Columbian Male Quartette

              Columbian Male Quartette
Will Shirer, 2nd Tenor
Hugh Harter, 1st Tenor
Fisher Shipp, Reader & Soprano
A. W. Cords, Manager, 1st Bass & Musical Director
L. T. Button, 2nd Bass
The Columbian Male Quartette and Miss Fisher Shipp
Announcement
 ONE of the most universally popular attractions with lyceum audiences is  a first-class male quartette and a reader. We present to our patrons the  Columbian Male Quartette and Miss Fisher Shipp in response to the demand for a quartette company every member of which is an artist. It  is a splendid attraction. The quartette has toured Canada and the States very extensively and appeared in some of the largest and best city courses in the country.    Their individual work is most excellent.
Mr. Hugh Harter, first tenor, has a remarkably high lyric tenor which fits him for the part in the quartette. He possesses unusual dramatic power and is a soloist of rare ability. He has had training from some of the best masters in this country, one of them being Herman Devries, recently with the Grau Grand Opera Company.
Mr. Will Shirer, the second tenor, has a voice of splendid quality and unusual sweetness. His natural talent, supplemented by a thorough musical training, well qualifies him for his place in this versatile quartette.
Mr. L. T. Button is the possessor of a deep, rich bass voice, which he uses to good effect in the quartette.
Mr. A. W. Cords, first bass, musical director, and manager of the quartette, possesses a rich resonant voice, under perfect control, and his wide musical experience has enabled him to place the quartette as one of the best on the platform today His solos, both vocal and on the piano, are a distinct feature of the program.
Miss Fisher Shipp is a beautiful young woman of remarkable versatality and power. Her striking presence, graceful address and choice of appropriate selections make her mistress of the art of entertaining.
We are glad to be able to present so strong an attraction to our patrons.
FROM THE PRESS AND PUBLIC
Madison, South Dakota.
The entertainment by the Columbian Male Quar¬tette last evening proved a very auspicious opening for the Epworth League lecture course. There was a large audience present and the program was first class in every particular. Every member of the com¬pany is an artist, the solo work was excellent, and the quartette numbers par excellent. "Remember Now Thy Creator" was perhaps one of the best selec¬tions rendered. For perfect harmony, delicate shading, and expression the Columbians equal any quartette ever heard from the Chautauqua platform. The audi¬ence was very appreciative, and the singers responded frequently to the hearty encores. If the course measures up to the standard set by the Columbians it will be the best yet given.—DAILY SENTINEL.
Bennington, Kansas.
The Columbian Male Quartette afforded the people of Bennington more real pleasure in the fullest sense of that word, than it has ever been their privilege to enjoy. Each member of the Quartette seemed to excel the others, but perhaps the palm belongs to Mr. Cords, the bass soloist. The selection of Miss Fisher Shipp "The Old Red Cradle" stirred in her hearers a depth of feeling that had not been reached by many of them for a long time. Bennington is so well pleased that we have already determined to place the Quartette on our course for next year.— ANDREW SMITH, Committee.
Salem, Iowa.
The Columbian Male Quartette at the Salem Opera House drew an audience that packed the house to the doors. This company is one of the best that has been seen at this house this season, every member being an artist of ability. They gave the best of satisfac¬tion and our people were highly pleased. This com¬pany is composed of just the kind of people the lec¬ture Course committees and Opera House managers like to meet.—C. A.  STEVENS,  Manager.
Ely, Minnesota.
The Columbian Male Quartette and Miss Fisher. Shipp delightfully entertained an audience of over four hundred people at the Ely Opera House last night. The first appearance of the Quartette on the stage was the signal for an outburst of applause, and their work during the evening "kept the ball roll¬ing." Miss Shipp and Mr. Cords won much applause in their individual numbers. The latter has a voice of surpassing purity and sweetness.—C. L. NEWBERRY, Manager.
Webster, South Dakota.
The concert given by the Columbian Male Quar¬tette and Miss Fisher Shipp, reader, under the aus¬pices of the "Woman's Thursday Club" was par excellent in every respect. It was pronounced by all present as the best concert ever given in Webster.— SECRETARY.
The Columbian Male Quartette and Miss Fisher Shipp
Onaga, Kansas.
