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

sat in my big chair on the side and
looked at her in wonder. am in love
with life, too, but not so much as that.
Even my little girl paused in her play
ing when she heard.
We've got the music all rehearsed.
1t goes finely. This afternoon at 3
O'Clock I'm going down there and play
The editor didn't think I'd be brave
enough to do it,"
AT 2 o'clock she left my home and
started for the place where the quartet
was playing.
Two days afterward met her on the
street and asked her how she liked play
ing in an orchestra.
II didn't play" she replied, briefly.
THE union wouldn't let me"
I stared at her aghast feeling sure
there must be some mistake,
Its fact, I" she said. after all the
bother and fuss of rehearsing they
wouldn't let me play. | can't see why.
1t wasn't for money at all, but Just for
the experience, so could write story
about the girls"
How did it happeR?'
well, the girls thought they had bet
ter telephone over to the union and ask
permission. They're afraid of the un.
ion, you know. The answer was that
they would be fined s45 if l played
They only get $40, so that would be
pretty heavy"
I'm going to tell it in print" said l.
please don't do so; it will harm the
girls" she begged. '"The union is an
awful power. I'll tell all l know about
it, because don't belong to it, but they
could be injured great deal"
MUSICIANS AND ARTISTS.
Her story struck upon my reasoning
oddly. / began asking her questions
about the girls,
"Are they children"
mo, no, grown up"
'They are musicians
very good musicians"
care they artists?''
She thought moment. ''Yes, | be
lieve they are"
"And they absolutely cannot use their
art in the manner that pleases them?"
That's it. i"
We walked for distance of several
blocks in silence. Both of as were try
ing to puzzle at the difference between
an art and trade. There was no doubt
of the fact that these sisters wanted Lu-
ella Comfy to play the violin in their
quartet, but they absolutely could not
do as they wanted to.
81 wouldn't join union,'' said at
last.
"Why"'
Because | don't like being made to
do things. ! don't see why there can't
just as we'll be union of newspaper
writer's as of musicians. The day may
come when Rodin or French or st. Gau-
dens will refuse to chiSel their ideals out
in marble because they belong to the
sCulptorS' union"
We parted ON the next corner. A bee
was in my bonnet. 1t has been buzzing
ever since. 1t looks as If it would keep
on buzzing.
Now, it's time to find out more about
music and art and the union, said to
myself.
When | tried to find out really at
every turn | was confronted by solid
brick wall. There was a great deal of
union, much of the peculiar combina-
ton of sounds people nowadays are wont
to designate as music, and little, oh, SO
little, art. Before had been one day
out on my searchings found out con-
clusively that music is no longer an art.
1t is trade, and must be taught as such.
It's value to humanity is to be measur-
ed entirely in dollars and cents.
The first musician to whom went is
a man. He has often played solos in the
houses of people whom know and play
ed them well. OF course put sup
positions engagement to him. He de-
clined it on short order.
Play an evening with violinist and
cello player who are not 'union?' 1t
would cost me five times what I'd get.
Even if got 800 | couldn't do it. l
tried to sneak once. The union found
it out. I'll never do it again-never"
But the people l want you to play
with are not professionals really. 1t will
be a pleasure to play with them
II can't help that They're going to
take money for the engagement, aren't
they?''
Yes. The girl is studying. It's the
only way she can get along
Then she should join the union; It's
the only way she can be certain of en-
gagements. "
He could not be prevailed upon. No
amount of argument could ever have
persuaded him. We sat in the parlor of
the boarding house where he lived. 1t
was cherries and uncomfortable. The
only shark of hone in the atmnSnhnre