Evening star., 1952-04-21
10000 at Memorial
To Harold Ickes Hear
Marian Anderson Sino
It was a day for remembering.

Marian Anderson Sing
It was a day for remembering.
There were those on the plat
form who were remembering a
man. Among the 10000 spread
round the Lincoln Memorial were
many who were remembering the
event the man made possible.
It was the Harold L. Ickes
Memorial Service with Marian
Anderson singing some Of the
songs she sang on Easter Sunday,
1889.
That was the day when Mr..
Ickes, as Secretary of the Interior,
gave Washington a chance to hear
the great Negro contralto sing
from the steps Of the Lincoln
Memorial after her color had
barred her from singing else
where.
Yesterday, the people talked
about that other day. Mrs. Ickes
was one of them.
"1ll never forget it," she said.
II wasn't sitting up here on the
platform, but down there with the
crowd. It was a beautiful day
like this one, but a little cooler. I
remember looking up and seeing
Harold and Miss Anderson :"
"A Little Superstitious."
She looked out across the Me-
mortal pool with the Washington
Monument reflected in the SPAR
king water.
To-day this sun we've
had such rainy weather and now
it's so beautiful. You know, I'm
q little Superstitious."
The Secretary's widow, dressed
in a simple black suit with a black
coronet on her red hair, sat atI
the front Of the stone terrace
from which Miss Anderson sang
Beside Mrs. IckeS were her two
children, Elizabeth, II, and Har-
old, IL. Around her were the men
and women who had worked with
her husband and were sponsoring
the memorial service.
President Truman was unable
to attend. Press Secretary Joseph
Short, who represented him, said
the President was going through
an accumulation of work.
I'VE meet again." Secretary of
the Interior Chapman began the
service, "at the foot of Abraham
Lincoln'S shrine where 13
years ago Harold L. Ickes i
presided at an open-air concert
demonstrating that America S |
faith in its basic ideals continues
strong"
Rough Hewn and Gentle"
The Rev. Frederick E. Reissig,
executive secretary of the WASH
1ngton Federation of Churches,
offered the invocation. He spoke
of the rough hewn and gentle"
man they had gathered to remem-
ber.
For his life Of integrity. for his
impatience with racial barriers,
for his courageous championship
of unpopular but good causes; for
his warm friendship and for his
SelfleSSneSS, we are a grateful
people" he prayed.
Mr.. Chapman, in brief memo
rial address, spoke of Mr.. Ickes'
opposition to totalitarianism, big
otry and injustice. He spoke of
the progress in civil rights on the
path on which Mr.. Ickes was a
pioneer.
"He kept the banner Of civil |,
rights flying in our darkest days"
Mr.. Chapman said.
And the Secretary called Miss
Anderson a symbol that America
really stands for equality Of op-
portunity for all on the basis of |,
individual merit. /
The thousands who were re-
membering heard Miss Anderson
sing Schubert's Ave Maria" as
she had 13 years ago. Standing,
with their faces upturned in the
sunlight, they gave her again the
tribute Of silence followed by wave
after wave Of applause.
She began with Bach's Come,
Sweet Death"-slow and funereal
at first, rising to a triumphal
climax. Her second group of songs
were the spirituals of her race.
She sang them with her face up
turned, her voice sinking some
times almost to a whisper, then
rising to a full-throated climax.
There was one encore. also a
spiritual. before she led in the
singing Of America"
After that, she bowed and bowed
again to the cheering thousands.
The full skirt of her blue-taffeta
afternoon dress billowed in the
gentle breeze and her arms were
full Of q great bouquet of red
roses.
When the service was over,
Senator Tobey, Republican, of
New Hampshire. went over to
speak to the Ickes family. He
shook hands with the children.
II loved your father" he said
simply, and turned away.