The Washington times., 1918-01-31
WAR SHOWS THAT
MUSIC NOW IS A
REAL NECESSITY
BY J. Mach.

The music and the theatrical sea.
sons of the first year OF the entrance
of the United States into the. world
war have about proved the contention
as TO whether or not music is a
necessity in the life OF the vast ma
joTity Of people.
The music season has been en- IN
precedCnted success so lar ag patron
age is concerned. while the theatrical
season has been an acknowledged
failure. Just how far this includes
the fact that the theater has recently
divested itself Of many OF its highest
standards and has catered TO a "popu-
lar" lin the sense OF below the stand
ard) taste. is uncertain. But through
all the burden of these months OF
sacrifice and the facing OF new and
grim realities. the American has
shown that music has remained to
him a stsnch and helpful friend.
Music has been POLITICALLY called
"the soothing balm for the pain
rAcked world" An editorial in the
New York Mail says: Going to the
Metropolitan Opera or TO a good con
cert in these days Of worldwide stress
Is like leaving a warning world and
abiding in a realm of peace for a
breathing space.
"The common language OF mankind
stills the torturing din OF contending
peoples. The common sentiment OF
art heals the breach which has riven
the nations asunder. For a time the
strain under which We are living is
relieved. The world seems sane
again"
Then IL follows with the admoni.
tion: Make 1t a point TO hear all the
good music that you possibly can. Ii
will be well worth your while to
Danish, be IL forever so brief a time.
the menacing shadows thai war has
cast over the lives of us all The
glimpse into the bright region of the
republic of music will make you
stronger. will renew your faith in the
future. . Hear all the good
music that you possibly can"
Josef Stransky, the leader OF the New
York Philharmonic Orchestra. has told
some interesting facts about the attitude
Of our troops toward the symphony pro
grams. The experience Of hearing three
cheers given at the end Of Dvorak's New
World symphony" he said. was a novel
one for the entire orchestra. but this
was only a sample OF the genuine en-
tbusiasm aroused by the music
Speaking OF the kind OF programs 70 be
played for the soldiers Mr.. StTaHsky
added: Much sage advice has been
given as to the exact tunes which might
safely be used as bait to draw our fight
ers into an unconscious appreciation OF
the finer feelings Of art. 1t may be
imagined. therefore. that It was with
something akin to trepidatioh that the
Philharmonic Society recently invaded
the training camps OF Dix and Upton.
armed only with the traditional orches-
tral instruments and 4 serious. dignified
program OF the best music.
The outcome OF this experiment was
a surprise and a delight 10 everyone
concerned. The men were not compelled
to attend the concerts. yet they turned
out in such numbers that the hall could
not accommodate them all. They were
forced 10 stay through the entire pro
gram. but the only ones who left before
the close were those actually ordered
out on guard duty"
4 duplicate OF this experience is coa-
stantly being manifested Only the-othe-
day. here in Washington. one OF our
guardian angel mothers" OF the many
who are doing so much TO put home
and wholesome touches into the lives
OF the boys in the training camps
about the city. told how one boy, who
came to her home for dinner on sew
eral occasions, always seemed loath
10 leave her grand piano.
lie would so to the piano almost
as soon as he arrived. and there
would play beautifully. and lovingly,
much OF the best music. lie said Il
was the irst' good piano he had
touched since leaving home. and that
IL she did not mind he would play
more. il gave him so much real joy.
And the joy TO him was. without a
shadow OF doubt. also a JOY TO the