The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-01-04


cent date, which was to the effect
that music should be encouraged
more than ever to keep the coun-
try in buoyant spirits. The coun-
try, though hard hit by the war,
is bringing many big artists to
her concert halls this season.
These paragraphs. relating to musi-
cal activities in warning countries,
show how war has affected the prac-
tice Of the supreme art.
They show. what every intelligent
observer already knows, that war, In
stead of Gripping music, has spurred
it on to new conQuests.
Canada, our fair neighbor who has
given so many of her sons during her
three years and more of struggle, ex-
horted by her premier, Sir Robert
Borden, to encourage music more than
ever as a means Of buoying up the
country's spirits.
Germany, staggering under the
weight of three and one-half years oil
the bloodiest war, adds an orchestra
at Cologne because the war is pro-
duciug IAN increased music hunger.
In some cities in America, notably
few, there has been a decrease in the
number of musical events and slack
ening of activities.
The plea has been that we must
strip ourselves to essentials and econ
onlize in order that our arms may be
victorious.
This plea is specious. In the firsi
place, it ignores the claim OF music
as a necessity. What is more neces
sary to the morale of the people
President Wilson has urged the
churches to maintain their services
undiminished. He has urged students
to continue their education. He hal
recognized the need OF cultural re
taxation by attending, with Mrs. VIII
son. most of the concerts that have
been held in Washington this season
What is meant by stripping our
selves of all save necessities is thu
dispensing with that which is foolish
all the vain trappings of wealth, gilt
terry display calling for many manser
cants and expensive entertaining.
There is no call to dispense will
what is serious nor with what has
definite place in bolstering the ma
tional fiber, the will to win, Music has
So have other forms Of entertainment
They make the people more contentet
with the hard lot which war Away
brings.
There Is clear call for the theate
to maintain itself, as we'll as the oper'
house and concert hall.
A patriotism which calls upon tn
people to mortify themselves by dis
pensing with peace-time entertain
of wholesome sort is a short-sightet
patriotism. -.,........--.
Economy has no place In a plea to
a cessation of music. 1t is as false al
that plea which threatened the Christ
! mas trade of the merchants Don
give Christmas presents! Many Amer
lean families, under an illy-conceivet
economy policy, refused to give Christ
mas presents this year. The grea
majority, however, bought useful pres
| ents. Had everyone followed the plal
| of the false conservationists thousand
| of retail merchants all over America
| counting on their Yuletide trade t
| pull them through, would have failed
| Uncle Sam makes some definite az
peals. He says: Buy government 81
curities whenever offered; subscrih
for the duly authorized war funds t
the limit of your ability; conserve tn
meat, wheat, fat and sugar supply
lend your support wherever possibl
40 the war, and keep in a ccntentet
good-humored state Of mind when 20
are not fighting mad at the kaiser.
/ Nowhere has he asked for ban o
art and nowhere does he want it.
/ F. D.