1908

New addresses: Miles C. Gardner, 234 San Rondoe, Webster, N. Y. 14580; Ralph S. Pease, 127 Main Street, Medway, Mass. 02053.

A long and interesting letter was received from Nick Carter in Mindanao in the Philippines in reply to a letter I wrote him quoting a book I had been reading with references to the Filipinos as ignorant. He writes that in Mindanao there are three races, the Manolos, the Subanos, and Moros. The Moros, who resisted so fiercely when we took over the Philippines are rabid Mohammedans, but not ignorant, as are the others. The Moros do beautiful work in brass, make better bolos, kris, etc., than the presumed-to-be-intelligent Christian Filipinos, The Manobos and Subanos are non-Christians, superstitious, who believe in spirits which must be appeased by rituals and sacrifices.

Beri-beri is prevalent and much malnutrition but not starvation as reported in the book I had read. The chief food is rice and they have vegetables, minerals and proteins. The chief sources of proteins are chickens and pork. They generally raise 2 or 3 pigs and occasionally kill wild hogs.

Roland "Pop" Chesley sent your editor a clipping, apparently from a New York Paper, attributed to Chuck Robie Booth reporting a reunion of Pop and Marian Anderson. Because the attainments of both in the nearly 30 years since their first meeting, Pop in musical leadership in his home city of Utica and Miss Anderson as a world renowned singer and unofficial U. S. diplomat, I am quoting this in full. Pop was the first concert manager to introduce Miss Anderson.

"When the New York organizers of the pre-Christmas retirement party for singer Marian Anderson were drawing up their guest list, one of the first names they jotted down was that of Roland Chesley. The reasons were many. 'She always said I was her favorite manager,' he said after a little prodding. But foremost was the fact that Chesley was the first local concert manager in the nation to hire her.

"Chesley, who has been promoting top name quality music in Utica for 31 years, was a relative newcomer to concert managing when he first heard of a fledgling Negro contralto in 1936. He recalled the incident in a recent interview in his office at Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute. 'Miss Illingworth, a Hurok representative, asked me to book Miss Anderson. "We've just taken on what we think will be a world-renowned singer," ' Miss Illingworth said.

" 'I said I didn't want to take on a single singer nobody ever heard of for one of my concerts.' She said, 'We've got to get her started. If you do, you can take her on your terms.' I finally agreed on a 50-50 deal. I rented the old Majestic Theatre where the box office was so cold we had to have a kerosene stove for the ticket seller. We finally got 500 people to attend.

" 'That recital was the best single concert I've ever heard here,' Chesley said. 'lt was the most memorable. It caused a sensation. She was so poor, I gave her all receipts except the bare expenses.'

"The program on that Feb. 10 in 1936 included works by Handel, Schubert, Verdi, Sadero, and several Negro spirituals including one arranged by Roland Hayes who, Chesley believed was the first Negro to be recognized as a great artist. Miss Anderson was probably the second.

"In 1936 New York had no law on discrimination in places of public accommodation. 'I almost had a fist fight getting her into the Hotel Utica,' Chesley said. 'When I approached the manager, he said "no, no, no." After a hot exchange of pleas and threats, the manager said the singer could stay, but she must not sign the register nor eat in the dining room. She was hustled into a little room near the elevator! Chesley said, 'Two years later when she returned for a sell-out Stanley Theater audience of 3000, the manager welcomed her and said, 'lt's a pleasure to have you back. Kindly sign the register.' And he gave her the finest suite in the place.' "

Roland Chesley '08 and singer MarianAnderson at retirement party in her honor.

Class Notes Editor R.F.D. 1, Laconia, N. H.

Secretary, 120 Broadway, New York 5, N. Y.

Class Agent. North St. (R.D.), Medfield, Mass.