THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN, PORTLAND, MAY 11, 1902. i9 A PORTLAND BOY CHORISTER MASTER THOMAS DOBSON JR'S SUCCESSFUL VOCAL WORK IN WASHINGTON, D. C "With a more beautiful voIce than ever, I and quite an Interesting personality for a boy only 12 years old. Master Thomas Dobson, Jr., formerly soprano soloist at Trinity Episcopal Church, this city, and for the past seven months soprano solo ist at St. John's Episcopal Church. Wash ington, D. C, Is home, again. Since ho left Portland, with his father and moth er, last October, Master Dobson has re ceived such marked attention and praise for his singing that it is a wonder his head has not been completely turned. Although he has been hobnobbing with such people as Wu Ting Fang, the Chi nese Minister, and distinguished "Wash ington diplomats, the boy Is unspoiled, and is as much of a true boy as ever. He says he is glad to be home again In Oregon. St. John's Episcopal Church, ' at the northeast corner of SixteentB "and H streets, Northwest. "Washington, D. C-, Is quite an aristocratic place. Among those who attend it are: Mrs. Hoosevelt and family, Lord Pauncefote, the British Ambassador, and many members of for eign embassies. The choir consists of about 33 members, and all are vested wearing surplice and cassock except two young lady members, who keep out of sight of the congregation. The young ladles are necessary to help the alto sec tion, as alto voices among boys are ra're, and those boys who try to sing alto -usually cannot be depended upon for fine work. Tho composition of the choir is: Twenty-one sopranos, six altos, three tenors, and four bases. The organist and choirmaster is Mr. H. H. Freeman, and the harpist is Miss Anita Cluss. Three choir rehearsals are held each week Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday even ings, and each rehearsal lasts from C:45 o'clock until 9 or 9:90 o'clock. An elabo rate musical programme is presented and rendered each Sunday at the morning and afternoon service, although St. John's Is not what is called a high church. The church building is an old one. and is situated near the "White House. Rev. Dr. Alexander Mackay Smith was its rector until recently, when ho was elected bishop-coadjutor of the diocese of Penn sylvania. "When Master Dobson and his parents went East, they first visited New York City and Brooklyn; but on hearing of the success with which Mr. Freeman has met in training boys' voices, at Washing ton, it was considered advisable to en trust the training of the boy's voice to Mr. Freeman, and the result has been perfectly satisfactory- Young Dobson has received one vocal lesson every day dur ing the entire time ho has been with Mr. Freeman, and the compass of his voice is now from A below the staff to E in alt. It is a pure soprano voice, full and clear, like that of a bird., It is strong In the high notes. His intonation Is admirable, and, what is surprising in a boy, his expression Is as good as that of most adults. So many boy singers have beautiful voices without expression; Tiut not so with Master Dobson. "In all the people you saw on your trip, who made the most impression on you?" asked an Oregonlan man of the boy, the other evening. "Well." said Master Dobson, thought fully, it was Wu Ting Fang, the Chinese Minister. I met him February 1, at a reception In connection with the fifth an nual banquet of the Washington College of Law. He astonished me by the ques tions he asked. Oh, yes; and he wore brocaded silk and ermine, and such a big diamond on his shoulder! When I was presented to him he asked: 'Do you sing? To you sing soprano? Why do you sing soprano? Are you a woman? Is not soprano what the girls sing? How high can you sing? Why, you sing a long way, don't you all the way from .Port land." " Although the boy was kept busy with his daily lessons and his duties, as solo ist at St. John's, he found time to ac cept outside engagements, and among those people to whom he sang were: Chief Justice Fuller, Admiral Dewey, Hear-Admiral Schley, General Miles and Lord Pauncefote. He sang at Mrs. Og den's private musicale, and at receptions given by Commander and Mrs. Millert