The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-10-04
Ry DoLLY pALRYaIpLn

M fies a nation as art. A beauti-
 c ful picture, a musical master piece will bring people of varied ideas on other subjects together as nothing else can. America will never have a
 national school of art until we become nation"
 It was a queer turn the interview
 resolved itself into yesterday when I ! went to call on America's talented young pianist, MT. John Powell. l had expected
 to talk to him about the made in Amer | ica" brand of musician of which l thought he was a most charming expo nent. I had meant to- but what's the
 use recounting my good intentions Cor
 were they bad9 I didn't carry them out, because MT. Powell is the kind Of person who shapes things the way he wants them to go and not the way you want them.
 A mere boy he is in appearance
 slender, graceful, good looking, with the
 most pleasing address (he's southern, as
 you probably know, from old Virginia,
 and with the seal of genius impressed upon his personality and his talents.
 MT. Powell is broad-gauged, well edu-
 
 the eminent musicianship which is hls
 and which the world has paid homage
 to in lavish form.
 "When I made a concert tour last
 spring." MT. Powell resumed, T saw
 more of my own country than had seen for many years, as I had studied abroad
 for some time and knew little about con-
 ditions here I discovered a great many things, one of which is that in all this vast country of ours the south Atlantic states only may be termed homogeneous. In Michigan found most delightful at mosphere. People who loved music, who appreciated music, and the beautlfui things in art Chicago gives out dis tinctly Prussian attitude. Illinois, Ohlo- all are different and until there is a com- munity of feeling, a~closer relationship of art to social and political measures We
 cannot be called a nation. Why, we haven't even a national capital. Oh, yes; I know we have Washington; but that's our political capital. What relation does ] Washington bear to music and art! Until it stands for the same to America that London does to England, Paris to E there will be no national school of music or art. Until Congress sees its way clear toward the establishment Of such l environments as art occupies, say III France. where there is a minister of art, i just as there are heads of all other oe- 1 partments, we cannot be called natloh. "rhe present effect of the war upon music" MT. sPowell said, thoughtlulig, resolves itself not so much into what ill ho what the effect of music will be upon 1 tbe future. believe after the war 1 is over we shall hear much worse ! music; all sorts of imitators or the 1 morbid, defunct French schoot WILL flourish. giving us that school ot mu- sic of which DeBussy was the most dominant and which 10 years ago was l really demode in France, then ger 1 tain element which wasn't satisfied
 with the natural beautiful things in 1 art. demand an innovation-some- I thing different-and there were floeks | of musicians who attempted the abnor- 1 nal. Just as many will be in evidence l after the war is over; but that will not
 be lasting"
 1 ",rhe main thing that America needs" MT. Powell said, lis national
 opera established by the government land maintained by the government
 with no cliques or clans at the helm;
 this indeed is under consideration now
 and no doubt will find ready re-
 sponse from many who realize the 'm- portance of such a step l believe l in this national opera; Americans
 should have at least an equal chance with foreign artists; not merely be-
 cause they are Americans should they
 be encouraged, but certainly not
 merely because they are Americans
 should they be eliminated"
 l Here MT. Powell cited an instance of one of Americas most beautiful artists-Mabel Garrison--who merely | on account of the fact that she is an 1 American, although he regards her
 voice as exquisite-her technique fault
 less, and, passing strange. her rhythm
 employed with the same dexterity
 and artistic effect that the pianist or
 the violinist would make use of it. ] has been so overshadowed by foreign