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
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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