New-York tribune., 1918-10-20
lusic Valuable in Education
Says Alfred E. Freckelton Jr.


Jack went to France and told me
that l must practise good and learn
lots OF pieces, so as to keep mother
happy while he is gone. And when he
comes back he wants me to play as
good as he does and play Home, Sweet
Home with forget what he called
Thorn"
Did hear you say these two are un-
able to judge as to whether music is
essential or not? Did you? Think.
They want to cheer up mother. There
Sad music, yes; but sad music brings
relief and consolation to a stricken
soul.
Musie--and cheer the folks up.
Cheerful folks mean q cheerful home;
such q home a cheerful boy lover
there" A cheerful boy is one free
from worry. and the unworried brain
behind the gun is certainly going to
mean death to the Hun.
But listen Co the opinions of few
who are more famous than Elsie and
Jimmy. These are extracts from q few
letters and messages sent to "Tho
Etude":
DR.. Lyman Abbott, the distinguished
publicist-clergyman in this country,
says. Music in our homes, our
schools. in our churches and in our
national life md should be encouraged
and promoted during the war. !"
The II n. Henry van Dv.n saws: II
am q strong believer in the value Of
music in education. The Greeks, wise
folk. made it one of the elements of
their training and discipline.
Plato said: Musical training is a
more potent instrument than any other,
because rhythm and harmony find their
way into the secret soul, on which they
mlEht'iy ihsten. imrnrfing grace and
making the soul graceful Of him who
is rightly educated"
| quote Thomas A. Edison in full:
you ask me if music is human es-
sential. To the Esquimau or South Sea
Islander, no: to the American, French
man. Englishman and Italian. yes.
Mere existence demands nothing but
food, drink, clothing and shelter. But
when you attempt to raise existence to
higher plane you have to nourish
the brain as we'll as the body. | don't
think that there is any sane person
who would say that books are an unes-
sential to the maintenance of our civ
ilization in America. Yet after it's
school days probably less than fourth
OF our population reads with serious
purpose. Music is more essential than
literature, for the very simple reason
that music is capable of releasing in
practically every human mind enlight-
cning and ennobling thoughts that lit
erature evokes in only the most erudite
minds.
Music. next to religion, is the minds
greatest solace and is also it's greatest
inspiration. The history of the world
shows that lofty aspirations find vent
in music and that music in turn helps
to inspire such aspirations in others.
Military men agree that music is es-
sential to soldiers both in camp and in
action. The "Marseillaise" is worth
million men to France. Music is not
less essential to those the soldiers
leave behind them. Instead of decry-
ing music, demagogues and others
whose hysteria or self-consciousncss
has distorted their vision and befud-
died their brains, should urge the ma
ton to make more music, to hold more
concerts, to have more community mu-
sic--in short, to do everything that
reasonably can be done to make Amer
ica singing nation during the war.
When the casualty lists begin to fill
the pages Of our newspapers we shall
need music to sustain our national
spirie The man who disparges music
as luxury and non-essential is doing
the nation an injury"
Miss Ida III. Tarbell says: 'In my
judgment you are right in claiming
that music is one of the things that
help people to bear the burden It's
value to the men in camp and field has
Of course, long been admitted. Those
Of us at home need it as much as, il
not more, than ever"
Dr.. Owen Wister says among other
things, at is an experience of all ma
tions that muaic is an essential in war
and an essential in peace. To
regard music as a luxury in the home
or in the concert at the present time
is an opinion held only by the un-
mus!ca and any one who takes
steps to diminish its quality takes an
unpatriotic step, though he may do so
in perfect faith"
Major General Hugh L. Scott says,
He who enjoys music, whether
as listener OF performer, cannot be
crouch, for grouches generally have
distorted vision of things in general
"In civilian life, music promotes
equinimity of mind. which is a basis
Of confidence in the ultimate triumph
Of our struggles. In the army MUSIC
promotes morale. :"
Hon. Samuel Gompers says, ".
Music, whether for those serving
abroad on the firing line or at home,
brings comfort and inspiration-it lifts
the spirit above the barbarity of the
fight and the materialism or the work
into the things Of the spirit--the mean