While on a visit to his home last summer, Mr. Lucas was the recipient of a complimentary benefit tendered by the admiring citizens. The offer of this flattering testimonial was signed by over fifty of his most respectable townsmen, and the affair was in all respects a successful one. Mr. Lucas was assisted in the performances by the following young ladies: Misses S. Logan, Dora Chester, Laura Reed, Delia Lamon, S. Melvin, and Fannie Chester. Mr. Lucas is at present a valued member of the Hyers Sisters opera-troupe, who are performing in "Out of Bondage" throughout the West.
"The Milwaukee Sentinel" of a late date thus alludes to his performances with this troupe:—
"As an actor he takes high rank; but it was in his singing that he made an already-delighted audience more pleased than ever. His rendition of 'Grandfather's Clock,' with distant chorus and refrain, was the sweetest music we ever listened to. The audience was breathless; the lowest whisper could be heard distinctly all over the house; and, as the last tones died away in the seeming distance, a hush as of death came over the audience, followed by thunders of applause."
The writer would be very remiss did he fail to mention here the very remarkable music-loving spirit which has been exhibited by the colored people of Chillicothe, O. This very forcibly arrested his attention, when, several years ago, he visited that somewhat ancient city, once the capital of the State. It was then found that among the class of persons just mentioned—who formed, by the way, only a small portion of the city's entire population—there existed two or three singing societies, two brass bands (the latter the only organizations of the kind then in existence there), and two church-choirs, one of the same being composed of very good vocalists indeed.
In 1857 Rev. John R. Bowles organized in Chillicothe a choir for his church, under the leadership of Jas. D. Hackley. This choir was considered one of the very best in Southern Ohio. Its leader possessed a tenor-voice of rare sweetness and power, and was quite proficient in rendering church-music, and in directing the singing of the same by his choir. But a few persons in the State equalled Mr. Hackley in the possession of these qualities. Of the two bands, the one called the "Scioto-Valley Brass Band" was organized in 1855 under the leadership of Richard Chancellor and John Jones. The other was called the "Roberts Band," and was organized in 1857, the directors being Thomas Harris and William Davis. In 1859 these two organizations were united under the name of the "Union-Valley Brass Band," Thomas Harris and A.J. Vaughn leaders. This consolidation, composed of the best musicians of the two bands previously in existence, made a corps of performers that was unequalled in Ross and the adjacent counties, while it was one of the finest in the State. They owned a handsome bandwagon, and furnished the music for all such gatherings—irrespective of the color of the attendants—as county fairs, picnics, celebrations, political meetings, &c., throughout Ross County. This band contained several performers of such excellent natural and acquired abilities as would render them prominent among the best musicians of any section of the country.
Besides those already mentioned as leaders, I would now refer to Mr. William H. Starr, one of the finest musicians of Ohio. He has been for a long time the leading spirit in all matters musical among the people. A good reader of all kinds of music, Mr. Starr easily gives it beautiful expression on any one of the many instruments used in a brass band of ordinary size. On several of these he is a pleasing soloist. His favorite is the E♭-alto, while he is also a skilful arranger of music for them all. Mr. Starr has also composed a number of pieces for his own and other bands; besides others, a quickstep, a march, and a polka. As a teacher Mr. Starr has been quite successful. One of his former pupils is now the leader of a band.
Mr. Thomas Harris should also have special mention here. He was a superior E♭-cornet player, a good bugler, and a very good performer on the clarinet; a good reader of music for each of these important instruments.
Mr. William H. Dupree, at one time the very efficient manager of the Union-Valley Brass Band, in which he was also a performer on the B♭-baritone, is a gentleman whose history is such as to warrant particular mention here, not only on account of his having always possessed an ardent music-loving spirit, but also from his general intelligence, and the fine progress he has made in attaining to several high stations of honor and usefulness. Mr. Dupree remained a member of the band in Chillicothe until 1863, when, on the first call for colored troops for the late war, he went to Massachusetts, and enlisted in the Fifty-fifth Regiment. He became first sergeant of Company H; in which position he won golden opinions from those in command for his strict attention to duty, his steady and rapid acquirement of military knowledge (becoming one of the very best drill-masters and disciplinarians of his regiment), and for his generally fine, officer-like bearing. At one time Sergeant Dupree was manager of the regimental band, in which position he rendered important service. In 1864 he was promoted to the grade of a commissioned officer,—a rare distinction for one of his race, owing to causes so well understood that they need not be mentioned here. In this new place of honor he so discharged his duties as to prove the wisdom of those who tendered the appointment; for he was always distinguished for an increased display, if possible, of those excellent qualities, the possession of which caused his promotion.
Mr. Dupree is now the very capable and popular superintendent of Station A Post Office in Boston, Mass. This office is situated in a district that comprises nearly forty thousand inhabitants, composed, for the greater part, of those among Boston's most intelligent and wealthy citizens. He was formerly connected with a musical organization in Boston. Although prevented by his other occupations from devoting much attention to music, Mr. Dupree has lost none of his old-time love for it; nor has he forgotten the pleasant days of yore when he was connected with the brass band at Chillicothe, of whose members he now speaks in terms of the most friendly regard.
Cincinnati now claims to be (very justly too) a decidedly musical city; and Boston and other older places, which have all along enjoyed the reputation of leading in matters pertaining to general art-culture, have been warned to look well to their laurels if they would not lose them through the advancement made by this their younger sister, so long considered the "Queen of the West." It is true that this distinguishing title has within a few years been claimed by Chicago, and even St. Louis. These latter, however, base their right to the name mostly on the results of the census-returns. In all that relates to the substantial greatness of a city,—viz., the general intelligence, solidity of character, and proportionate wealth of its inhabitants,—Cincinnati, I think, may still be considered as approaching nearer to the Eastern cities than either of the others mentioned. This is certainly true as regards the musical devotion of its people; and this characteristic is the one, perhaps, which most threatens the supremacy so long held in the East.