Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1904-07-28

masses of brown hair from his forehead.
His hazel eyes were full Of nnsatisfled
lodgings.
ct hasn't turned out what i thought
it would be, 2 he said.
why, how"
| There was squeak and crash. The
leg of the chair he was sitting on crash
ed in. He jumped to his feet with a
laugh. 1T often does that, he said as
he Strengthened it out again. Il can fix
it. am sort of jack at all trades. f"
Including music?' -
Including music" His depression
was gone now. ''That is what meant
when said that it isn't what thought
it would be. .
Tell me the rest. /"
Years ago, when was student, |
used to dream of playing for people who
understood. Now He paused His
head dropped little.
'Now?"I questioned.
I'm playing for money"
| What about the union?'
1T keeps up the prices. The union is
all one with the commercialism of the
age. There is only one big sadness
about it, j"
! "What?"
THAT no longer care whether the
people understand or not. Any place
that brings me the money play"
A sad expression came over his face;
his long fingered, yet still somewhat
ugly, hands were clasped. 1T has been
years since l have played the best that
is in me. No one demands it. Half
the time play with men who haven't
half, or one third, of the talent | have.
| They bungle and mar even simple mn-
sic. say nothing. 1t is all in life
time. While one lives, one must earn. "
Oh, spirit of the age, what is your
| complexion? And what the name by
which you may be called?
Some there are who term you progress
| sion. Others and they are the COM
planners like this man-cry out that COM
mercialism is your name. Nameless
you are, factless, brutal monstrous,
when souls like this musician make con-
fessions SO pitiful
ART HURT BY COMMERCE.
There are more and more of them in
this grinding, gripping mill we call Chi
cago, where commerce has driven art in
to corner and made her shiver with
dread when she looks her in the face.
Music fares more badly than the 9TH
| ers. 1t is trade, pure and simple.
Those who made it so will tell you the
| thing could not have been helped.
Perhaps not But is that less the
l'pity?
Over and over find. the same fear.
A lad who plays the violin was
'broke." That means, kind reader,
| that he had no money-not even enough
to pay his room rent. If ever God set
down genius on top of this rolling ball
it is this lad He came to me in his
trouble At least he told me about it.
Why he told me was that he fancied
understood his music and would under
stand his straits. He spoke passionately
and rapidly. His whole soul was full of
resentment. 'l'll get plenty of work.
Several leaders want me, but they can't
take me on account of the union
FINED, THEN EXPELLED
why? What have you done TO the
union?'
1--we been expelled because | couldn' t
pay fine. 1t was an unjust fine-very
unjust"
For what?'
1.-TWO other union men and | were
playing one night with pianist who
was not union. The union came and
ordered us away. The pianist was a
genius He paid me good money for
playing. | needed the money The
others went away and left him alone.
swore wouldn't. The man is a genius.
What right have they to dictate what
shall do or to abuse genius like that?
| didn't go. They fined me lot-near-
ly $50. After that they always had it in
for me because wear nicer clothes than
the crowd that gathers up at the union
have to wear neat clothes or wouldn't
be asked to play in peoples houses"
That's an old trouble; what is it
now ~
WELL never got it all paid up and
they expelled me. Then ! got back.
There was another fine Now I've been
expelled again
Cant you get any work?'
in all this city can't find any place
where they are not afraid of the union =
To great singer | went, asking of
her an opinion. I'D rather not say
any thing, my dear. The union is
strong. All the orchestras in the United
States belong to it,.
IF the orchestras refused to play for a
| singer
She laughed. There's no danger of