and by Mrs. Queen, in honor of Mr. and Mrs. William Gordon Crawford, Master Dobson also sang at various concerts In "Washington, and Frederick, Md. Every where he went he was enthusiastically received, both for his voice and manner. Ellen Spencer Mussey. L. L. M.. dean of the Washington Law Library, wrote him: "I trust ou may have the success your talents entitle you to. and that you may continue to give pleasure to all who come within the sound, of your wonderful Voice." Master Dobson will likely have his bril liant sopraro for three or four years yet, maybe less, and then his voice will "break," and he will be unable to sing until he is a tenor or bass. For the present his parents wish him to have a rest, and then he will go to the coast for a short time, until the period arrives, about September, when he will probably again start for the East to proceed with his musical studies. Life in the East has agreed with him. He has grown plump and hearty, and has advanced Oregon's name in the world of song. ' A NAMELESS BATTLE. Mr. Bcchanan Tells of an Engage ment 40 Years Ago Today. PORTLAND, Or.,May 10. (To the Ed itor.) Having given my experience In the "battle of Shlloh on Its 40th anniversary, I now propose to do the same for another battle. As the Battle of Shlloh was one of the greatest battles In the world's his tory, so this one is so little that it never got into history; yet it was the most In teresting ght to me. In which I was ever engaged. A battle of eqyal proportions, occurring in the Philippines, or South Africa, would be heralded the world over, as a "bloody and hardly contested bat tle"; but in our Civil War, if was so small In comparison to others, that It passed unnoticed. Lest some one may think from some thing I may say that I am egotistical enough to Imagine that I was "a bold so Jer boy," I will say right here, that I know I was not At times, I may have crushed down my fears, yet there never was a time when the terrifying, discor dant shrieks of shells, grape, canister 3nd xninnie balls did not seriously affect roe. On the 11th of May, 1S62, I was one of a detail of 100 men, sent out to cover work men who were constructing a road across a swamp close up to the enemy's lines, near Farmlngton, Miss. We went out early in the morning, crossed the narrow swamp, ascended a small hill and en camped. Encamping here meant to stack arms, knapsacks, canteens and haver sacks. We were In a small farm. We had not been here long when an or derly rode up and ordered our command er. Captain Davis, to take his men out and relieve the cavalry pickets, who were be ing driven in. We had been hearing sharp firing in front nearly all the morning, but, as that was nothing new, we thought lit tle of It. Captain Davis' command, "Take guns and fall In," rang out so eharp as to make every one Jump. We crossed the cleared land, about 200 yards, and entered a thinly timbered wood on the double quick. Here we met the cavalry going out faster than we were going in. As soon as we were clear of them, the order came to "deploy as skirmishers," Ser geant Hess, take command of the right wing Sergeant Buchanan, take com mand of the. left wing!" Practically we did not keep in alignment, but ran to cov-, er, about Ave steps apart, behind logs trees, clumps of bushes, or whatever would serve to hide us. The rebel line could be distinctly eea about 200 yards distant, coming toward us, dodging from cover to cover. We were scarcely in position until we opened a rattling fire. It was every man look out for himself, and wherever he could see a "graycoat" uncovered to blaze away hit It If he could. We were soon aware that the cavalry had Indeed stirred up a hornet's nest for us to run Into. The rebels far outnumbered and outflanked us on either flank. The contest was to be an unequal one, and it .was a question of only a few moments when one of three things must happen to us we must get assistance, be killed or captured or run for It. I congratulated myself In being the other fellow. The rebels kept coming closer and were cross-firing on us; so from hugging the trees we had got to hugging the ground. The balls had knocked the bark from either side of