such thing would soon fall,
Greatest impossibility under the sun.
did we weather the gale?
Make it impossible to fail?
Or was 1t the efforts of one.
We'll all vote and agree
| To n truth easy to see,
Twas our leadar who caused It be
done.
$50 here's to Hill
| His place we could not fill.
We would not want to if we could.
"For to us he is all.
/ Without him We would fall.
Our errors and mistakes his patience
stood.