The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-02-15
NECESSITIES AND LUNURIEs.

NECESSITIES AND II NJ hif~S'
AT the risk OF being accused of having no -mu-
sic in their souls. aad perhaps lacking in appre-
sissien Of inspiring and thrilling harmony and
soothing melody. the members Of the Board Of
Aldermen killed the measure providing for con-
eerts in the parks Of Richmond during thy sum
mer moaths
while there vas a vg3e demand for TIE CON
certs ca the part Of these waosa souls have been
Transported 10 higher realms ny swelling chords
and ths wonderful musical Sights OF uasterfpl
ssozapose-s. TIE aldermen looked at the PROPOSE
tion in cold. p-act.cs} bus.pes$like fashion.
and decides that tals growing city needed less
mad, ana If ,Az, meant scss music, 1t must SO be
written
4 The rejection of the music measure providing
fnr 81 appropriation Ct s4.eeo viii be disap-
gpsatsnans TO TIE a.us5c-]ovsrs Of thu city. most
Ok whom five or ve5tpaved streets in the best
srarroved segsiors OF the city but it win prob
aa9v ~ popular among the greater number OF
ssaeAmond people This is not because they lack
zne feeling and appreciation Of art and melody
hus because their craving for music is second
in various directions
Richmond is q rapidly growing city. and there
are certain municipal necessities In this progress
sfve community which must be given thought
and consideration before money is spent for
pleasure and enjoyment.
No one questions thu benefits of public CON
certs paid for out of public funds. but there are
many more urgent things TO command the atten-
ton of Council and the money of the city.
The aldermen probably took the view that It
would be iudierousy inconsistent to appropriate
money for concerts when the schools OF the city
were in such deplorable condition as to make
1t wellnigh impossible for the children, who so
in largest numbers TO public musical events, to
become educated up to an appreciation of the
selections rendered by the musicians. The first
thought of every right-minded councilman
I should be of the rising generation and the edu
been far greater demand for modern and ade
quate school equipment In the capital city than
there has been for music which is heard and for
gotten while the bad schools remain and get
j worse II In killing the concert measure the al
dermen mean they will devote more money tt
the schools, their action viii doubtless be ap
proved by the mothers Of Richmond
Building operations in the West End hay,
been halted because the city had not done IT.
part and the saving Of this $4,000 may assist il
facilitating the improvements which the muni
cipal government should make There is no en{
to the to which the money can be put. anc
whether they are better than public concerts ii
parks will probably admit of no argument
The aldermen seemed to appreciate that "mu
sic hath charms to soothe the savage breast
but they did not believe $4,000 worth of dulce
sound could be heard above the Mutations an,
obiurgations of mothers whose children ar
taught in over-crowded rooms or attend schoo
5 but half time beca,fse Of the inadequate facili
ties Therefore, % listen TO the band viii no
be the ecstatie utterance OF Richmonds folk mex
summer nor the summer after that while bette
schools and more of them are so much needed