my tree, and whizzed by my head, and I did not mind it much; but while lying pron on the ground one struck right under me and seemed to raise me bodily off the ground, that was too much for my courage to stand, and I looked around for a good chance to run away. I -now discovered to my chagrin (for I always like to be the first to run) that there were but Ave men with me; the others had all disappeared. We were In great peril. To Jump and run would draw the flrA nf a iuni1f1 ritno" Vint- T VintifVi- rt I nothing else; the Idea of surrender, per I haps the thing I should have done, never entered my head. I yelled lustily "Run, boys! Make fenco row for the swamp!" Four obeyed me promptly, but the fifth remained quietly loading his gun. "Run, John, run!" As he coolly capped his gun he said: "I must have one more shot." I did not wait to see that shot. I Jumped TO SING AT CIVIC IMPROVEMENT ENTERTAINMENT r 1 1 IHWWHHif w f jJSsKlW- Ji IPMIiJsHHF i , iHsls&SXiif K&S3MHHBBHHsHsStt$k &&imr i&2M?f &?&&&$. s&sBBBmBSSSl VS'MaibaBBBtfcBBfBfBfBfBfBfBfBfBfCfl. ?M 'JL , t ,w, . "BBBbHHE MRS. A. SHELDON. The Lewis and Clark CUlc Improvement Association does not intend to leave any stone unturned la Jta efforts to arouse the interest of the people in making Portland a city of beautiful homes; clean sidewalk and good streets, and to that end they have arranged for a mass meeting, to be held at the ilarquam Theater Wedncrfay eenlng, May 14. at which time a series of lantern slides will be exhibited, showing the conditions in different Eastern cities "before and after" the Civic Association took hold of the work. These slides are very Ant. and are the property of the American League for Civic Improvement, and were loaned to the local organization for this occasion. A number of prominent men have consented to be present and give Interesting talks along this line. The pro gramme will not be "all talk." however, as Mrs. A. C. Sheldon, a most charm ing vocalist, will lend her assistance in making the entertainment attractive. Dr. "W. A. Cummlngs will sing a bass solo. "The Push Club" Quartet will also be beard on this occasion, and those who hear them will be highly entertained. There will be other attractions also, as the Intention 1s to make the entertainment en jojable as veil as Instructive. The public Is cordially United to be present. CALYIN HEILIG Maaager MARQUAM GRAND THEATER CALVIN HEILIG Manager FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS, MAY 16 and 17 SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT SPECIAL MATINEE SATURDAY AT 2:15 O'CLOCK FASHIONABLE EVENT MR. n! c. miss maxine GOODWIINPFSl IOTT In Their Greatest American and London Successes Friday Night and , Saturday Matinee Saturday Night WHEN WE WERE TWENTY-ONE - - AN AMERICAN CITIZEN With all the scenic accessories and stage embellishments that were used at the Knickerbocker Theater, New York, and original production at the Comedy Theater, London. PRICES BOTH MATINEE AND EVENING Lower floor, except last 3 rows. $2.00; last 3 rows. $1.50. Balcony, first 3 rows, 5L50; second 3 rows. J1.00; third 3 rows, 40c; lest 4 rows In balcony, 20c Gallery, reserved, 35c; balance, 23c. Boxes and logos, $12.50. SALE OF SEATS TTCLL OPEN WEDNESDAY MORNING AT 10 O CLOCIv. (Not more than ten seats will be sold to any one person for anv single performance.) "'Jcooaa8.4 CALVIN HEILIG, Mngr. 7UYKRQJH7UI GRSND CALVIN HEILIG, Mngr. 1901 SEASON 1902 r Portland Symphony Orchestra :. The fifth and last Concert of the Season will be given on . f Monday even'g. May 12, at 8:30 o'clock Vocalist, MRS. WALTER REED PRICES j 50c, 75c, $1.00. Conductor, EDGAR E. COURSEN CARRIAGES AT 10:15 O'CLOCK I lortunare enougn to secure the largest i up and ran like a scared rabbit; and ixee in inai vicmiiy. dui i soon, round it never was rabbit scared worse. I was too small or my body was too large; and j scarcely conscious of what I was doing, how close I did hug that tree! "When the , It seemed that I was running through a rebs had got pretty close I happened leaden haiL I felt something burn my to look on the left side of my tree, and j right side, but I ran on. Something struck it seemed to me that