The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-01-25
RESPECT SHOULD Be sHOWNIT
When "Star Spangled Banner" Is
Played Audience Should Remain
Standing-No Manager Should
Let It Be Played Triflingly.

Principals Of the public schools and
Mrs. Mary ID. Bradford, city superin-
tendent of schools, have noticed a lax
ness in public places on the part OF
Kenosha people in regard to rising
when the "Star Spangled Banner" is
played, and account for it by the loose
ness with which the presence of our
national anthem on public programs
where it is not fitting it should be, is
allowed.
"Why," said Mrs. Bradford, ~
have noticed on many occasions that
managers Of public places of amuse-
ment in Kenosha have carelessly al
lowed the "Star Spangled Banner"
to be played in trifing manner and
often the entire strain is not completed
before it changes into some other, and
if people who had wished to display
the conventional appearance of patri-
otism rose for what they supposed was
to be rendition Of the air, they would
find themselves standing after an in
slant or two while SEINE other piece Of
music was being played,
Chicago More Respectful.
''Quite different from the Kenosha
attitude in this regard was that /
noticed in Chicago on Saturday ate
my dinner in large restaurant in the
city. In the midst OF the meal, when
hundreds of people were seated at the
tables scattered through the room, the
large orchestra played the opening
strains of Star Spangled Banner
Immediately everyone in the room was
on his feet, leaving dinner to wait IN
til the last strains had died away. 1t
made me proud of the men and women
gathered there. 1T was no especial oc-
casion and no corporate body of diners,
just people who, like myself, had
drifted into the first convenient and
comfortable place for their dinner
Believes Managers Thoughtless.
~ feel certain said III. i. Muir
ply, principal of the Balm School,
that if the moving picture and vau-
deville show managers in this city
have this matter brought to their at
tention, they will be glad to right it.
They have thoughtlessly and carelessly
allowed their orchestras to play strains
from the Star Spangled Banner when
there was no patriotic suggestion in
the play it accompanied, to make it
rvI i
to show their respect and patriotism
by rising during the music, did so,
they were embarrassed by finding that
the air had been changed to something
else.
cit seems to me serious enough
matter to give some attention to, for
| am certain no one in Kenosha would
Willingly. be lacking in respect to the
stars and stripes, and / believe that
when people are made to think of it
they will voice their disapproval of
anything like trifing rendition of
the music and also will be more care
full to stand when it is being played.o
Should Only Be Played Seriously.
~ feel strongly" said f. T. Ran
dali, principal of the Frank School,
that great discrimination should be
used in choosing occasions when it is
proper to play the Star Spangled
Banner. 1t should certainly never be
played in careless or thoughtless
manner nor should those hearing it
ever be lacking in respectful atten-
ton. An audience should certainly
rise when it is pIayed.''
ST emphatically agree with Mr..
Murphy's attitude in regard to a trif-
ling use of the national anthem and
of our other national airs, = said A. J.
Altmeyer, principal of the Durkee
School. A few weeks ago | was
present at vaudeville performance
here in the city where what I consid-
cred disgusting revolt against good
taste occurred The national airs, in
Guiding Star Spangled Banner were
sung, and what was particularly
shocking to me was the number of
people who thoughtlessly laughed at
the indignity. That kind of thing
must make thinking people feel there
IS something lacking in the audience
as well as in the management that
permits the proclamation. -