Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-06
A GREAT Music HALL.
1Irs. Thurber Tells q Star Reporter
About Her Project

BIER MISSION TO THIS crTY--A MOVEMENT THAT
Is NATIONAL IN ITS cHARAcrER--A sUesEs-
TON FOR COLUMBUS MEMORIAL IN THIS
| CITY--THE LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS.
Mrs. Jeanette N. Thurber has a great
! project in hand. in which many Washingto-
/ mans are interested II is the foundation
/ in this city of a memorial music hall worthy
| of the nation and in many respects similar to
| the great music halls in the European capitals.
In this she has had the hearty cooperation OF
many of the leading citizens of other cities who
are fully impressed with the importance Of the
proposition.
Mr. Myron N. Parker. president of the Board
| of Trade, has received letter which shows the
interest that has been taken in the move in
New York The letter, signed by John Jay
Knox, Vim. G. Choate. Horace White, Abram
S. Hewitt, Carl Schurz and F. r. Coudert,
warmly applauds the project.
TALK WITH MRS THURBER.
A SrAR reporter called on Mrs. Thurber this
morning in her apartments at the Shoreham,
and asked if she would not be willing to give
her views at some length
Indeed will. with pleasure. for the plan is
one in which l am deeply interested" said
Mrs. Thurber. The educational power of
music has been universally recognized since
what may justly be called the civilized
standpoint OF every nation has been at
tained-l think We have reached that
point" said Mrs. Thurber. with smile.
For years the many thinking people
have wondered why nation which occupies
| the foremost place in educational progress
should be without n beginning of the beauX arts.
The unthinking attribute il to a lack OF taste
and talent but this refuted by the fact
that i'll the United States the artists of the
world find their most remunerative market.
and our population includes the blood of all
nations. Full consideration. therefore, OF the
problem conyInces some of US that 1T Is now
time to build upon broad educational founda-
ton
And the way to begin, Mrs. Thurber!"
asked the reporter.
rs to begin" Mrs. Thurber answered Wig
orously.
THE LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS.
"What is the best scheme that has occurred
TO you?''
Some two years ago" Mrs Thurber an
swered. Il suggested III a casual way a music
hall for Washington, thinking that it might be
the nucleus. a beginning o. the beauX arts,
and one of the objects of my visit to Washing
ton this winter was TO look into Washington
city. unsteady speaking. Having heard some
thing of the local organizatiOns-the George
town Orchestra. Choral Society and others l
wished 10 judge tor myself whether these
might not be utilized. if properly directed. in
helping develop a permanent national educa-
tional work.
Il have made it a pleasure for years to look
into the history of the European organiza-
tons. The National Conservatory of Austria.
the famous Vienna school, grew out Of
choral society. and that institution today is
supported entirely by the people.
COLUMBUS MEMORIAL HALL
THE people of Washington" said Mrs.
Thurber, ''have shown broad. national spirit
in encouraging the work of the National Con-
servatory Of Music and feel like cooperating
with them and doing all / can in my feeble
way to help them nationalize art in every
branch
While Chicago is to have evorld's fair
and New York grand naval review, the capt.
tai of the natl on should have permanent me-
mortal of the occasion. which will add to her
material wealth and to her reputation as an
artcenter, at the same time furnishing much
needed place for meetings. conventions. &c.
The Albert Hall in London was erected by
Queen Victoria as a memorial to Prince Albert.
Why should there not be a Columbus Memo
rial Hall at the capital of the nation. to COM
memorate the four hundredth anniversary of
the discovery of America. and perhaps in con-
nectIon with 1t. ultimately. school of art in
its various branches. which would be worthy OF
the nation in it's second century of existence?
Senator Edmunds has expressed the
| thought that is in SO many minds in his sug-
| gestlon that We should have national univer-
| sity at Washington to commemorate this ocea-
sion. II the people of Chicago can raise
Sl0,000.000 for an indulgence in transient
| buildings, only to live during the exposition
! period. surely Washington can raise $1,000, 600
| Tor the permanent Identification of the ma
| tional capital and the permanent benefit Of the
| whole country.
NATIONAL MOVEMENT.
"As the object TO be attained is a national
one, every portion of this country is inter ested
in the result and should be equally so in all
that assists i'll its achievement. / hope that
every great center of our population. that each
| city among us, will see in this common
cause and help it accordingly. A compare
| lively small percentage upon our limitless
| wealth is all that is wanted for the establish
/ ment on a fitting scale OF the great work now
| before Us, and like the proyerbial bread
| upon the waters, it will return to us ere
many days. The appeal should not only be
made TO natlve-born Americans. but also
| to our adopted fellow citizens who have made
| our land their home. Indeed the passing OF a
/ single generation makes Americans of us all
and it is the future as well as the present for
/ which we are now building. Let us start Mt
once national enthusiasm and make Washing
/ ton the nursery Of genius"
EAST WASHINGTON'S WANTS.