The entertainment by the Columbian Male Quar¬tette was the opening of the lecture course in this city for the season of 1903-4 and proved highly satis factory not only to the committee but to the audi¬ence as well. Every member of the Quartette is an artist of the first degree and this is also true of the reader, Miss Shipp. Future courses in this city will certainly include the Columbians if it is possible to procure them.—J. W. DUNN, President.
Pierre, South Dakota.
The Columbian Quartette opened our Star Lec¬ture Course in a very satisfactory manner, the gen¬eral verdict being that it will be a long time before we secure another company giving us such a fine entertainment. The harmony of the ensemble work was perfect, and the solos were excellent.—C. FRANK VREELAND, Manager.
Bemidji, Minnesota.
The Columbian Male Quartette gave a most excel¬lent entertainment in our city. It was most heartily enjoyed by an enthusiastic audience from first to last. The bass solos by Mr. Cords merit special mention.—E. H. SMITH, M. D.
Inwood, Iowa.
I have intended writing you before but have been awray. Our people here were well pleased with the entertainment given by your quartette and all speak of it in the highest terms of praise. I do not know that there was any one thing deserving especial men¬tion, you are all artists in your line.—G. M. ANDER¬SON .
Cloquet, Minnesota.
The Lyceum Committee of Cloquet, Minn., after listening to the program presented by the Columbian Male Quartette, begs leave to heartily endorse, and to recommend to the public, wishing for a clean-cut, high-class entertainment, this quartette. We listened with delight to the entire performance. The audi¬ence were both pleased and delighted.—C. W. LOWRIE, Treasurer Lyceum Committee.
Fort Collins, Colorado.
The Columbian Male Quartette presented the best entertainment of the season. The harmony was per¬fect, the four voices blended exquisitely into one rich outflowing of harmony. Some of the selections were pathetic, some humorous, but all were selected with equally good taste. The whole program was delight¬fully arranged so as to present each number in its highest effectiveness. The humorous and the pathetic, the vocal and the instrumental selections were so skillfully arranged that not the least monotony was experienced. The final event was a beautiful "good night" song by the quartette. A better satisfied audi¬ence, we think, has seldom left the Opera House. Criticism was disarmed, praise was heard from every one. We heartily congratulate the lecture course management upon their happy selection of the Colum¬bian Male Quartette.—TRIBUNE.
Marion, Iowa.
The Columbian Male Quartette with Miss Fisher Shipp, reader, gave the second number in the Course before an audience of 950 people. The quartette was listened to with much pleasure. The audience was especially pleased with Miss Shipp's readings.—J. T. RAYMOND, President.
Centralia, Kansas.
The first number of the lecture course was given by the Columbian Male Quartette. They were greeted by a large audience that appreciated every number on the program.—JOURNAL.
Neosha, Kansas.
The entertainment by the Columbian Male Quar¬tette was well attended and greatly pleased the audi¬ence. The Quartette was a good one—in fact the best we have ever heard in Hartford. The tenor solos by Will Shirer and the bass solos by A. W. Cords were exceptionally fine. Their voices are highly cultivated and they handled them with great skill and ease.—VALLEY TIMES.
Gardner, Kansas.
We were more than pleased with the entertainment given by the Columbian Male Quartette and Miss Shipp. The voices of the quartette are exceptionally good, and Miss Shipp is certainly a reader of great power and ability. Each number of the program was greatly enjoyed by the large audience present and we hope that we may have them with us again.—LECTURE COURSE COMMITTEE.
Ames, Iowa.
The Columbian Male Quartette assisted by Miss Fisher Shipp, reader, gave the second number of the lecture course last evening. They were greeted by a full house and presented a varied and pleasing pro¬gram. The solos by Mr. Cords are deserving of much praise, as are also the readings by Miss Shipp, her work adding much to the merit of the program.— JOURNAL.
Arlington, South Dakota.
The entertainment given last night by the Colum¬bian Male Quartette assisted by Miss Fisher Shipp was one of the most thoroughly enjoyed musicales ever given in this city. The richness and power of the four magnificent voices blended into perfect har¬mony. The rich bass of Mr. Cords was well brought out in solo work and the readings by Miss Shipp all combined to form an evening of rare enjoyment.
Valley, Nebraska.
The Columbian Male Quartette, which was the first number of the Valley lecture course, royally entertained a large and appreciative audience in the opera house last evening. Their reader, Miss Shipp is a graceful and beautiful young woman and mis¬tress of the art of expression.—TIMES.
