The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-12-26

NEW YORK MUSIC REVIEW
Rv DIXIE HINES

/ New York, Dec 2e.-It was OBJ
served in these columns re" weeks
since that the American Legion owed
it to its own dignity, honor and re-
spcct To take stringent action 10
curb the group of irresponslbies
which is placing the organization IN
p, a most untenabie and embarrassing
i position 1t is not believed that these
hoodlums--no other word APPLY de-
! scribes come of their Eastren actions
: Which -Mere-fakeu- Without otilcial
sanction or authority~-represent even
remotely the sentiment OF the or
ganizitnot 'nzggA cmfwyp NIB mbo
ganization itself. The Legion,
through their unworthlness, il placed
/ In the position Of commencing
musical artistic IN one city and de-
nouncing him in another.
The American Legion is composed
OF brave American soldiers who
fought for the right and their coun-
try under duly constituted officers.
They gave and received commands,
and when command was given it
was obeyed. Theirs was not to rea-
son wtry, theirs was to do or die
Unha pidly this principal does not ap-
pear to prevail at present we see
| them utterly vigorous protests ana
committing overt acts to prevent the
performances of opera In German. in
which they held large part OF the
popular opinion because the mon as
sociated with that New York enter"
prise had been pernicious in their ac-
tivity as enemy aliens. and they had
set out with the determination of fore
ing their objectionable language upon
a community that wanted none OF IL
But while this was in progress
American symphony orchestras. opera
singers and concert arttstes of estae-
lisne6 loyalty, were singing German
songs and playing Gernta rnuE'c.
Beethoven and even Wagner were as
common as their French conferences
And there was no protest. =
This group has since run amuck
: With Fritz kreislsr. This eplnent
Austrian was pscnnsngiy quteeeent
during the partSc Hsslsn OF the IhrtTd
States In the hlSs&af He withtta1A
from professional activities on his
own volition, and only re-entered the
. field recently. since when New York,
Boston, Washington and ether i'm
portant cities have acclaimed him.
and Louisville. Lynn. Ithaca and
other cities, led by unorganized mem
bers OF the Legion, have conducted
themselves in an unseeming, uniaw-
fui and disgraceful manner in opposi-
ton to the artist whom the larger
; cities have accepted. A more ssrik :
ltlG ltiuGtTdltoh VI ttt p}iAtpcpP=ty -
The Three Tailors OF Too!ey Street
, has never been seen.
! But the point which the press has
been prompt to take mp Is the sus-
gestion that if the American Legion
!; sanctions this opposition to foreign
music and musicians are they pre-
pared to be equally as Interested IN
building up an American musical
Standard Music lovers and r. usi-
clans throughout the United States
have a right to ask this and expect It.
There ere many organizations In ex-
istence now which are struggling for
this contamination. but thus far the
Legion mas done nothing to encour-
age them. The American op"r't
company was announced in New oYrK
recently. Here is ar opportunity fer
every American music club. MUSIC
lover musician and newspaper to do
something practical for the cause. The
! prospectus, vouched for by men long
established In musical management.
declares the purpose TO be the ann
establishment of an "All-Anrer, an"
association, 100 per cent America n
from the advance man to the gentle
man back with the show. American
operas--thcy have announced "Sh nne
wig by Charles Wakefield Cadn n
and The Legend" by Joseph c, Brief
as the two initial efforts-American
singers, American conductors. notably
the composers themselves and Aneri-
can spirit is to dominate It.
II the American Legion is sincere in
it's belief that America is the peer OF
any nation in the world judged ny
military, commercial, social, literary
and artistic standards, let them do y
creative and constructive thing Ivy
HELPING American miisjc. and especi-
ally American opera which is SO sally
in need
Helene Handlers, the concert artistic
Is believer in the value OF good hu-
NOR and good nature as an induce.nent
to artistic excellence. Thank Goi
some one has come to the fore and
. proclaimed optimism in the art OF
singing and playing. 1t is highly lug
ubrious to the average music lover
10 sit in an audience and hear the
lplaint of a prima donna who informs
us in II good upper and bad lower
register thtt ''sha will die FOR want
OF love-" or baritone of excellent
lung power, singing of the daisies that
die IN the fail. However beautiful the
tone. however charming the music. the
lover OF the art OF music who may al.
so be fortunate enough to follow the
Idiction OF the artist, prefers song
that cheers rather than one that de-
presses
'In grand opera one cannot choose
Jones rrogram,' Miss Handlers assures
n scribe. "a character Is built to
suit the story. and her emotions are
those that would be common with
I w ono in her position Tho singer
Ia corr his mood and
is not always happy one In se-
| Letting iit.si.iti program for con-
cert work, however. the choice Is left
with the artistic, and believe the
PSYCHOLOGY OF program will BIZ con-
Tidered quito as seriously as Its quail
lily"
I Is related OF Miss Handlers that
rhe has offered handsome compensa-
ton to any one who will serve her
as her "iestor."
1.-The effect Of good and hearty
laugh upon the. nervous system is OF
inestimabie value" eHhe declares, land
1t is mn impor tant element In carrying
the artistic through strenuous musical