SHEFFIELD CHOIR STORIES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1292, 22 November 1911, Page 8

SHEFFIELD CHOIR STORIES.

Australia would hardly recognteo itself ia some of tho glowing, descriptions of its natural advantages and social amenities which are being given by members of the Sheffield Choir since their return (says tho English correspondent of an Australian paper). They discuss it with almost poctio cnfluisiasm; its hope, its youthful spirit, the cordiality of its people inspired and fascinated ; thoin. They are more than generous. Their praises aro enough to make a professional politician blush. The singers collected about 10,000 photographs in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries which they visited, and several of them will give illustrated lectures at intervals during the winter. In this way they will virtually become emigration agents. Others intend to giro practical evidence of their faith by emigrating themselves as soon ns possible. Tho tour is said to have cost ,CGO,OOO. Its organiser, Dr. Charles Harriss, has had to bear somo financial loss, according to a current Report. There is no trace of disappointment, however, in his own reference to tho venture. It fully realised an ambition ho had entertained for several years. Ho'describes it as. having been from first to last "a triumph for musical reciprocity." Hut there is another kind of reciprocity at which, as an Imperialist, ho draws the line. "They thought," he says, "that I had gone mad when .we heard in tho middle of tho Hay of Risen)by wireless telegraphy that the trade reciprocity scheme had been killed by the Canadian electors. I jumped for joy. I like America—but: it is the British Empiro first and all the lime."