Omaha daily bee., 1915-11-21
FOR
THOMAS ]. KELLY
Katherine X. Baxter Says He Was g
Prophet in His Own Town-Now
He Goes to Chicago.
CALL HIM BACK SOME TINE

The following words OF appreciation
for Thomas J. Kelly, who has announced
his intention Of moving 20 Chicago was
sent 70 The Bee by Katherine K Baxter:
And thus we let him go. Coming
here in his early years. struggling. learn
ing. creating-creatipg a beautiful thing
for us, which we know not enough 20
appreciate. All those years OF aspiration
I'm the face Of dlscouragments have gone
10 make Up our Mendeissohn choir. for
they have prepared him for the leader
ship he has shown.
The last few years we have had many
eminent men from abroad speak 20 US.
The inference is that their word would
be profitable. Profitable how1 In pass
ing a pleasant hour7 or are we to ponder
their words7
'Dr. zueblin told Us only a few days
ago that beautiful as Greek art was for
the Greeks In expressing their ciyiliza-
ton, II was not true expression Of our
democratic civilization today He would
have our art a symbol Of present condi-
tons and times
"Gutzon Borgium constantly reiterates
the same thought;lbe yourseif-be sincere
do not imitate-be American-let US
have an art truly our own.
''Dr. Zueblin told the Commercial club
two weeks ago the way to advertise our
city was 10 have something TO advertise
To advertise Il in a way that would tit
any city was not advertising Pick out
the distinctive features Of your city lie
named our new hotel for one thing. our
park system for another. Did you 20 on
In your own mind TO find any other
distinctive asset that we had over other
citiesH
DO you know Of any city in the middle
west that has a Mendelssohn choir? A
choir OF its size, Its beauty, It's earnest
character, its educational and art value?
All due TO the persistent. unencouraged
work Of one man. who worked because
the beauty within him sought expression.
Our own Omaha has grown side by side
with Mr.. Kelly from a crude little town
70 city OF great promise. One would
think that the mutual struggles would
pAsko for q better understanding.
Last year our Retailers association
~ealizing that art has a big value for a
city engaged five eminent musicians to
eAme to Omaha.
Tho organization has set fine
standard for itself, which Is very good
as far as II goes.
But where was the man OF vision
the Borglum or zuebiin 10 see the choir
In our midst. which others from a dis
lance can vision or appreciated II was
not only a musical. business, but also
civic error which these gentlemen
made. II was the psychological moment
for the business men of the city to
grasp one art feature the city offers that
is distinctive. II Is the great living thing
that is ours and has never been heard
by such members as filled tho Audi
torium for the first charity concert,
Big and promising as our city has
grown 1t has not kept step with Mr..
keily-it has had its eyes turned TO the
Ground. he. his to the clouds.
but let us make amends, n that a
possible. Let our Ak-sar-Ben governors
call forth all the talent OF whatever
nature In our city to cooperate in one
great fall festival
Let US have paseant-Niiss Joy Hlg-
gins IL already working at an Omaha
pageant. Let our artist guild, our dan
cling teachers, our dramatic workers
begin plans now so that the fall of 1915
may SEQ what the soul OF Omaha has
become.
let us call Mr.. Kelly Of chlcaeo' "a
give the people-the peopie--a festival OF
music. such as they have never heard. 10
recognize even though late the genius
which Is his"