New-York tribune., 1918-05-05
Rationing Nj usic In
Europe
By MAY BOSNIAN


M in Europe.
For nearly two years now no
pianos have been manufactured in England or
imported into that country No one can buy
new piano, and none of the better class of
people will buy the pianos still for sale-an
ever-dwindling stock of second hand ones and
a few unused instruments still left in out Of
the way storehouses. The working classes get
these. They are making more money than
they ever dreamed of before and can afford
music.
But no piano is sold in England until the
government notifies the merchant or owner
who would sell that the army does not need
that particular instrument in some can1een or
camp.
No music boxes or gramophones Of any sort
have been made in over a year; you cannot
buy an instrument of any kind for canned
music in all England, Scotland and Wales. If
you own one that you have not yet given to the
government for use of soldiers and sailors,
and it gets out Of order, no cne will repair it
for you. All workmen and all workwomen in
England are. being used along the only lines
that count when the world is in the chaos it is
to-day-war work!
Indeed, 1t you have telephone in London
to-day and it gets out of order, it is not re-
paired! You may be a busy house, but unless
you can Tx up your wires yourself you must
go without service. (That is, of course, if you
are not connected with war business.) Private
houses receive no consideration. when will
that line be cut of trouble? When the war is
oyer, slr!" That is an everyday answer from
Central in London nowadays.
me steel Tor manufacturing. gramophone
needles in England has been carefully doled out
since early in 1915. Steel is needed for other
most no new needles now for the parlor vic
trola.
Soldiers Served First
Par10r vic ~,
walk miles through the surburbs of London.
through streets where every house echoed
with strains of canned melody four and five
years ago, and hear not sound! The instru-
ments IN them are standing idle or have been
sent to convalescent hospitals or to France.
Labor and material for sheet music are
lacking, too, and this non-essential industry is
al put dead Again, the army and navy are
kept supplied, and the music halls, which SOL
diers so enjoy when they are on leave. If
sheet music is sold to private customers it is
with the understanding that the songs (they
are mostly songs) will be sent eventually to
munltlon plants are supplied with at least two
gramophones, one for men and one for women
workers, that cheer may be given them in the
rest rooms.
All that is true of England is true in France
Music is strictly rationed in both countries.
But there are orchestras left in each country:
music may be heard and enjoyed outside the
army-ln hotels, cafes, theatres, amusement
parks. '''e'''
Not so in Germany! The German band is a
thing of the past. No musical instruments
have been left to civilians there. GRADUALLY
they ti nave been commandeered, as has every
In t1hing else in the Huns country. The army
had to have as many bands as possible, but.
a great many instruments have been converted
into warlike things. Germany needed even
me the prass that was in the village butchers
and cafes and theatres and private houses e.s
Unofficial music is "verboten' ''''
;, IT Is one Of the most depressing conditions
IN that land" say recently returned neutrals.