A newspaper photograph of Clarence E. Prout of Wiconisco, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, an extraordinary musician from the coal region who passed away in 1905. The Lykens Standard on February 10, 1905 featured the following front-page tribute to him:
CLARENCE E. PROUT
The late Clarence E. Prout, who is the subject of this tribute, was the son of Dr. Jacob S. Prout and wife of Wiconisco, Pennsylvania. He attended the public school in his eighth year, and was the only boy in the first graduating class of the Wiconisco High School. After graduating from the public schools he entered Bucknell Academy, from which institution he, in time, received his diploma, standing at the head of his class; graduating also at the same time from the School of Music in the same institution. In addition to these honors, he received the gold medal and first cash prize for excellence in music. At this time he was confronted with the very serious question as whether or no he should specialize, and give particular attention to one of the professions which seemed to be so full of promise to aspiring minds. He did not at once determine, but after mature reflection concluded to devote his energies to a more thorough development of his intellectual powers, while not altogether forsaking the study of music. He esteemed this of great importance, a basis indeed, for professional success. With this purpose in view, he decided to tale the Latin Philosophical course in Bucknell University. From this institution he went to the Northern University of Ohio, from which he graduated in due course.
After this period he concluded to make the study and practice of music his life’s work and entered himself as a student in the New England Conservatory of Music at Boston, Massachusetts. He was not long a student here until his natural musical talent and ability were promptly recognized and appreciated. His piano instructors were men eminent in their profession. One of these was recognized as a superior German artist who had for many years been a student at the leading Conservatories in Germany. This professor had the distinction of being an invited pupil of the celebrated Liszt, one of the special features of whose instrumentation was to give to his favored pupils certain pianistic effects, which effects were not noted in the published compositions. This professor being one of those favored pupils, communicated this information to Clarence which added to the beauty and brilliancy of his musical performances. These peculiar effects Clarence took great pleasure in demonstrating and explaining alone to his mother while at home with her at the time of his last visit, just three weeks before his death. Not only as a pianist did Clarence excel, but much attention was also given to the cultivation of vocal music. His voice was tested in order to ascertain its possibilities as he had now fully determined upon a musical career. He sought the opinion of one of Boston’s most expert teachers, who after a thorough examination, pronounced his voice of excellent range, quality and power.
Clarence, after returning from his Christmas vacation, resumed his studies with vigor, combining musical work, as much as possible, with general literary studies, making one the complement of the other; for he was convinced that any young man taking up any line of God-created and illumined art, should undergo, to some extent, and indeed as much as possible, general intellectual training which would the better enable him to succeed in his chosen field of labor. His first musical instruction away from home was received , while yet a child, at the Freeburg College of Music, and he was at once pronounced brilliant in his performances on the piano. He spent one term also at the Harrisburg College of Music under Prof. Decevee, but owing to his public school work he was obliged to relinquish his studies in Harrisburg almost entirely, taking lessons but twice a month.
Throughout his college life his musical abilities were greatly appreciated, and in consequence rendered with soulful expression, and especially so when engaged in singing the baritone solos in the great and matchless oratorios of the Messiah. While being lulled to sleep in his cradle he with perfect intonation would sing with the one by his side; so that in the language of the late Dr. Joseph Parry, who heard him when a boy, said, “Natural born and cradled in it. Give him a musical education.” His instrumental and vocal powers were demonstrated at the age of eight years before large audiences that were delighted with his talents and greatly admired the case with which he presented himself on the platform. He was unassuming in his manner, and a kind word for any one in whom he recognized any ability, and especially to any aspiring to a higher level of culture. His composition referred to in last week’s issue of the Standard, was composed years ago, and through the request of his early friends, who knew of his ability, and who were impressed by them, he consented to its publication. His work on earth, however is done, “his sun has gone down while it is yet day.”
