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 3 66 LARRABEE. LASKER. ton public as a concert-soloist, and it has been at his hands that many of the piano- forte concertos of Bach, Mendelssohn, Chopin, Schumann and Beethoven, as well as the works of the newer school, the con- certos of Rubenstein, St. Saens, Bronsart, etc., were first brought out in Boston. Since the age of eighteen years he has been to Europe nearly every year (giving successful concerts himself in Berlin, Dres- den and Vienna), during which time he made the acquaintance of many of the noted living masters of music, from whom he feels that he has somewhat developed himself. Since their organization he has been the conductor of the Apollo and Cecilia clubs of Boston. Under his conductorship Men- delssohn's "Walpurgis-Night," "Hymn of Praise," "Antigone," and "CEdipus," Bee- thoven's " Praise of Music," Haydn's "Sea- sons," Schumann's "Paradise and Peri," and "Faust," Berlioz's "La Damnation de Faust," and Brahm's "Requiem," and the "Rinaldo," and many other notable works, have been given a first perform- ance in the city of Boston. Perhaps the most important part of his life has been given to teaching, in which his success has been as gratifying to him as to his numer- ous pupils, many of whom have achieved great distinction as concert-soloists, organ- ists and composers. LARRABEE, JOHN, son of John and Sarah Jane (Kimball) Larrabee, was born in North Maiden, now Melrose, Middlesex- county, April 21, 1850. He received his early education in the public schools. When quite young he en- tered the employ of Dr. Edward R. Knights, then the only apothecary in Mel- rose, and when seventeen years old, pur- chased the store, continuing in the same business ever since. He was elected town clerk in 1S73, which office he still holds. He was repre- sentative of the nth Middlesex district in the Legislature 1886 and '87, being chair- man of the committee on engrossed bills both years, and also clerk of the committee on woman suffrage for 18S6, and clerk of the committee on public health for 18S7. He is now serving as trustee and clerk of the Melrose Savings Bank, upon the commit- tee on cemeteries, having been secretary of the latter fourteen years, and as clerk of the board of selectmen. May ir, 1887, he was appointed by Governor Ames on the board of registration in pharmacy, vice Samuel A. D. Sheppard, resigned, to serve until 1890. Mr. Larrabee is an active member of the Baptist church and Sabbath-school, also of Wyoming Lodge, F. & A. M., and Mel- rose Lodge, I. O. O. F. He was married September 18, 1876, at Milton Mills, N. H., to L. Ellen, daughter JOHN LARRABEE. of Stephen and Sarah (Clements) Ricker. They have a son and daughter : John Heber and Sarah Helen Larrabee. Mr. Larrabee is a descendant of the old family of Larrabee who first settled in this section in colonial days. LASKER, RAPHAEL, was born in Zirke, Prussia, February 19, 1835. His talmudi- cal studies he began early with his father, a learned talmudist and rabbi, and then he continued under Rabbi Caro of Pinne, Rabbi Hirsh Schneidemuhl, of Obornick, and later under the great talmudical celeb- rities, Rabbis Moses Veilchenfeld and Men- del of Rogasen. He received his classical and academical finish at the gymnasium of Gleiwitz and the university of Giessen. In 1858 we find the subject of our sketch in the state of Ohio at Portsmouth, where he organized the congregation Bnai Abraham, and such was the success of the then young rabbi, that one of the halls of the place was at once fitted up as a syna- gogue, and regular divine services held. He was eminently successful in his work,