The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-11-29

WOMEN AND CULTURE.
dustin Leroy Fiarris.)


AS far as human records go back
they tell us that woman has been low
ed at all times, adorad IL all places
Man has ever honored the sex in his
own mother, wife, sister or love.
| Woman has everywhere and always
| been the guardian of the finer graces
of life because man has usually been
| too busy to occupy himself with them
except as an appreciator.
There is no phase in American life
today into which culture is not rap
| idly entering; no phase where the
true and the good" are not tending
to combine with the beautiful"
which combination is--culture. And
| there is no step in it's advancement
where the gentle guidance of the in
nately refined sensibilities of our wo-
men cannot easily be felt. In dygi-
enic ordinances governing our street
! life, in the artistic decoration of our
streets and homes, in the character
and ever-increasing number OF books
We read in the improved education
! of our children, in the gentler man
ners Of the people, or in anything else
that beauties our lives, everywhere
we notice the rapid spread of culture,
and at every point of touch we find
that the promoting forces were our
women. There poetry and painting
they have taught us to see nature
with the eyes of poets and painters.
Through sculpture and architecture
they have sharpened our perception of
expressive forms. And when the ma
tons heart was so filled with beauti-
full impressions that it began to crane
Utterance, our women turned their at
tention to music. And so we have
scarcely city without it's st. Cecilia
society, Ladies' Musicale or a La
dies Matinee Musical club.
Woman has not only beautified the
lives Of her husband and children in
their home by her appreciation of and
prediction for the fine arts, but in
espousing and championing the cause
of culture. she has even entered into
public life and earned national recog-
milton for her sex as a potent factor
in shaping the cultural aspect of our
country.
| In the acquisition of means of cul-
ture, of great models for emulation,
/ toward a creation of taste for the fine
arts, her great work has almost been
done and eXcellently done. The seeds
! in the garden Of art have been plant
ed, the young plants tended. guarded
and nursed. But before the harvest,
one thing must be done. If we cher
ISL the hope of some day posse ssing.a
| national art, national music. we
must get our men interested in art
and music. for we shall never have
national art until art has risen in
the re gard of our men. The husbands,
fathers, brothers, all must become in
terested in good music. 1t is absolute
| ly necessary and in more than a mere
ly ideal respect. The cause of music
needs men. They spend their money
on it now. but they do it largely to
procure pleasure for the ladies. Men
act as escorts to the concert and re-
cital who are thoroughly bored by the
performance. They look upon this
ordeal of two hours as a price they
must pay for the privilege of enjoying
the charming society of their women.
However happy the married life, that
happiness cannot be complete as long
as the men are bored by what their
women are interested in and love.
Men must be made conversant with
good music, then they too will love it,
| then they will raise it to the domain
of other honest pursuits or lines of
business which are often dignified by
official consideration on the part of
our own great government All Euro
pean governments spend large sums
Of money for the fostering of good
music. Our government too, shall 30
this when our men who are voters
become truly musical.
Let us realize that conditions have
changed in our country. we have pro-
crossed. Our first endeavors were
toward the acquisition of means of
culture. The present day devolves
duties of a different type. When the
women of our land succeed in vitality
interesting men in good music the fin
est, most precious gem of all Will be
added TO the crown which the born
queens of our land are already wear
ing. Even now the opportunities and
duties stand waiting During the win
ter five great artists, everyone of
whom has won renown in the old
world as well as in the new will visit
our little city, justly known as a CEN
ter of culture. Durno, pianiste, kort-
schak, yiolinist, Steindel, cellist.