Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-06-12
Municipal Music
By Frederic j. Haskin.

Baltimore. Md, June 5-Baltimoro'
famous symphony orchestra, when Is tle
only such organization supported by
CITY In the United States. Is now preparing
under Musical Director Frederick IL.
Huber for its sixth and greatest season
II will give twelve classical concerts TINS
wear. which is certainly an ahlevcment anu
what is still more of an amcNemcht, IL
will give them on Sundays.
For this city symphony orchestra :
unioue not only i'm being the only one Oh
It's kind in the United States, but also II
tbe fact that II lives and operates IN de-
6ance If both state law and city ordinance.
At least, these clements IN the city popu-
lation which favor the literal enforcement
of the famous Maryland Blue Laws claim
that TO give concert IN Maryland on
sunday Is n violation of the letter pi tiht
law. and they also interpret certain Guy
laws as prohibiting such performances.
But the present administration takes
different view of the situation. W lch
Director Huber got ready to give ms hfSI
sunday concert. he first got written per
mission from the police. The chlei oi ponce
took the view that since TINS was Hol !
commercial venture, and since the sue
of tickets was to end ON the SatufuaN Pl'-
ceding the concert. the performance was
within the law. The letter containing tins
permission MIR. Huber has framed ana
hing ON the wall of his office rs trophy
of the first triumph of liberalism over tnc
narrow puritanism OF the blue laws
THE PIoUs PROTEST.
Tho ministerial union and various other
organizations and individuals made oh
;ecfions bnt the concerts have been held,
and with increasing success. because the
great majority Of tho people arc strongN
IN favor of having them. Indeed, the
srcccss nf the whole of Baltimore Guy
musical department must hc reveal
tion 10 those who believe that there y 10
apprcciation of artIu America II shouid he
,inderstood that these are classical CON
ccrts ol the highest type No popular
music Is plavcd The orchestra = COM
plctc one of the sixty pieces, led hN ''a5-
tavc Strube. n musician ot hlghest su'iiu
inp. This orchestra differs from the great
prlvatclv owned ones ot New lofk anu
Boston only in that It's prices are mere
fraction Of theirs The host scat at one
of tho Baltimore concerts costs but liVN
cents. II docs not take n rich man to hear
classical music in Baltmo Q, but t gen
craIl,- takes an early riser. Even IN the
coolest weather. long waiting lines form
before the hox office where the concert
tlekcts arc sold No concert has ever hecn
,Iven with a seat unsold, and usually ail
,f the standing room i taken rs weli.
The hall In which the concerts are gwen
+. ,,o,rl,. ~, thousand persons and
thrcc or four hundred usually stand.
Tho city treasury takes loss II about
seven hundred dollars on each concert; Z;
This could easily he made up hN ? Fi'aii
increase in the price OF tickets ana m
increase Of about thrty per cent: Whitn
would still leave the admission charge 2
fraction Of what II costs to hear siinli ar
music in other American cihes, Wo0na
enable the orchestra to be not only sell
,,,,,,,,rt mo INF aIso "a slpnort the other
ai,,.,t,as 9f tLc muscIal department. Tho
s,at,,ncrt however. seems to lie against
e,,cb IN increase. the desire being to keep
the music within reach ofthc siummest
nurse