The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-14
He STAYS YOUNG
Ed. Howe an Eternal Youth,
Says Boston Writer.
Advises Culture Capital to
Pause and Listen.
PRAISES BAND PLAN
Calls Kansas Editor ''Boy Who
Didn't Grow Up
Potato Hill ResOunds When "Old
Boy" Practices.

Massachusetts,, it is true, stoops oc-
cas1onally to levity. 1t smiles over its
own pleasant little foibles. It is be-
gulled into an evening at a light oper-
eta, and it even goes so far as to
peruSe book that is advertised to
keep policeman awake at a Boston
symphony concert" But the spirit of
youth is more or less throttled. No Pc
ter Pans are visible on Beacon Hill. No
boys who never grew up cavort on the
countryside says Earl Derr BiggerS in
the Boston Traveller
Wherefore it is good that Massachus-
etts should give ear to the latest plan
of one Ed Howe of Atchison, Kan.
MI. Howe dwellS in the state of pros
porous farms where the Populists'
whiskers and the crops now know few
lean years. For years he edited the
Atchison Globe, filling it with his Pc
cul1ar brand of small town humor, and
finding time on the side to write several
very pleasant books. Lately, at the age
OF %, he retired to Potato Hill farm.
where he edits Howe's Monthly. and
And dreams such dreams as the fCl
lowing: Il have many foolish notions,
I suppose" he admits, land possibly
you will say that this is the worst CT
ALL"
And then he outlines d scheme that
for pure youthfulness and picturesque
ness could have few equals. To men
ton II in the Staid atmosphere of Mas
sachusetts is more or less out of place
it is like talking about rocking
horses at a middle-aged tea party. But
1T viii do Massachusetts good to listen.
to know that somewhere youth goes
marching on forever, and that there are
men of IS who are not ashamed to
dream the dreams of boyhood.
And he is not content merely to lead
a band. Nay
Practices at Potato Hill.
II played in band years ago. and
I,s,r- A1I--
competent instructor. I take two
lessons a week, and am nuisance
at Potato Hill farm because I practice
a good DEAL
So life at Potato Hill farm is made
hideous, and a boy who has not grown
up dreams his dreams Of glitter and
parade and music. Mr.. Howe's views
on music are entertaining.
For years have employed big pro-
fessional bands. and given free con-
the concerts attracted tremendous
crowds, and that the people enjoyed
the music. After each concert, many
came to me, and said:
4 never before heard good music;
I never before knew how beautiful
music really is
These people are raafn1y farmers
accustomed to the cabinet organ, or
the piano indifferently played. So my
band shall play only IN country towns;
four thousand people, where big bands
are seldom heard. All over this coun-
try there are thousands of people who
have never really heard music; who do
not know whether they like it or not.
1 never heard music until was mar
ried; until I had been the editor of
two newspapers, and tried to 'enlighten
the people. L taught them that there
was nothing in classical music, ass
that l was since classical music is
nothing more than good music. And
at this time 1 had played in two couE-
try bands, and sung in concerts. But
one happy day I went to the Centen-
NAL exposition at Philadelphia, and
heard Theodore Thomas orchestra.
Since then I have been a devoted fol-
lower of the great orchestraS and bands;
since then L have had an ambition 20
travel about the country giving two
free band concerts every summer day
in tent, for at Philadelphia, in 1876.
1 realized that thousands Of worthy
country people never hear music, or
know how ennobling and beautiful it
is
No TannhauSer Outrage.
Not entirely to melody will the Howe
show be dedicated, for before the per-
Torrance begins he will give little
talk out of his So years of experience
to the assembled youth, and between
the selections he will expiate on the
piece of music about to be played.
rying over the ultimate fate of a man
with the ideas Of Mr.. Howe. But he
| does not want your sympathy.
Please Don't Pity Tim:
you needn't feel sorry for me be-
cause am spending my money on the
band. I shall enjoy it, and by the time
I am busted possibly 1 shall have
| convinced some of the really rich men
that my idea is a good one. I shall Vlsi-
the smaller towns in Kansas, Nebraska,
| Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin,
Illinois, Ohio and Indiana the first sum-
mer; drop in and see me, if I come
near your town. Maybe you'll change
your mind, and conclude that my idea
is a good one.
Mr.. Howe goes on to say that if the
and acknowledge another mistake. We
hope it doesn't fail. Ideas like this are
| too rare to be snuffed out. Years ago.
when we went to the circus, we imag1n-
| ed ourselves some day as riding on a
snow white charger round sawdust
ring. In our dreams we fitted gently
| through the hoops that the clown held
| for us. Then-in those ambitious days
how glorious would Mr.. Howe S
| scheme have seemed to US.
How does it seem today? The idle
dreaming of a silly old man who is -
throw his money away on foolishness"
| Alas, to many it will look that way.
For them there is no hope-they may
go on their prosaic ways to their ex-
pensive funerals. They abound in the
| east.
To others, perhaps, there will be =
faint glimmer of romance in all this.
/ It will seem sweet that an old man
can be a boy, and can find courage
| to tell of his boyishness in a world
of sordid men. These are the sort or
| people Massachusetts, needs, and it is
| to encourage them in this path that
we have reprinted here the dream OF
| Old Ed Howe of AtchiSOn.
| FOUR MORE FOR KANSAS.
| Horton HiaxNafI1a LYONS and Gar.