Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-14
ADRoITLY WORDED CREEDS MEAN LITTLE
!. IN LIVING GODS WAY, SAYS REV. WALCH
MUSIC FROM ARMY
OF OCCUPATION IN
LEGION MINISTRIES

What is more zestful and in many
ways inspiring than a chorus of half
hundred male voices? A few priv
iieged persons had an opportunity Sum
day afternoon OF listening in at the
rehearsal Of the Legion Minstrey
troupe which will present its annual
Offering in E1instresy at Augusta City
hall on the evening of January 20.
Keith Ryan was presiding with the ba-
ton. with the energetic Ludger Yer
mette at the piano. There were close
to so of the city's young business and
professional men giving their best in
the chorus numbers and seeming to en-
joy every minute of II.
There is a peculiar exhiliration and
inspiration in chorus singing. Its in
fiuence is infectious, not only 10 those
who participate and give vent TO their
exuberance in song. but also to the
hearers. and perhaps 30 type of must
cal entertainment can give the same
degree of enjoyment and pleasure that
a bang-up good minstrel show car.
The Legionaires have established
reputation of staging. first of all. a
well-balanced entertainment. and sec
ondly. they have made a name for
mselves in introducing novelties and
nave SCI NHGiT Olltl~
ings in place by themselves as some
thing new. novel and different. 1t is
revelation to hear the young men we
meet in our daily intercourse. when
they gather and cut loose in harmony.
Director Rryan is bringing to light
some remarkable voices in the rchears-
ais with the Legion boys. lie has one
of the liveliest and most tuneful OPEN
ing choruses which has ever been un-
corked in this city in amateur CIR pro-
fessional MINISTRIES.
AS the show lines up at present there
are some clever speciality numbers in
Producing new and hitherto unsuspect-
ed talent in this city. A ruling has
been this year that no man who has
appeared as an end on a local stage
within the last five years shall be
chosen as an end man, so that the
amusement public who acquire PASTE
boards for the Legion Minstreis this
year are bound to see something new.
The old favorites are loyal and are
having perfectly fine time in the sec
ond or third row of the supporting
chorus circle.
The Legion show this year will con-
tain some effects in the harmony line
that are not only new but exceedingly
novel. What promises to be one of the
most popular numbers and which may
prove to be the big chorus hit of the
production, is French number which
was brought back from overseas by
some of the boys who, after going
through the mud and muck of the final
days of the Argonne, went into the fer
tile valley of the German Rhine with
the Army of Occupation. 1t is a num-
Der that savors smartly of the ire
pressibly good spirits Of the boys in
Khaki and their brothers in arms in
horizon blue. The Legionaires are CO.
ing to put this piece across in the old
manner Of the casual cafe and buyettc
celebrations. They will sing it in the
original French, but We would almost
be willing TO wager our new brown
fedora that the majority Of the audi
ence will go down the stairs at City
hall and out into the starlight whist
ling or humming the melody of this
song after the show.
Frank f. Southland, a past COM
mander OF the James Fitzgerald Post,
and the organizing genius of the first
memorable production under the aus
pieces of the local World War vets. is
taking time Off from his campaigning
for nomination as county attorney, to
ably second Major Ryan with the di-
rection of this minstrel offerings. All
indications point to one of the most
memorable entertainments of this type
ever staged by local amateur talent.