The daily progressive-miner., 1918-05-16
COMMUNITY SINGS" AND
PATRIOTISM

Five hundred persons attended the
first Of a series OF community sings"
at Anoka. Mimi. where the Council OF
Defense IS promoting the singing of
patriotic airs.
Mrs. G. H. Wyman had trained
chorus OF 10 voices 10 lead the audi.
ence, anu special numbers were intro
dCced TO sive variety to the program.
an international Quartette," which did
= sait, was comprised of an English
man, a Frenchman. Swiss. and an
American. When the English. French.
and Italian national anthems were
sung girls entered bearing the flags
Of the countries they were dressed 10
represent
Mrs. T J. Abbott chairman OF the
tenth district writes: During this
time ot great trial We need this stand
together spirit. this feeling OF unity.
watch the community sing expresses.
There is nothing like singing 10 bring
people together"
Mrs. 7. B. Hartley. county chairman
OF public education. Waseca. MINI,
mas carried cut an original plan for
community singing in her town. Every
evening al $50 America" Is sung in
every home By the members OF the
family Windows are opened SO that
-, -o-so-,r t,--., a,- - I,,-, =, -,
streets
The ciubwonan and the"cormunity"
Sing
Mrs. Roy " Andrews, of -iankato.
sI:na-. made community singing the
subject o. an address al the annual
State convention OF the Minnesota
Federation OF Women's Clubs. Mrs.
andrews holds that the signing OF
patriotic and home" songs is the first
duty Of clubwomen az this time "La-
rs open and close our club meetings
with patriotic songs. no matter what
he routine or plan OF study she
urged Let US devote one lesson to
: program OF patriotic music OF Ameri-
"a Let us now, OF all times. study
American music.
The assertion that everyone can
sing and wants TO- has been proved
wherever il has been given fair trial
40 amount OF h;gh-class music served
Up ready made so TO speak, 10 COM
zsun:ty which itself takes no active
part N tne making OF the music will
make that community musical
Against the tremendous sums spent
for musical entertainment. cited as
cEC1: that we are musical nation,
stands the lamentable fact that the
national anthem sung by the average
audience is a mighty poor perform
ance.
Yet The fact remains that this de-
sire for self-expression is universal.
and the majority can express this
swelling volume Of feeling through
scng better than in any other way.
These s,umbering voices OF the vast
majority need awakening; and, more
important still, the community feel
ing. which is the very spirit Of true
democracy. needs awakening, for nev-
e. in the history OF our country have
We had more need Of neighborliness,
Of cooperation, Of brotheriiness than
now.
The national chairman, Mrs. Steel,
writes: II is requested that all patri-
otto assemblies, all band and other
concerts, be opened and closed with
the singing Of our national hymns
The same line Of work is being carried
our in our public schools, TO the end
that tine coming generation will know
the national music OF our land. We
are also stressing the organizing OF
school bands. orchestras, singing Soc
ieties. etc. always making prominent
the patriotic element"
Furnished room for rent-reasonab BILE
H. T. I--