ll appearances, there was no 'dead wood'
among them. It must be understood, besides, that _all_ the
music was sung; every part in harmony being taken with
exactness and precision, whether as to time or intonation.

"Indeed, so admirably did the chorus sing, that we hope to
hear them in a mass or an oratorio at some future time,
being satisfied that they will make a most favorable
impression."

From "The Philadelphia Evening Bulletin," Feb. 22, 1873:--

"A company of colored persons appeared at Horticultural Hall
last night in Eichberg's opera, 'The Doctor of Alcantara.'
The opera was given in a really admirable manner by singers
who understand their business, and have vocal gifts of no
mean description. The leading soprano, Mrs. Smallwood, has a
full, round, clear, resonant voice of remarkable power; and
she uses it with very great effect. She sang the music with
correctness and precision, and played her part capitally.

"The tenor and bass are both excellent; but, while they
display fine voices, they show a want of high training. This
is also the single defect of the two subordinate female
voices of the company.

"The chorus was very fine indeed; and its performance, like
that of the principal singers, proceeded without a flaw or
blunder from first to last."

From the Washington correspondent of "The Vineland (N.J.) Weekly,"
February, 1873:--

"On Tuesday evening it was the good fortune of your
correspondent to attend the opera rendered by the 'Colored
American Opera Company,' of which I spoke in my last.

"To say that every thing passed off well, simply, would be
but faint praise. We all know that the colored race are
_natural_ musicians; and that they are susceptible of a high
degree of cultivation is evinced by their rendition of the
opera on the occasion of which I speak.

"As for the chorus, it is not saying any thing extravagant
when I make the assertion, that it has never been excelled
by that of any of the professional opera-troupes which have
visited this city."

The comments just given, taken, as it may be seen they are, from the
principal journals of Washington and Philadelphia, without regard to
party bias, would be of little value here, were it not for the vein of
candor that runs through them all. In them the writers have te