I looked straight my right heel and nearly knocked my into the muzzle of a gun. My heart went pegs from under me, and I thought half Into my brogans. That was the most ter- the foot was gone, but I only ran the ribie gun I had ever seen. I had up to harder. I thought I felt .the warm blood this time thought that I never could de- filline the shoe, but I had no time to ex liberately shoot a man. In a case of this ' amine it. I quickly arrived at the edge kind a man thinks quickly. It flashed through my mind that I must kill this of the wood, and th.ere was the 300 yards of open field before me. Instinctively I man or he would kill me. I was then a 1 took a tree. The four boys had likewise good and quick shot. The gun flew to my j treed. The rebels were at the edge of the shoulder, and cracked; well, I lived, but wood, both to tho left and right, ready to I did not look to see what happened to shoot anything undertaking to cross that open ground. I -was too badly demoral ized to think of surrendering; so I said again, 'Run, boys!' One noble boy, as he turned from his tree, was shot through the heart. I did not know It then, for he ran like a deer, and never stopped until he got into the swamp. He died In a few minute? after. My memory of our run across that open ground is very indistinct, except J remember seeing the dusty road and how the spitting balls- kicked up the dust around us, and it seemed as If when. In the act of running, I would throw , leg forward I was throwing It right In the way of a coming ball. Here another boy was shot In the leg, but he ran ail the faster. As we tunled over the brow of the hill and out of rebel sight, there was the re mains of a rail fence; behind this wc took shelter . and to look for chances to pay some return compliments. "Bob" Fehlman, the little antic Dutchman of our company, happened to be close to me. I saw him take deliberate aim and fire. He looked a moment, then dropped his gun. threw up his hands and gleefully shouted: "Oh, I hit blra! I hit him!" "How tlo you know you hit him?" "Oh, I saw him throw up his arms and iall over!" I think "Bob" was correct But excited "Bob" forgot to take his ramrod out the next time, and he was In de spair because ho couldn't load any more. An ofllcer came along and ordered us back to. our command. In the edge of-the swamp we found Captain Davis gather ing his men together. He was Joyfully surprised at seeing us. As he came up to grasp each by the band, he said: "Ye Gods! but wasn't that hot! I thought -you fellows all gone up. He congratulated us In the highest terms. I thought It Just. as far as the others were concerned, but I In my case It was not lceerved, rather J I deserved severe criticism for permit ting myself to become so rattled that. I j did not have Judgment to do the correct j thing. J We had now opportunity to take stock of ourselves. Of the squad of six who re mained with me, one was shot through the heart and was dead: one was shot In the leg and badly wounded; John Harris. who .remained totake one more shot. Is missing; (we found him In camp the next day; he had escaped in another direc tion); I had two ball holes In my blouse and shirt and a bruised heel, but I had lest no blood, and two had their clothing marked. Captain Davis said that I ought to take that wounded shoe home with me as a memento; but I said no; that is In the heel and received when I waa running like a coward. It was strange. "cbis!dering the gaunt let we ran, but mir'r16ss,was only one man killed, four wounded and one missing A rebel prisoner brought in the same day, reported that they had 14 killed and a large number wounded. "We found a great many bloody places In those woods the next day. After our little fight was over and we were out of the way, a battery shelled the woods, made It too hot for the rebe'fi and we took possession of them again. On a careful reading of what I have here written. I think I have been a little too eevere In mv criticism of myself, and in Justice to myself will add. that In the opening of the tight, I was my natural relf. I told the boys to "go slow, don't waste a shot wait a good chance and then hit our mark." The question with