Name/Title
AU Harris, James Lowell - 1930-10-29 letter to Richard Lambert HarrisEntry/Object ID
1989.1.13Context
THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION
OF BALTIMORE
CENTRAL BUILDING
Franklin and Cathedral Streets
BALTIMORE, MD.,
At the Desk.
Wednesday Night.
Dear Dick:-
Was very glad to get your letter yesterday and hear the latest news. It has been so long since I have written to you that I have forgotten how far behind I am.
I have been going around some with another fellow who is a student of composition at the Conservatory who lives in Washington D.C. and he invited me up to his home last week end, and since the other desk man wanted to trade in our scheduals [sic] for a day, I took the opportunity to go. We took out the family LaSalle and took a very nice drive through the hills of Virginia down to Fredericksburg which is a very old historic town. We passed thru Alexandria, passed the old Pohick Church where Washington worshipped; also the spot where Pokahontas and John Smith first met and saw many older forts, battlegrounds and also several mansions that belonged to the Custis and Washington families. At Fredericksburg we saw an old slave block and the first law office of James Monroe besides other historic spots. The drive was very beautiful with the fall colors.
I suppose Dan Charles has told you all about the wedding, so I won't go into details. A week ago last evening I heard the New York Philharmonic and it was a concert played to perfection. I will enclose a program. The "Enchanted Isle" was a modernistic type, but beautiful as well. The flute soloist was wonderful.
Mr. Bibb is working me on the "Toreador Song" from Carmen in French. Franz Bornschein, who is a noted orchestral conductor and composer (you will remember he arranged the "Creation Hymn" we sang on glee club) is my conducting teacher and he is a real artist. Mr. Otto Ortmann the director of the school is another one of my teachers. They have a very fine symphony orchestra here at the school and the conductor, Gustav Strude had one of his symphonies that he wrote played recently by the Minneapolis Orchestra. Practically all of these teachers are well known composers or artists.
I have found a very fine room mate and my new rook has three big windows and overlooks the cathedral where the famous Cardinal Gibbons spent his last years of work.
I heard that you were elected president of the new college band. Thats [sic] fine and congratulations. They must look very professional-like with those new uniforms. If you get a picture of them, send me one. If you have any old T and C's send them over---I'd like to look them over. What girls are you going with? Have you been on any serenades. You had better just wait at least until the next semester before considering a group and take time to look them over.
The Peabody concerts start Friday with Erika Morini, famous violinist as the artist. You ought to hear the big organ in the concert hall--- it fairly roars when some one plays those Bach fugues and I like to hear them. I have a very nice practice room in the newer building and have a new Knabe grand piano for my practice.
Tomorrow night I sing several selections at a reception which is being given at one of the U.B. Churches here to its minister.
I get a great kick out of the old loafters and drunks out of the lobby at 1 o'clock in the morning. The night watchman who is a funny old goof who looks like old man Gump, and myself, get into arguments over the next [BB] election, till we almost forget to go to bed.
Well, I must stop now as I am beginning to get a little business at the desk. Write me as often as you can and tell me about things.
Your brother,
Jimmie
Thanx for sending the pictures. Am returning them as per your request.
