It was a lovely evening, and such a one as grandpa and grandma might have enjoyed had they been lucky enough to book passage on the GOLDEN RULE or the GREAT REPUBLIC for New Orleans or St. Louis. So, Marion Philhower's presentation of the Harp Trio, on Saturday last, at the William Alexander Percy Library, was a happy one indeed.
In our gratitude to Marion, for this throwback to a time when life was sweeter and less complex, we must not forget such modern comforts as good roads and the statlon wagon. For It was because of them that Miss Mercer could bring talent, charm and music to folks who were hungry for such blessings, and in matter of hours at that.
Yes, it was a lovely evening, and on that was warmed by friendly, appreciative interest of the listeners, and the natural and unaffected charm and generosity of the musicians. We were delighted with their selections, and the little histories which they related concerning the instruments they played.
Miss Ruth Cobb told us that there were forty-seven strings on her harp just before she launched into her "Whirlwind" number, but only forty-six when she finished. We heard It pop, from where we sat, but thought It only Ruth's realistic Interpretation of a snapping tree limb.
Miss Phyllis Thornburg's cello notes were as mellow as was our appreciation of them. Years ago, Phyllis, we owned a C Melody Saxophone, and the Instruction book said that if we could master the bass clef we could play cello parts in orchestrations. We are glad that we entertained no such fond illusions, and we know that the sax has no business in the same town, let alone the same room, with you and your cello.
Miss Mary Jane Kirkendol and her violin affected us in the old way as that hippy combination of a girl and a fiddle invariably does. So we had to single her out, afterwards, and tell her so. Meanwhile, the nostalgic impulse was reaching f o l k around us, inspired of course, by three gracious young performers and their manager and sponsor, Ruth Paxton, who sat immediately in front of Old Stuff, told him that she studied violin during her college days at Judson and Brenau. Mary Wetherbee was bound to be thinking of the time when she, too, played the harp. And Jerome Hafter recalled a trio, back in his boyhood days, composed of himself at the piano, his brother Charles on the fiddle, and Miss Freddie Craft (Randall) with the cello.
Miss (really Mrs.) Kirkendol told us that she was born and raised in Oxford, Ohio, and that fact set up a sentimental bond between us, for we used to point the altar at Oxford, during the weekly chapter meetings of New York Alpha. Oxford, Ohio, you see, is the birthplace of Phi Delta Theila, and Mary Jane assured Brother Phis Wynn, Archer, Haxton, and Crump that the Phi Delt Memorial is the most imposing edifice in her old hometown.
The mention of Oxford stirred another memory within us, about a newspaper clipping which was used as a marker in Grandfather Crump's Bible. It must have been cut out of an issue of the old Memphis Appeal that was published, on the run, in Civil War time, and It carried a dateline of June, in 1863. On it was a reprint, marked in pencil, from The Oxford (Ohio) County-News, deploring the recent death of General Stonewall Jackson.
At this late day, Mary Jane, we are wondering if that kindly editor wasn't ostracized as a Copperhead on account of the liberality of his views.
It was nice to be included in gathering at Mrs. M.H. Williams' home, when the musicale was finished. It seems that we rarely see Mrs. Williams, except at parties at her house, the last one before being in the spring or summer of 1949, when she lived on South Hinds Street, (directly behind Miss Betty Hunt's house), and when her children were growing up.
So we thank Marion Philhower again, and her Mother Mrs. Williams, and sisters Clara and Evelyn and Sonny for a most pleasant evening. Nor would we forget Bill ("Pappy") Tauchberry, and his lavish hand with turkey, and the salad and the "swimps."
BC.