mo all these years Is, "Did, I do the best?" The question 13 too long to argue here. M. BUCHANAN. WOODMEN -HALlJdE-DICATED Ceremony Performed "With Speeches in the Proehcecjf a Great Crowd. The "Woodmen of the "World Hall, on East Sixth and East Washington streets, was dedicated Friday night as a fraternal home by Multnomah Camp No. 77. There was a laTge attendance of the members and visitors froth o'ther camps of the city, there being fully 600 present In the hall. J. J. Jennings opened the programme with an address on the "Objects of Wood craft." W. W. Lumden read a poem en titled "Woodcraft In Life and Death." Multnomah Camp orchestra gave a pleas ing selection. One of the pleasing features of the evening was the presentation of a hand some gold watch to J. C. Jones, presi dent of the board of directors of the Mult nomah Hall Association. Mr. Jones was mainly Instrumental in the erection of the building, and has been one of the leading spirits of the enterprise from the start. Major Row e made the presentation speech Jn a happy manner, speaking of the ser vices Mr. Jones had rendered, and ending by handing him the watch. On one side the watch a picture of the new building was engraved, and on the other are the Initials "J. C. J." While Mr. Jones was very much surprised, he was highly grat ified with the testimonial from his frater nal friends. The other speakers were Hermann Schade, who touched on "Progress of Woodcraft In the Pacific Jurisdiction." Professor W. C. Hawley, of Salem, head manager, also made an effective address. J. M. Woodworth spoke of "Our New Forest." Then followed the dedication of the hall by George K. Rogers, lresent ing the head consul. The entire property Is now valued at $16,000. Handsome furni ture has been provided for the building at a cost of $1350. Money for Church Improvements. The various departments of the Missis sippi enue Congregational Church aro raising $3i0 for the purpose of impnn'ing the property. The Sunday school ha3 raised S15S. the Young People's Society $60, and the Ladles Aid $60. Of the total amount only $S0 remains to be raised. The Ladles" Aid Society will give a rum- mage sale at 91 First street Tuesday and Wednesday to help out the fund. By tho first of June the entire amount Is expected to be on hand. The money will be ap plied as follows: To decorate and beau tify church grounds, $25; paint building, $75; pay sewer assessments. t9S; put In plumbing and connections at parsonage, 150. DO XOT SLOUCH AJtOUXD. For $1 per month, wc will call for, clean, press and deliver one suit of your cloth ing each week, and give you a shine ticket good for eight flhines a month. Unique Tailoring Company, 347 Washington street. ------- -..----.-.-- "'""--TTttlltt'tTttltJtltl ttttlltIIl1TTTTT----f k rTj &r GEORGE L. BAKER. MANAGER. PHONE OREGON NORTH 1076 PHONE COLUMBIA 506 v starting- this SUNDAY AFTERNOON, May 11 AND REMAINDER OF THE "WEEK FIFTH WEEK OF THE POPULAR AND SUCCESSFUL MR. RALPH STUART AND COMPANY In a Magnificent and Correct Production of Augustus Thomas' ZOURA A.STORY OF RURAL LIFE IN THE MIDDLE WESTERN STATES. It is - beautiful in its simplicity. It is near lo nature's Heart, and abounds -with tKose touch.es tKat ma&e all mankind aKin. It is edifying in its constancy. Cordray's Theater Popular With The People JOHN F. CORDRAY, Manager. TONIGHT ONLY--TONIGHT1 SUNDAY, MAY II SPECIAL PERFORMANCE OF & 3 y ' (The latest New York and London Success.) POSITIVELY IiAST APPEARANCE OP THE EMINENT ACTOR MR. JOHN GRIFFITH And'the.talented and beautiful MISS KATHRYN PURNELL PRICES AS USUAL 25 AND 50 CENTS - ,WE ARE TRYING TO BECOME POPULAR, AND THUS FAR HAVE .SUCCEEDED PRICES -THAT NEVER CHANGE Night 15c, 25c, 35c,50c. Matinee 10c, !5c, 25c. MATINEES SATURDAY AND SUNDAY Next Attraction . MONTE CRISTO iMt,tttt " t' tn hi tn.i iatiiif nt iihihi f'i.t .t t ft i i't't t ttmfti HMtn mntmt POR DRAY'S THEATER -J- - POPULAR WITH THE PEOPLE JOHN F. CORDRAY, Manager. COMING HERE SOON Edward Offings Towns's Great Reigning Success Marry "Indorsed by the World's Best Critics." ANOTHER NEW YORK TRIUMPH . FIRST TIME HERE A Whole Year of Unprecedented Success. Incomparable Cast No Advance in Prices