Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-31
NOW NY IDEA IS THIS!
Daily Talks With Thinking Phadelphians Subjects They


but he is a man of many parts. Mr.. Hof-
mann is keen and deep philosopher, an en-
gineer of ability, very able biologist, but
'he is also better mechanic than most of
those who are earning living at itstoday.
He builds his own automobiles, he can
repair almost any kind of machinery, he is
general handy man. He is a first class
electrician and an inventor. His latest in
Ventlon is an automobile shock absOrber,
which will soon be placed on the market
There are other broadly cultured and
all-arounG practical men among musicians
without number.
$50 if the average father and mother
will learn to realize that their boy will
not become an eifeminate or visionary or
incapable young man by a musical train
Ing, preferably in some instrument, they
will have gone long way toward overcom-
ing this ancient prejudice and removing the
chief obstacle in the way of having a better
national music.
jazz appeals to the shallow minded and
the unthinking, the lazy and the shiftless,
because it requires no attention. 1t comes
to you whether you will have it or not.
II you miss any of it, it doesn't matter;
there is no loss.
Here is the direct connection between
jazz and national bad manners. 1t is ag-
gressiye. 1t is not content to have itself
heard and take its chances 1t forces itself
the same principle. He pays no attention
to conversation, to the wishes Of others, even
to their rights. He not only does that, but
he, actually forces his bad manners on other
people.
Jazz Leads to Worse Things
''Jazz has not only spread its bad infln-
ence around the world, but it has ascended
spirally upward from our so called lower
classes until it has reached our so called
better classes.
Good music requires attention. Good
things as a rule do not come to one. One
musi go to them. The reverse is true of the
bad thing. The rose that blooms on the
bush must be sought to be obtained. If
limburger cheese were on a bush, this effort
would not be necessary. 1t would pursue
one as far as its influence on the olfactory
organs could be felt.
''But jazz goes further. 1t has an effect
on the ethics Of people. Much that Is
unethical arises from a tendency to be care
less, to be ahaccurate. 1t is but n step
from that to lying and other forms Of bad
ethics. When one studies music and learns
to be careful of the value of every note to
an eighth and a quarter and sixteenth,
they are not so likely to offend
"There is direct connection between
jazz and bad morals. The life of jazz
or any Of such music outside of its disCords
is rhythm. NHylHW IL tne nearest InlnR IN
common with animals that we have. Jazz
then affects the motor senses, which are our
most animal ones.
"Just to the extent that jazz is vulgar
just to that extent will our movements be
affected. Music then is the controlling ele-
ment in the dance. Have your music vulgar
and syncopated and to just that extent will
your movements be awkward and suggestive
and even indecent. This is quite apart from
the standpoint of its effect on the ear
'Music is the thing above all others that
strikes closest to the soul. Clergymen,
teachers and speakers can use their utmost
eloquence, but they can never hope by use of
words to strike the feelings with the same
force nor as deeply as music.
Plenty OF Good Music
"To make itself felt we must create among
the people musical consciousness. We
must get beyond the mere ear tickling music
and have something more substantial, some
thing that lifts one up to higher plane
than that reached by the mere appeal to
the organ of sound.
sarily be high brow We have a great deal
IA musically sound and fine and yet within
the grasp of every one, the type of the
music that Is written for parlor consump-
ton, for the home"
"AmongA0xI small classics take Dixie,
which ith the best music that has
\ep the inane Home, Sweet
i6fna asses with the worst. 1t
that saves. Our prima
A1al t~nake the same concession
~ girls do to their men,"
snous. -