New-York tribune., 1904-10-16
MUSICAL COMMENT.
Richard Strauss and COnsmaerciaLisps
fn Art Again-Mme. de MOntJau.

lfS <1tG &AS SGSsS AVA USN" NS
A pamphiet published IN Berlin. but written oy
physician OF Eew-Yorh provides an interes'ii's
ana In some respects. amusing sequel 70 the az
tlcIe which appeared In The Tribune on June
last devoted 20 ''COmmercialism in Art ms
tile OF the pamphlet. which is published oV
Eugen Wertheim, is die Prostitution Ger
Deutschen Kunst" C'The Prostitution Of Ger
man Art'l. and its author IS William H. Hirsch'
a physician OF this city. who Is n music lover as
wen as a sythologist and alienist- The obvious
purpose OF his brochure is TO direct the atteh-
tion OF Germany, especially OF German imperial
ofHcialdom, 10 one feature OF the conduct OK
Richard Strauss, who. as conductor at the opera
stands IN the relation OF a servant TO the Ger
man Emperor. while visiting Ne"-AoFh iAsI
suring. The pamphlet is interesting. because 1t
discusses with great seriousness ana from
point OF view which must appear novel and. in
deed. fnconlprehensible TO nativistic Germans in
America as well as Europe. the question Of the
relative ideality Of the two peoples IN the pres
ence Of the contrasted charms OF money and
rights Of art II is amusing because OF the out
come which II records OF DR.. Hirsch's effort 10
persuade one Of his countTymen to save the
honor OF the German people. There ought 10 be
appended 10 it. in order to complete the picture
Of the ethical status OF Herr Dr. Strauss aho MS
ai-poWerful press agency in Germany that as
ne hear, Dr. Hirsch tried IN vain to get near
ing the subject in the German newspapers:
& confession OF his attitude toward art ana
money getting when he told an American rnusl-
clan who had expressed regret that he had sold
himself for commercial advertising that he was
willing TO polish stoves IL thereby he could IN
crease his American earnings.
DR.. Hirsch Is not only interesting. but uneom-
monty frank, sane and sober in the discussion
Of the comparative ethical attitudes of the
American people and the German contingent
among American citizens. At the outset he re-
seTs 90 the familiar claim in behalf Of German
fdealism and the Germans tendency TO look
upon the American man wholly eaten up
with the desire TO acquire the Almighty Dollar.
But ne proceeds promptly TO modify this con-
ception, pointing out at the outset that the gi-
gsntic aggregation OF capital is so much in evil
dence in America simply because there is moth
ing co contrast with It like the mitarism and
social castes of Europe He pays high tribute
70 ths American business mans sense Of honor
and the ambition OF our rich men not only to
scquire money, but to make that money once
acquired. serve the common veal In proof OF
this he cites the fact that all the universities
and higher schools Of learning. all the art insti-
Entes and museums and the majority Of the
hospitals In America were created and are main
tsined by private subscriptions. Millions upon
millions are expended annually for the ameliora-
tIOn Of the sick and poor. and the promotion OF
art ana science. Then he says:
One might as has been done, offer the objec-
Gion that personal vanity is the motive which
pTomp.s tbs Oroer of philanthropy This may
be true enough and be applicable TO many cases
Ambition or vanity call il what YOU please, Is
q quality common TO the majority Of men in
greater or less degree. and influences their acts
The fact, however. that tl-s American can only
crafty his vanity by dong something great
and large for the common good surely bears
witness to the possession by the American peo-
pie OF ethical conceptions and appreciation
Of Ideally. Professional men-lawyers. physi-
clans. artistS-all have their ocular codes Of
professional honor which they place above
the love for money. There are exceptions. OF
course but individual cases do not invalidate
The rule in America any more than they do in
the rule In America any more tnan they
do In Germany. Germans are al the head
Of music in all its branches the world
over. In America nearly all the musicians
are Germans; yet despite the great ad-
vance which music has made in the coun-
try during the iast twenty years, despite the
lively interest which the Americans have shown
In the art, the profession lal musician does not
challenge or enjoy the respect which he
enjoys in Germany
For this. says DR.. Hirsch. the reason
lies in his lack Of professional honor.
Members OF the orchestra at the Metropolitan
Opera House In New-Yo In the winter play
dance music al the watering places in summer.
The musical "artist" stops at nothing In his
greed for money. He cites a concrete instance:
"One OF the most eminent dramatic singers. who
has occupied first place among the representa-
tives Of Wagnerian roles and has won many
laurels with her God-gtven voice and dramatic
talents. has been travelling this winter through
the country with operetta company. because
Il pays better than the opera" The statement
vas BIT premature but Nine. Schumann- -Heink
has saved DR.. Hirschs face by doing in the
summer what he says she did last winter. when
the news went out that she was going into
comic operefta- II is true. the doctor continues,
that these people make lot of money. but they
90 not enjoy the respect Of the American people;
and n one to Judge the two nations by
Chese occurrences the conclusion would be in
svitabie that Il is the German and not the Amer
lean 20 whom money alone is sacred. This is fol-
lowed up with the example which caused the
literary commotion Among the conductors who
came from Europe 20 conduct the Philharmonic
concerts iasi season was Richard Strauss He
had many admirers as q composer among the
Americans. and series Of concerts was planned
% exhibit him and his music. He was received
with ovatiOns His concerts were convincing
artistic triumphs. ana the Germans were filled
with Joy again 70 one Of their countrymen
celebrated as the greatest living genius" But,
alas a iy crept into the ointment. DR.. Strauss
hired himself out as an advertising feature to
MF Wanamaker. n was almost too terrible for
belief Or. Hirsch sent the following letter to
his idol:
New-Yorl. March. 1904
Dr. Richard Strauss.
Highly Respected Sir: When the report
reached US last summer that you intended to
come 10 America in order personally TO present
your masterpieces your admirers looked for
ward with the greatest and most intense inter-
est TO the prospect of seeing the master face to
face and learning from him In person his con-
cepttOn of his works. Not only as a lover of
music, but also as psychologist by profession !
have followed the development OF your art and
your individuality with the greatest interest and