,S55v' .wr w . - THE COUftlBR. BtaifUTOH BtyC MUSICAL MENTION t Johk Randolph ""' " nSf .'vs-3 3 ST KR '. "rf- i fe' re n. S - The most Important musical happen ing: of the past week., filled as It has been with the usual round of recitals and concerts at commencement time, was the performance or the oratorio of "The Messiah," by Haendel.on Tues day evening:, June 9, at the Lansing theatre. This work was given under the auspices of the University Music Union of the university of Nebraska, which body consists of the university chorus and orchestra, with the Lincoln Oratorio society and Philharmonic or chestra. It is only just to say, how ever, that the credit for so praise worthy and generally successful an undertaking Is due to Mrs. P. V. M. Raymond, whose indefatigable efforts both past and present, for the promo tion of the best musical art deserve the gratitude of every musician and musical amateur in Lincoln. Without her patient labor at countless rehear sals in guiding uncertain sopranos and altos and recalcitrant tenors and basses through the mazes of the long roulades of Haydn and Haendel no performances of the works attempted would be possible. It must not be for gotten that these oratorios are works primarily and chiefly for large choral bodies and that no soloist or soloists however good can equal the Import ance of the chorus. Viewed from this standpoint the performance of "The Messiah" was a very creditable one and showed in every detail the faith ful and artistic labor of Mrs. Ray mond. The chorus was not a very large one, but was well balanced (even the tenors, that usual weak spot In choral bodies were distinctly audible). They sang with energy and certainty and even regard for the finer effects of shading. The soloists on this occasion were Miss Florence Worley, soprano; Miss Eugenia Getner, contralto; Mr. H. J. W. Seamark, tenor, and Mr. Homer Moore, bass. Miss "Worley was suffer ing from a cold and her voice was not In its best condition, but she sang the difficult music of her part tunefully and musically. Miss Getner is a de butante In this style of singing and was too nervous to do herself or the part justice. Her singing, however, gave promise of better things in the future. I am glad to record the fact that Lincoln has -a singer who can, at short notice and with Insufficient re hearsal, sing a part as difficult as the tenor part in this oratorio. Naturally the Interest of the audi ence was centered upon Mr. Homer Moore of Omaha, the only stranger among the soloists. Mr. Moore is a bass baritone of resonance and dra matic fervor and his first appearance in Lincoln was a genuine success. The solo, "Why Do the Nations," is very difficult for the modern singer, with his disregard for the bel canto and ten dency to lyric declamation. It is all the more creditable to Mr. Moore that he sang so admirably and with such perfect breathe control the long and difficult roulades in this solo. The other solos for bass were delivered with the dignity and authority neces sary to make them thoroughly suc cessful Mrs. Will Owen Jones assisted at the piano and Mr. August Hagenow "played with the first violins in the orchestra. UNIVERSITY POLITICS. The fight between the fraternity and "barbarian" elements has been of long standing. Almost from the start the contest has been between the fratern ities and the open literary societies. When the fraternities were first organ ized their members were also members of the literary societies, but soon they came to be looked upon as Inner circles within the larger. Those who were within the secret circles were supposed to think themselves better than the rest. This led to the barb-frat war. Both of the literary societies then or ganized, by concerted action placed amendments in their constitutions de barring fraternity men from joining them. Those who were already mem bers left, and this division has existed in the university ever since. There are now three open literary societies. Each one has a membership of about seventy-five. There are a number of both mens' and womens' fraternities with a total membership about equal to that of the literary societies. The mem bership of the societies Is composed largely of the students who came from the farm and are working their way through school. Their social enter tainments are always inexpensive. On the other hand, the fraternity mem bers usually come from homes of wealth. The sons and daughters of prominent men are asked to join some fraternity almost as soon as they en ter the university. The fraternities represent a considerable portion of the institution. By far the larger per cent of university parties and bails are given under their auspices. But while the fraternities, viewed from the standpoint of the literary societies, are aristocratic, yet they are really marked by the same democratic spirit. Even though their membership is lim ited to a few, many of those who are members of fraternities are doing work to help pay expenses. A man is not necessarily debarred from joining be cause he lacks wealth or a family name. They are coming to value a student according to intrinsic value. J. H. McGUFFY. Prof. D. R. Lillibridge is 111. James Whitehead has returned from Custer county. Don't miss Being those elegant summer suits before you pur chase, at Paine, Warfel fc Bumstead Canon City coal at the WbUebreast Coal and Lime Co. JOHNT. DORG AN. Manager r . ,w D ft I SATURDAY - "M T&11 -i tin "VVJRflWERfl PCflC MI-!!! D Three Opinions: "The CHICAGO RECORD is a mode! newspaper in every sense of the word." Harrisburg Pa.) Call. 1 'There is no paper published in America that so nearly approaches the true journal' istic ideal as The CHICAGO RECORD." From "Newspaperdom" New York). "I have come to the firm conclusion, after a long test and after a wide comparison with the journals of many cities and coun tries, that The CHICAGO RECORD comes as near being the ideal daily journal as we are for some time likely to find on these mortal shores." Prof. J. T. Hatfield in The Evanston (III.) Index. Sold by newsdealers everywhere and subscriptions received by all postmasters. Address THE CHI CAGO RECORD, 181 Madison-st. At the great Lincoln races You will see many pretty faces k And to oe correct you snotilcl wear one of those "BEAXJOY HLATJS," espeolaUy designed for going to tne races f' Only to be found at the fashion centre of kincoln I FAMOUS 1009 0 ST. "THE GRAND PRIX" " l'HE ROSE BEAUTY" "THE LINCOLN PARK" "THE JUNE DAY 'THE ISLANDER" "THE WINNER" -"THE GO GO" Only to be found at the fashion centre of Lincoln I FAMOUS, 1009 0 SI. 'Vi-'1