The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-20
oAN'T PLAY DIXIE"
even Theodore Thomas Orchestra
Has Its Limitations.

From the Atlanta Journal
Theodore Thomas is in town.
His orchestra is also here
IL Is great orchestra.
So, 1t is clear that Mr. Theodore Thorn
as and his great orchestra are both here.
The orchestra may be great
But there are some things 1t cannot do
1t cannot play Dixie" 1t don't know
how
Theodore Thomas himself is the author
ty for that statement.
He and his great orchestra have been
In the musical business for many years.
But they don't know how to play popu-
lar music such as Dixie" Down on the
Suwanee River" Hot Time In the Old
Town." Georgia Camp Meeting" and
other melodies dear to the public heart.
Mr.. Thomas was sought at the Kimbail.
He was hard to find. "A card was sent up
by Senegambian to room 4O5 Mr.. Thorn
as present abode. Word was brought down
that Mr.. Thomas was not In. Ii was stated
by man who seemed to know that Mr.
Thomas would not see anybody. newspa-
per men included-that people would have
to sec his manager.
But despair was not in It,
The elevator was corralled and jumped
into As It stopped on the fourth floor out
jumped the reporter. While wandering
around looking at the numbers a large
lady appeared in the corridor and asked:
What room are you looking for, STRIP
" am in quest of Mr., Theodore Thorn
as"
That's his room-405."
"Ah, thank Youl"
Three smart raps on the door stirred up
a querulous voice which called impa-
tiently;
"ComeI Come! Conner
The knob was turned and a nervous
looking gentleman, seemingly up to his
eyes in business, rushed to the half open
daor.
Can l see Mr. ThOmas2 Are you Mr..
Thomas?" was asked.
,'YeS-but l don't see anybody-what do
you want?" was the quick response, with
an angular gesture of extreme impotence.
Want TO speak to you few moments"
"What for?'
For the paper"
"What paper?"
1.-THE Journal"
we'll just step in for minute, don't
stand in the door I'm too busy to talk"
In the reporter stepped, standing con-
veniently near the door.
Now. what is it?" with increasing i'm
patience.
Merely wanted to ask II you will give
the public some popular music-and-"
mo, sir. No, sir. Can't do It, We
don't play street band music We are
trained to play nothing but artistic music
and that is all that we propose to do"
But" was suggested "a little popular
music-a few popular airs would add to
your audiences and"
Cant help that. We are not prepared
10 play anything of that kind. We couldn't
play Dixie IL we tried. We play orches-
trail music only. Our training has all been
to play artistic orchestral music and"
How about Down on the Suwanee
River Home Sweet Home, Hot Time
in"
Cant do It, sir-out of the question
don't know how-artistic music only-our
training. you know"
But couldn't you just give"
NO, no, no. no, it's not matter of
will We just can't play what you call
| popular music-out of the question-im-
| possible-can't do sir what we can't do,
| Where we come from we play nothing but
classical music, We cannot change the
| programme here"
| That settled il. and the reporter vamoos-
| ed the ranch leaving the great Mr.. Thorn
as. whose great orchestra cannot play
| popular music. to his absorbing business.
| Mr.. Thomas is a heavy-set gentleman.
! with a gray mustache, thoughtful face
| and thin head of hair. Verging on bald
| ness.
| His music Is undoubtedly classical. but
| his brusque sesuculauon and rasping
| voice do not travel 10 curves
| There was not a shadow OF a sUeses-
| ton OF Hogarth's line OF beauty or a wave
Of melody IN either as he talked, swnyed
| his arms and body. and At length Dude
the reluctant reporter an abrupt fare
| well.
The burning question Of the hour pop.
ular music for the people simply stirred
| him 20 volcanic negatives
Aud there IS no hope that the neople
! viN have tho pleasure OF hearing popular
| airs
! A, the festival there viii be a famine
| fnr LAYERS of popular music
For the great Mr. Thomas and his great
orchestra cannot play simple pieces ike
| Dixie" etc.
| They don't know bow
THIS b. one thing ne great orchestra
| cannot DO
For Theodore Thomas has said so.
T. S.-Mr. Thomas ana his great or.