The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-22
Some Midsummer Topics OF
Interest to Women and Society
Miss Wadde Entertans in Compliment to Miss Gardner Cole
Informal Card Party for Miss Virginia Jeson of Tusca
oosa-Other Affairs for the School and College Set.
Arrivals and Departures Announcements
by MYRTLE MILES

In the views lately expressed of Mr.
Ignaz Waghalter, the Berlin conductor
who has just arrived in New York, num-
ber of local musicians who have been
longing for an opportunity to organize a
symphony orchestra in Birmingham will
find food for thought. Mr. Waghalter ar
rived not long ago in New York and has
been accorded the welcome that thor
ough musician of his type would natur-
ally enjoy. He does not, however, hesi-
tate to express his none too favorable
opinion of the musical propensities OF
America and though he realizes that, as a
foreigner his conception of things is sub
ject to change, he apparently has no idea
of changing it Immediately. In a musical
magazine or current issue he says:
In the very first place 1T seems to me
little less than a shame and a disgrace
that every American city should not have
a symphony orchestra of its own. Think
of there being no orchestra in such a city
as Washington! Think of the few cities
that support their own opera companies!
In Germany such conditions would be inn
possible. There every town has its or
chestra and its opera house and there
people go primarily to hear work, not
an artist. The hundreds of great artists
who come annually to America do so pri-
marily for the money they make. 1t be-
comes a matter of business rather than
a pilgrimage with fundamentally artistic
object.
IF the government will not support mu-
steal Institutions as it does in Germany
it seems to me only fitting that men OF
affluence, of enormous wealth, Should
take it upon themselves to do so. A man
like Carnegie for instance who 'endows
colleges and other institutions with such
liberality should. 1t seems to me- be ready
to contribute to the maintenance of or
chestras more literally than he does Or
chestras are most essential to the musi-
cal cultivation of people.
ut is surprising to me that America is
behind England in musical advancement.
Every English city has admirably organ
ized musical functions. The vogue of
Caruso has a distinctly American element
about 1t. 1t is perfectly true that the Ger
mans flock to hear him when he come to
Germany. But. while one cannot gainsay
the beauty of his wonderful voice it must
be admitted that the crowds are attracted
especially by sensational considerations
and Caruso became sensational in Amer
lea.
II know that there are some uneXcelled
musical organizations here We all know
abroad that the Boston orchestra is the
best in the world. But still the develop
ment of musical culture is not as even as
it ought to be. 1t is my opinion that the
American people ought to have their de-
ficiency pointed sout to them. Critic
should write articles week after week call
ing attention to the prevailing state of at
fairs most forcibly, and drawing com
parisons between the artistic standing OF
American and foreign people. Americans
are a proud race. They do not like to
be told of their inferiority to other nations
in any respect. And if this particular
point Is driven home forcbly enough ii
should bring about appreciable results. II
after all, if lions and other wild anf
mails are sensitive to muskal influence,