The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-01-25
MAYOR is FOR MUSIC
HE WILL NOT TRY, HOWEVER, TO
FORCE THE ISSUE.
ONLY SUGGESTED THE IDEA.
FOR COUNCIL TO SAY WHETHER
THERELL BE SUNDAY CONCERTS.

ed-Same Experience Met in Other
Idea of Concerts, as Do Mr.. Kay
ton, AId.-tO-Be COlding, Ex-Ald
II. j. Davis and Others-Mr. n. VI
Butler, Mr.. w. ID. krensOn and Mr.
otis AshmOre. Opposed.
Mayor Myers will not force his recon-
mendation for Sunday music in Forsyth
Park He so stated to representative
of the Morning News yesterday. The
recommendation may or may not be fol-
lowed by Council. That is a matter, the
Mayor said. for that body to determine.
Il am still fully convinced" said the
Mayor, that it would be for the well
fare of the city to hold Sunday afternoon
concerts There is an elevating and refin-
ing tendency in good music that, l believe,
would have it's effect upon our population
if we were to have Sunday concerts. AS
| have said, many who seek pleasures
and pastimes that are prejudicial to good
morals on Sunday afternoons might be
attracted by music in the park and in
now frequent.
''1'ybee has music on Sunday afternoons
during the summer. and great crowds go
to the island 10 hear it. If Tybee can
have it, why cannot Savannah? Those
who hear and enjoy the Tybee music
would be committing no greater an Of
Tense, if offense there is in it, in attend
ing a Sunday concert in the park The
only difference that l can perceive in the
question, as applied to Savannah and as
applied to Tybee, is that a great many
who cannot afford to go to Tybee would
be giveA an opportunity, without il costing
them a penny, to hear good music. Sure
ly, if those who can afford it can go to
Tybee for this enjoyment without any in
superable objection being raised. those who
cannot afford it should be allowed the
privilege of similar enjoyment in the city.
1T is not for me 10 attempt TO push the
recommendation. The Council does not
have to follow the suggestion. An oppor-
tunity to add to the harmless pleasures
of those who have but little enjoyment
during the week is open, and it remains
with the aldermen to say whether a small
appropriation shall be made by the city
for Sunday music. The amount to be so
less than $50 for each Sunday, and the pc
riod during which the concerts might be
given should include only the summer
months.
i had expected the opposition that has
manifested itself on the part of some of
the ministers. At the convention of the
Municipal Representatives in Charleston.
some weeks ago. the matter of Sunday
music was extensively discussed. We were
told then by the representatives of cities
where It has been tried that protests
were aroused at first but that these pro-
tests. a~ a rule, had been changed to
communication after the plan had been
given trial and found to be effective in
improving the moral atmosphere. Despite
the protests l still think the measure
would be wise. If the citizens want the
music they can have it, but there is not
the slightest desire to force the matter. -
Col. George A. Mercer is thoroughly
IN favor of the concerts. He said las;
night that the custom of Sunday concerts
exists in nearly all the countries that he
mas visited, and also in the large cities
OIL TINS country. THE last time L was
at Potsdam, on a Sunday he said. al
though Germany is a Protestant country
there was very fine concert given there
as well as military review, at which tho
Emperor, himself, was present. Both the
concert and the spectacle of the review
were enjoyed by an immense crowd .
am heartily in favor of the proposed Sc
ries OF concerts, as they would undoubted-
ly give enjoyment of an innocent kind Ia
a great many people The objection
raised that it will keep people from coins,
to church will hardly hold good, because
great number of the peo-
PIE that would hear and enioY
these concerts are those that do not go
to church; and, anyway, l have ALWAYS
thought that Sunday afternoon ought to
be given up to rational recreation and
enjoyment, hence l can see no improprietv
Whatever in listening to good music
AS 10 the character of the music I
can cn;J say with my grandmother. of
whom ii was favorite expression. that
the exclusion of all secular music on
Sunday was to give all the good music
TO the devil
Furthermore, believe that we should
nave these concerts, and that they are
pound TO come in time. Why, 1 can rec
ollect myself when to take a walk on
Sunday was considered a great sin. and
yet 1 dare say that there is not now
even preacher who would consider it
60. 1t will be the same with the Sun
day concerts, they are in the line of
progress and public opinion will have
them, sooner or later"
Mr.. w. d. Krenson, who lives on the
Park, when asked for his opinion
said: Il am most heartily
and teetotally opposed to the
whole plan, and cannot condemn it in
language too strong. l indorse most
thoroughly che position taken by Rev.
Bascom Anthony. The plan is objection
able from every standpoint; in the first
place it would tend to attract the chill
dren from the Sunday schools, to which
as is the nature of children, they are
none too prone to go even as 1t is Then
even though the concerts might attract a
crowd of people, in that crowd would be
found great many negroes as well as
Objectionable people who would crowd
from the neighborhood of the music the
respectable people, or by their presence
prevent the park from continuing, as it
now is, a place of recreation.
II have Travelled all over this country.
and ! know of no city that is more wide
open than Savannah is now. So far as
he concerts attracting people from
Questionable forms of amusements, l do
not believe that those that are addicted
TO them will be attracted away by a con-
cert"
Mr.. r. NJ. Butler, who like Mr.. Krenson
lives quite near where it is
proposed to give the concerts, was equally
opposed to the plan. 81 think the idea a
horrible one" he said, both because it
would be a proclamation of the day, and
crowds that naturally would be attract
II. 49,.