Omaha daily bee., 1906-11-18

eE@A80 arouse musical people to show
s,--,-,....u.aly their appreciation of their
great cOuntrymRn:
In Edward MaoDowen America was Just
beginning TO md new voice in music
noble and virile music, neither acauemic
and initiative, nor crude and barbarOus
but fun OF that freedom which comes from
true knowledge and that mystical poetry
which hides in the heart of a strong, TesO-
Lutte nature. Trained in the best schools
OF Europe, master of the old world tradi-
tions he came home to his native country
in the flower OF his youth and Tor eighteen
years devoted his genius and his vigOr to
single purpose OF doing work that should
increase ms country JOY and add TO his
the accomplishment of his aim; symphonies
and SOnatas, COnCCrtos and idylS, songs and
stuuASs, ~ "IlICn ing OIu PoellC IaullOlss
with a new lyrical breadth and intensity
Of passion, and novel aboriginal themes
and coherent art. MacDowelrs work in
music, like Hawthornes WORK In litera-
ture, Is distinctly and Enthusiastically Amer
lean. Yet II is also vitality related to the
rest Of the worlds good work. II presup-
poses long. past, just as our civilization is
the work OF many centuries, while 1t de-
velops in liberty toward a new future.
II Is an honor TO country to produce
such an artist America was proud OF
MacDowell and paid him in praise album
dantly-but not much in money Serious
ana lofty work like his Is rarely If ever
profitable in music, at least In the present
day. 1t would have been easy for him,
in all probability TO take his talent into
the marketDlace and give himself to the
stun, which would have brought in plenty
Of money. But this he would not do, be-
cause he wanted TO do better
So he gave himself to the hard, honor
able, tiresome task of teaching for his
living, and he did it well, with infinite
persistent, until-the fatal, secret fash Of
lightning struck IN the dark, some
6ur rt brain. The fountain OF pure
music sank suddenly and forever out Of
sight. The lights went out in the palace OF
poetic dreams and all the garden OF genius
lie SIN lives, this devoted artist, and Is
likely to live for yeaFS But fo S aTT aR8 b w1r6
life is that! At the age OF A., that mind
which teemed with splendid thought and
images, has become like the mind OF a little
child, feeble, innocent. helpless, pleased
with a plaything, infinitely pathetic In its
peaceful ruin and quiet. slow decay. So ne
to do anything for those who are dependent
upon him and needing constant care.
How long Il will be, this silent hopeless
waiting for the inevitable, no one can tell.
But IL will be strange indeed II those who
love music, those who care for the honor
Of art do not gratefully and generously
stefan and true artist while his mental life
continues, and for hitting memorial 20
his name when he passes into the bright
ness OF our country's history. This, Il
seems to me, Is the strong and clear appeal
OF the MacDoweu fund. It's success will be
matter OF pride and a source OF encour-
agement to all the men and women who
are working In the same spirit OF lofty
hone and devotion for the development OF
the noble arts in America,
HENRY VAN DYKE.
Avalon. October a. 1905.
The Appeal.
To all musicians to all lovers OF music
TO an patrons Of art, TO the American PEG
pic We. the undersigned, appeal for con
tributions TO the Edward Mcdowell funt
OF the Meadelssohn Glee club.
Contributions 10 this fund may be SEN
to T.. G. Benedict treasurer, No. GO Wal
street New York City.
Richard Aldrich Joseph II, Choate
John w. Alexander Grover Cleveland
Charles T Barney William n Cohen
T. c. Benedict f. s. Converse
Andrew Carnegie George B. CortelyOu
George w. Chadwick Frank Damrosch