South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-04-08
WOMEN SAY TALK
WAS PRO-GERMAN
Mrs. Eleanor H. Peacock AC-
CuSed of Making Un-Amer-
lean Comparisons.

Mrs. Eleanor Hazard Peocock.
dramatic soprano, who appeared
! here under the auspices of the Prog
| ress club some time ago, is one Of
, the principals i'm a controversy
which has arisen in Detroit follow
/ ing a talk given by Mrs. Peocock.
which is said by Detroit club women
! 20 have been prO-German.
/ The following article was printed
in the April issue Of the Detroit
/ Free Press:
With the best musicians in town
! rclling this as a sweet morsel un-
| der their tongues 10 quote one of
the principals i'm Detroits latest
| pro German situations, a matter
! which has created a furore in must
cal circles and in the Detroit Fed
] Grafton OF Women's clubs is at pres
ent awaiting further development.
1t seems that at a meeting Of
/ the Detroit New Century club Mon
day. March %, when the annual
/ Presidents day was observed, the
program consisted OF a song recital
by one OF Detroit's we'll known So
pranos, Mrs Eleanor Hazard Peo-
cock Guests Of honor were the
presidents of the various clubs IN
the Detroit Federation Of Women's
clubs
Talked of German Songs.
After the recital, which the club
mem bers claim was splendid, Mrs.
Peocock asked for permission TO
speak a few words. When she ap-
peared on the platform, she seemed
10 be distressed mentally, and the
audience felt that she was about
- announce the loss Of one of her
two sons in the service Of their
country. Instead she began to speak
Of the music Of Germany. and -
express her sorrow because of the
fact that German songs were not
sung in the original claiming that
they lost much in translation. In
addition. she is said 10 have assert
ed that she had enjoyed living IN
Germany, and that all her years OF
study and training to perfect her
art were discounted because OF the
military situation. which had rem
dered German music and the Ger
man language unpopular.
To prove her remarks regarding
the song TRANSACTIONS, she read
German poem i'm the original, and
repeated an English translation of
il. Club members claim however.
that the rendition OF the transla-
ton was weakened deliberately.
Loyalty Is Manifested.
After the meeting, members of
the club felt that the singer had
taken advantage Of the occasion 10
introduce an unwelcome subject.
and consequently, at the next meet
ing Of the club, Monday afternoon,
April 1. a resolution was present
Cd setting the club right or its
patriotic attitude, declaring that L
still maintained it's loyal attitude
toward the government. The text
OF the resolution is not given out.
but according 70 Mrs. c. r. Kill
burn. president OF the club, it is
'dignifed and patriotic in theme
A copy Of il was 10 be sent. by vo,e
OF the club, 20 the president OF each
federated club and to Mrs Peocock.
Mrs Peocock says she has re-
oeived only a check for her services
and no copy of the resolution yet.
"I've received a check, but not
copy Of the resolution she said.
but hope that the club will send
it This affair is the greatest COM
pliment the club could have paid
me. for apparently I've put some
thing far above their heads
Isn't it generally understood that
YOU deliberately spoiled the trans
lated poem by the manner in which
you read it?' she was asked.
ut was deliberately spoiled be-
fore I got it, she replied.
you mean that the responsible
ity lies with the translators|
Club Women Criticised.
Yes. said Mrs Peocock. That's
the sort of stuff they want US %
sing. and they mutilate the Ger
man songs They want US 10 re-
Enquish the best in music because
it's German. Not that I want TO
sing nothing but German songs. but
the German songs they give US in
translation are stuff
Although the club officially be-
Leves that if such talk is propa-
ganda. it should not be discussed
further. Mrs. Peocock says: Just
YOU wait
And in the meantime. the news
IS spreading.
Its delicious says Mrs. Peo-
cock. They're having such a good
time talking about it
"A letter sent TO the Detroit Free
Press regarding the matter was
printed TUESDAY morning, in which
Is eader' takes the club women 20
task for listening TO a speech which
was very much prO-German.'
Reader also calls the club women
well meaning. but misguided be-
cause some applauded the speaker"
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