Tipton, Iowa.
In the name of the committee I want to thank you for the most excellent entertainment you gave us last night when you opened up our season's course. The attention and applause given you by a packed house spoke our appreciation better than I can. I hope we may soon again have the pleasure of listening to you.—J. N. NALY, Chairman Committee.
Jewell City, Kansas.
The Columbian Male Quartette, with Miss Fisher Shipp, appeared as the third in our regular course. We are pleased to take the opportunity of expressing our high appreciation of the entertainment which they gave. We regard it as among the very best concerts ever given in our towrn and the large audi¬ence that greeted them was delighted.—COMMITTEE.
De Smet, South Dakota.
The Columbian Male Quartette gave one of their entertainments last night. The opening number on our entertainment course and gave the most entire satisfaction of any entertainment we have had here for a long time. Every number was well received and encores demanded which were equally well received. Their voices blended in fine harmony and in every way were most heartily appreciated. They can come to DeSmet again and we will all be glad to see them and give them a hearty welcome.—J. H. HUBBARD. Secretary.
The Columbian Male Quartette and Miss Fisher Shipp
MISS FISHER SHIPP is by nature and training a delightful entertainer. Her high appreciation and true interpretation of the best things in literature, together with her charming person¬ality, make her at once a favorite. She renders with ease a repertoire of great variety, including humorous and dialect sketches.
Louisiana
An appreciative audience listened to Miss Fisher Shipp's recital at the Presbyterian Church Friday eve¬ning. Miss Shipp's selections were varied, covering the humorous, pa¬thetic and dramatic, yet in each she exhibited a full control of not only the selection given, but an en¬tire mastery of her oratorical powers. Miss Shipp is from the Emerson College of Oratory, and is a credit to that institution.—DEM-
Pierre, South Dakota.
Miss Shipp read a variety of se¬lections very acceptably. Indeed she is an artist of rare ability, en¬tering gracefully into the spirit of her selections and interpreting them with vividness and power. She has the histrionic ability to hold her audience enrapt.—C. FRANK VREELAXD,  Committee.
Fort Collins, Colorado.
Miss Shipp, reader, told a story of a bull fight— a pathetic and a romantic Spanish tale—and she put into it all the fierce Spanish passion that belongs to it. She forgot that we were an audience and wfe forgot that she was a professional emotion-maker. She held us breathless to the finish; and in response to the encore, she recited with perfect expression a poem which we wish  we could reprint.—TRIBUNE.
Edgerton, Ohio.
Miss Shipp showed magnificent dramatic power, perfect articulation and most graceful manner, in her renditions.
Neosha Valley, Kansas.
The reader, Miss Fisher Shipp, captivated her audience. Some of her readings were very difficult, but she rendered them with ease and grace.—TIMES.
Manson, Iowa.
Miss Shipp's readings were exceptionally fine and mark her as a great and entertaining artist.—M. E. MACK, Committee.
Eveleth, Minnesota.
Miss Shipp in her renditions last evening pleased the audience immensely. She is a reader of unusual ability which was especially shown in her reading of "The Bull Fight."
MISS  FISHER   SHIPP, Reader and Soprano
Fort Scott, Kansas.
A very good audience of Ft. Scott's best people listened to Miss Shipp at the Congregational Church last night. Miss Shipp reads with captivating ease, and was always encored. Her rendition of Goodwin's "Lullaby" was faultless. Fred Emerson Brooks him¬self could not have rendered more charmingly his poem, "The Swing," while Miss Shipp's magnificent dramatic power was seen and heard and felt in her presentation of "Sombre."—DAILY.
De Smet, South Dakota.
Miss Shipp is a reader of exceptional ability. Her interpretations were very pleasing and called forth hearty applause.—J. H.  HUBBARD, Secretary.
Madison, South Dakota.
Miss Shipp, the reader, gave her selections in a very entertaining manner.—DAILY SENTINEL.
Carrollton, Iowa.
Miss Shipp is a bright, magnetic reader, and makes a fine appearance upon the stage. Her artic¬ulation is perfect, and she completely captivated her audience by her originality of manner and charming countenance. During the evening Miss Shipp read four numbers, and responded to many encores. We believe we voice the sentiment of the entire audience when we say that she is the best reader that has ever visited Carrollton.—REPUBLICAN-RECORD.