His funeral services attest the hold he had on the residents of Wiconisco and other places. The services were deeply impressive. The hymns sung were tender, appropriate. The double quartette of male voices led by Prof. T. L. Davis, touchingly rendered a number of choruses, while Mrs. Diefenderfer sang a beautiful solo entitled “Thy Will Be Done,” and Thomas Adderly added to the impressiveness of the occasion by singing a solo entitled “Farewell, Dear Friend, Farewell.” Beautiful too were the tokens of love and friendship ibn the shape of flowers that came from different sources. Leading the list was the “broken column” from fond parents to their dear boy; a harp from W. E. Yoder and wife, Harrisburg; a chair from Miss Amanda White, of South Fork, large beautiful bouquets from Harry Vincent of South Fork, Mrs. Stephen Prout of Danville, Prof. Stasney and Miss Stovel of Boston, Miss Dean of Boston, John Jones of Philadelphia, H. W. Haverstick of Northumberland, and Mrs. Frederick Esterbrook of Boston, whose son was dying while Clarence was playing and singing a sweet and tender selection in the parlor under the room in which the life of the boy was slowly ebbing away, and who said to his mother while he listened to the music, “Clarence is helping me on my journey to Heaven. Mother, you must remember him when I am gone.” This bouquet was placed on the lapel of Clarence’s coat by this mother as her token of gratitude. The fraternity of which he was a member at Bucknell, were represented by a large diamond, the symbol of the fraternity. Also a large and beautiful lyre by his Sunday school class, taught by I. W. Holland. All of the ministers present, Revs. Messrs. Jones, Reitz and Devine, took part in the services, being full of sympathy for the the bereaved family. Truthfully, was it said by one of them, that Clarence Prout was a young man with splendid traits of character, while he was not envious, nor jealous, nor selfish, he was so generous and charitable and affectionate; and those who knew him best know how true these words are.
In the closing moments of his life he realized that the end had come, and gave expression to words that had to do with his relations to God, faith in Christ as the only Savior, love to God his Heavenly Father, and a joyous, happy realization that he was “going home to die no more.”
The funeral services were conducted at Northumberland, addresses being made by Revs. Grant and Leidy. Hymns which were favorite ones of his wife, who also preceded him to the grave only four months before, were sung at the home of his father-in-law, H. W. Haverstick. These hymns were sung by Mrs. C. G. VanAlen and W. H. Calhoun, and were all tenderly rendered. The following friends and relatives attended the funeral at Northumberland: Mrs. G. H. Hunter, Mrs. John Batther West, Isaac Mossop, Job White, John C. Bateman, Wiconisco; Eli Gilbert and wife, Minersville; H. W. Haverstick and family, Northumebrland; Mrs. James White and two sons, Shenandoah; Mrs. Fisher and son, Ashland; Mrs. Waite, Scranton; Thomas Prout, wife, son and daughter, Danville; Miss White and Harry Vincent, South Fork; Mrs. Evan Powell, Mrs. Hancock and daughter, Danville; Mrs. Griffiths, Shamokin; Mr. Hancock and wife, Mrs. Hottenstine, Miss Woodside and Miss Edith Bateman, Sunbury; Mrs. Dr. Parke, Harrisburg; Mr. M. G. Johns, Virginia. In addition to friends who attended the funeral from a distance, tender and sympathetic letters of condolence were received from a very large number of friends and acquaintances from different parts of the country, all of which were greatly appreciated.
The tribute concluded with the following poem:
Farewell, dear friend, a long farewell, For we shall meet no more Till we be raised with Christ To dwell on Zion's happy shore. Farewell dear friend, again farewell, We soon shall rise to thee. And when we meet, no tongue can tell How great our joys shall be. EDWARD DEVINE
According to information in the Lykens Standard, two weeks prior, Clarence E. Prout died in Boston at the Conservatory of Music in late January 1905. The cause of death was pleurisy and bronchitis. His father, Dr. Jacob S. Prout was summoned to Boston due to Clarence’s serious illness, and after his passing, accompanied the body back to Pennsylvania for burial.
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From Lykens Standard, February 10, 1905, via Newspapers.com.
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