The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1911-06-30
4 Word to Fathers
on the Band. Question

Vn tn0 Ddnu. VutStlUll
Nearly every boy wants to join a
pand. The desire to play and to
nlarcn 10 the tap OF the drum is as
natural as the tendency toward the
swimming hole and the fishing rod.
1nere is no better outlet for youthful
exuoerance OF vitality than through
the mouthplece of band instrument.
Ihe average boy will take to brass
morn almost as quickly as to baseball.
Music is now taught in most of the
public schools, and. therefore, nearly
every child knows at least the rudi-
ments. To apply this knowledge to
the study of band instrument Is an
easy matter. The principles of read
ing music having been already mas
tered, all that is necessary is to learn
the lingering and the proper control
OF the lips. These are not difficult to
acquire. With little instruction, a
months conscientious practice will
make good start.
A band instrument does not cost
much money. AS compared with the
price of piano, or good violi1. it
Is only trfle, and. in addition, 1t
can usually be bought on easy time
payments.
Children attending school are COM
PEELED to sit for hours, often at great
discomfort, in cramped positions,
STOPPING over their desks. AS re-
suit. they acquire the habit OF short
breathing, with all the other ills
which follow in its wake. A strong,
healthy man compelled to sit at a
desk which puts him in a strained,
awkward position soon becomes stoop-
shOuldered. In little while his lung
capacity decreases. and with it his
general vitality. The air cells in the
lower part OF his lungs, being unused
the greater part of the time, have
become filled up or congested; his
blood becomes vitiated and impover--
ished. This is why we see SO many
prematurely old clerks and office men. .
II STOPPING over desk or table will
ruin the health of full developed
man, what will 1t do to delicate
child, whose lungs and other vital
organs are rapidly growing? II will
simply, unless counteracted by some
other means, make him weakling-
an easy prey to consumption or some
other of the deadly maladies which
owe their heavy death rate principal
ly to the weakened state 10 which
they find their victims.
Strong. welldeveloped lungs mean
good, healthy blood. Pure, we'll
Oxygenated blood means strong
vitality-b both Of body and mind. Al
a builder-up Of lung power, cornet
clarionet, trombone, or other vino
instrument easily excells by one hun
dred per cent every other knowr
means. And the lungs are not thu
only parts of the body that share il
the good effects. The action of tn
heart IS accelerated and forces tn
freshly-invigorated blood through
every part of the body, eliminatin
impurities and building up new It's
sue: by the action of the lungs tn
stomach is moved about and 1t
digestive power increased; the ''laz
liver" is stirred up and made to pei
form its functions-in short, ever
part Of that greatest of all machine
the human body-receives its shar
Of the general benefit.
Therefore, we say, by all means le
your boys (and your girls, also, II po!
sible,) join the band. Help them !
every way possible and you and the
will have cause. in after years, to
thankful for the good that will ha,
come from that cleanest, most insp
ing and most interesting Of a
amusemen,s-the study Of music.
D. Alexander in Lyon g. Healy Ban
$ Herald.