New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-10
;tr 1uvasion and Its Probable Effects Here--EEAe
H"~'S'- Teachers and Public.

ereditablc thing to be set down IN Tho
war account
This fraud against student, patron
and public has been most fagrantly
perpetrated hitherto in the operatlc
field. but other departments OF music
have not been free from IT. / nave
never Joined in the outcry against Tor
eien instruction for American music
students, but have always contende9
that while as good instrumental ana
vocal teachers are 20 be found IN the
principal cities Of the United States as
in the capitals of Europe, the artistic
life of those capitals offered valuable
ADVANTAGES to serious minded students.
These advantages are the same IN kind
as those offered by such artistic centres
as New York, Boston and Chicago 70
the students in less favored cities IN
our own country.
The benefit which the student de-
riyes from hearing high class music
performed in mastery manner can,
indeed. be enjoyed better in New YORK
to-day than in any foreign city; but 1t
would be folly 10 deny the value Of the
influence which the older and more
general culture Of Europe exerts upon
ar unreasonable mind, be that mind
intent upon music or any other polite
study. One might as well deny the
value of the great art galleries and
cathedrals to the students Of painting,
sculpture and architecture. Sneers at
the artistic atmosphere" OF ancient
centres of aesthetic refinement are
cheap and easy; but they are not ar
gurnents. The chief objection 70 for
eicn musical study is that 1t is too
often made specous cover for loose
moral conduct. Young persons too
often seek il, not TO avail themselves OF
its real advantages, but 10 escape the
conventional restraints which they are
under while within the surveillance OF
friends and kindred. They long for the
air of the Bohemia of which so much
wicked nonsense has been written, and
when they return to home and patrons
with health shattered and money vast
ed, with all the hopes Of success ~
their calling destroyed, they charge It
against the system which they have
helped to perpetuate or impudently
seek to impose upon their bcnefactors
by tales Of triumphs abroad an Insuf-
fcieRt culture 20 appreciate them at
their own valuation at home.
OF late years many American teach
ers have established themselves abroad,
some of them 20 fatten upon the deiu-
sions and follies Of students and the
ignorant complacency of parents and
patrons. 1t is not 10 be supposed that
they underwent q sea change which
made them better teachers under for
eign skies than they had been under
their own or that they expected to
draw any considerable number Of for
eign students unto themselves because
they hailed from America Their ex-
patriation enabled them, however, to
crafty the desire Of students to get
away from home fand sometimes their
chaperons, too, and to collect larger
fees than they could have obtained in
their own country. They have swelled
the tide Of musical immigrants and will
advertise their years OF foreign abode
among their qualifications. Will they,
adding their number to that Of their
foreign colleagues who have come to
US FOR sustenance, raise or lower the
standard of instruction in this coun-
try? Or the standard Of fees? win
they seek to introduce in the Aneri-
can capitals the devices from which
American pupils and American parents
have suffered abroad? Will they and
their companions be favored over the
native teachers. who have pursued
their careers without resorting TO the