The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-26
BIG THREATENED LOCKOUT
PUTS COTTON KING IN VIEW
VAST SUM SPENT
FOR MUSIC IN US.
Exact Amount Is $500, ,00O,-
000-More Than Other
Nations

americans spend on music three times
the amount spent on the army and navy.
This statement, which was made at the
annual convention of the New Aork State
Music Teachers association. seems to
tiatter our musical. taste 10 be exact
the amount is $500, ,0000JG, q vast sum to
srend on any single interest 1t is more
than any other country devotes to the
same object.
Likewise it might be stated that Amer
leans spend more FOR works of art than do
any other people, and r.ln these prem
lses it might be argae'1 that We are the
most musical and artistic people IN the
world. Perhaps, however it Would be
little closer to the truth to say that we
are able and willing 70 pay more for good
music than any other people, and are not
greatly disturbed Ii usually the artists
whl supply our demands are oorn and
trained in other lands, s5ys Ieslie's
W eekly.
Nevertheless the figures do indicate
great and growing interest in music, an
interest that ought TO De encouraged. A
nation does not become musical In a day
or generation, but a love for good music
and the opportunity TO hear and enjoy it
are first steps In that direction. OF
America, that much certainly may be,
said. And the phonograph and automatic
piano, 1t might be added have no small
place in helping to create and To increase
a taste for good music.
The mechanical musical instrument not
only amuses and entertains, it also edu-
Gates one in the appreciation of good
music. Every home should possess such
an instr ument In most households, even
when some members can play, they can
rot as a rule, perform difficult classical
music. Unless there were automatic
musical Instruments to fall back upon,
the family would miss hearing much of
the best music Even in those homes SO
fortunate as to have some one who can
play well the most difficult compositions
tho mechanical instrument has its place,
for the single performer in the home
can't satisfy at all times the musical
desires of every member of the family.
The great masters now stand ready to
give their best to suit the mood of the
hour. BY putting the world-famous mu-
scal creations in the hands of the people
mechanical instruments help to educate
the taste away from rag time. Nor have
they had anw deterring effect upon the
numbers studying music. Never before in
this country We're there so many children
and young people taking lessons as now.
Mr.. Frank Damrosch director of the
Institute Of Musical Arts, thinks tho
musical advance of this country within
the last quarter of century has been
astonishing ana gratifying. Twenty
five or 80 years ago." says Mr.. DAM
rcsch, "the rank and file of American
people were decidedly ignorant Of music
Now there is hardly town, small as
it may be, in which there is not at least
one musical organization
All this indiactes that America is
rapidly developing into a musical ma
tion. Likewise the coming of other ma
ticnalities to our shores, representing. peo-
eips with musical and artistic traditions,
and the absorption of this element will
have it's Influence in producing in the gem
erations to come a higher order Of musical
and artistic ability. Let the people sing!