The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-10
During Delightful Visit to Canada This Summer
 Was Greatly Impressed With the Tremendous Part
 Music Plays In Present World War and the Results
By DOLLY DALRYMpLE
GH6NHE effect of the war upon m

in America is already so tre- l mendous that it is as yet i'm 1 possible to say how far 1t will go and when I went to Canada this summer on | q very delightful little vacation trip was even more impressed with musics | influence in the war than ever before, for there I saw the most remarkable results the most patriotic spirit and the most | eager attitude toward music and it's con- tinuation and it's fine effect upon the sol diers.''
 Mrs. Clara Harper Steele one of Bir- minghams prominent musicians, who has just returned from delightful visit to Cleveland, Detroit, and points in Canada, enthusiastically expressed herself in the foregoing words few days ago, when I was chatting with her about her vaca- tion trip.
 Mrs. Steele has been an important fac- tor in musical circles ever since her res idence in Birmingham, which dates back a few years; with her wide experience as a teacher, her loyalty to ideals, always upholding the highest and the best stand ards of music, she has been Valuapie asset to Birminghams musical world, and her influence has been felt far and wlae in every musical endeavor.
 "When l left Birmingham early in July" Mrs. Steele said, T was so de- pressed over war conditions and so trou- bled about the effect of the war upon my work and that sort of thing that l went away with very heavy heart, and no sooner had 1 reached Cleveland than l
 voiced this sentiment to a very well known and popular singer there I asked how after all, were we to think that we could get back to classes individual les sons, and our own little affairs in mu-
 sicaf circles with the whole world in a state of upheaval over so much bigger and more important things. This singer, of wide experience and much knowledge, consoled me by saying that music played such an important part in the life of the soldiers and that it was such solace to those of us in the home guard that
 music would probably feel the effect or war least of any profession. This found to be true as I journeyed on, and when reached the Canadian border I was more than ever impressed with the truth or the remarks I had heard in Cleveland.
 .Beginning right in that big city" Mrs. Steele said, 'I found the most encourag- ing musical conditions-community sing
 ing park, concerts, soldiers here, there and everywhere being entertained. lt was very inspiring sight. Cleveland IS the sixth in size, as you know of the nls cities, and it is a remarkably interesting and progressive place, especially in mu-
 sic
 Tt was in Canada, however, that found the spirit of music so wonderfully developed," said Mrs. Steele. Stepping over the Canadian border which, by the way, is just about as difficult thing as you can well imagine-the long line of red tape and governmental procedure being almost as bad as getting passports to England, France or Italy--the first things that impressed me were these
 The present fact of the war and music's connection with the war. Men in khaki were everywhere emphasizing the war; wounded soldiers and soldiers still in robust health, untouched as yet by the war; for as we all know, Canada gave the very flower of her manhood at the beginning, early in the war game, and tbere were soldiers everywhere in the streets of Montreal who testify to the grim barbarity of the Germans; men with wounded arms; men with wounded legs, shell shocked men; men the victims of shrap pnel and the deadliest of war mu- nitions, but with such spirit or loyalty and splendor and fineness it is really de- liehtful to see them and to realize or wiat calibre they are made of, The sol ders are inspired by the music there, great crowds of them are entertained by the municipal bands, all sorts of musical or organization and everybody singing; sit is really tremendous inspiration; l never saw such spirit in all my life.
 "In every small town I visited. even ttose the trains passed through and stopped just few minutes at the little stations" Mrs. Steele said. there was music; of course women have large part in this: they organize choruses and in connection with the canteen work make very attractive welcome for the soldiers as they pass through on their
 way to the camps. This was an inspira- tior to me and I am now busy organizing choruses among my pupils to learn the most attractive and catchy songs, so that if we are needed in Birmingham to do our bit this way we will he ready and waiting. When troop train comes in crowded with soldiers, and they have several hours to wait. nothing entertains them more pleasantly than singing: they like to join in the choruses themselves, we are told that the English, the French and the American men over there all sirg: the Germans have always been singing; they are singing nation. Mu- sic has tremendous effect upon the morale of an army; it boosts it up and keeps things going, as it were: it sort Of brings home and the home life back to the lonely soldier in the trenches and visualize scenes that he loves so much back here.
 50 I came back from my summer. trip, Mrs Steele said, mot wondering if the war would affect music and II