A Great Event

Great preparations were made by the promotors of the May Festival to make it one of the great musical events of the year. That they surpassed even their own most sanguine expeetations so far as the attendance and enthusiasm is concerned is evident. The very flrst of the concerts drew out an immense audience, and each succeeding one was attended by a still larger number. Saturday night when the i'Damnation of Faust" was given, hundreds, many of whom had come from distant parts of the state and from adjoining states, were unable even to gain admission to the the hall, every square foot of standing room being crowded to its utmost capacity. It is estimated that tbere were at least eight hundred who were unable to gain admission to the hall. The hall will seat about three thousand people. On Saturday night there must have been at the least fully four thousand people crowded into it We shall not attempt to make any critical comments upon the music rendered. It is enough to say that so far as we have been able to learn, not one among the thousands who attended, hundreds of whom were fine musical critics, has anything but the highest praise for the entire program, excepting the singing of Madame Nórdica which was decidedly disappointing. Some criticism has been expressad upon the management for selling more tickets than it was pos.sible to accomodate in the hall. If such was actually done it was a mistake, and, if possible to get at the matter justly, those who bought tickets and then could not get into the hall should have their money returned to them. It, should be borne in mind, however, that in handling crowds so much larger than was expected it could not be otherwise, in the rush than that a miscalculation might easily have been made as to the number who could find standing room. Those who have never had anything to do in handling affairs on such'oecasions can have no idea of the difficulties that must be contended with. Upon the whole, the arrangements were well carricd out and the Festival was a success long to be remembered by all who were able to attend.