JOY GERM

Hokitika Guardian, 21 September 1932, Page 3

JOY GERM

ALBERT RUSSELL RETURNS WELCOME AT SHIP’S SIDE. 1 WELLINGTON,' September 19. Crowds gathered on. the Queen’s Wharf yesterday morning were not long in recognising Albert; Russell, their “joy germ” idol, asjthe, ; Union liner Monowai drew into lief berth on com 7 pletion 0 f her trip from, Sap Francisco, “Hello, Albert,” cried f j,' doten vpices, and; the response was > “HelloV from" the 'wOH-knhvvh’'figure .cn the 'promenadc^l^v-. t£■ / ■ ”Give us a song,'Albert,” somebody cried; and in a. minute several hundred persons below had burst into “Pack Up Your Troubles,” led by Albert from the <}eck above. It was,a -very fitting w.e - Conic .' to the popular song leader. In .an interview ' later Mr, Russell said that the biggest thrill of his trip was seeing 92,000 persons"at a cup finn] football match in England'.welcome the King and Queen; Vtheii theiFMajest'es arrived, the crowd broke into a tremendous cheer, and. when, the massed bands struck up the National Anthem the music ’jvas dfoyned , by the hearty singing which faccomphnied R;.'- r .Mr Russell spoke, enthusiastically a musical festival .attended ,by more than. 12§:p00 persons, held at Soldiers’ Field, Chicago. .This vast assemblage, under the conductorship of a single song leader; sang" such as *‘S weet Adeline” and ‘‘Nfy ■ Bonny Lies Over the Ocean.,,” Two thousand negroes together fsang negro; spirituals,, . and a choir df SCOO 'sang Handel’s “Hallelujah” choriis.. , ,; fS ~j _ Mr Russell said- that in yAmorioa and England, community; i sii»gjhg. as it was understood in, New Zealand, was not organised and carried out. People in these two countries .did pot -attempt anything on the lines common in New Zealand. Community siilging-;was heard more at the great musical festivals, and in England it was extremely popular at the big football matches. “My welcome home has been pos tively marvellous,” Mr Russell added, “and I am looking forward tp-morr w evening to meeting vail mjr old siuP’ I '- .friends again, and you can tell all that lam F.0.J.G., which. interpreted; means “Full of joy germs.”