The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-01-21
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

riols ways from struggling town into a metropolitan city
 have seen it come into it's own as a great industrial center. I have watchA it grow out of a boom town, with all it's rawness, into a place of refinement | into God-fearing and law-abiding com mrnity.
 Year by year there has been a steady growth in business, in society. in church, in education in culture, until today it's a good place not only to make a living, but to live. And just because I knew it almost in it's pulling infancy, lived in it in it's luster youth, and am now here in it's strong manhood, I covet for it the best things in every line.
 
 It has been a pleasure and an inspira- tion during the past quarter of a century to see the ever-growing band of men and women ready to make sacrifices to promote the welfare of their home town. could pay tribute to many such groups in all lines of business, social, political and religious endeavor Many of them tions in the face of what often seemed sheer indifference.
 I mention here only one, and that is the Music Study Club, for just at present they are in the public eye on account of the coming of the Cincinnati Symphony Dr. chestra on Thursday evening, January 9, and matinee, at the Jefferson. This gives me a good chance to say some things which I have long had it in my heart to say. It was about 15 years ago when Birmingham was sorely in need of musical culture that band of artistic women organized the musical organiza- tion which has kept ahead in spite of every drawback, all the time to put the Magic City on the musical map.
 
 This is not to be a story to praise any special ones, although there are many in the club well worthy special mention. And so, instead of exploiting any of the officers of the past or present or to single out the charter members, I will just group them as a whole, and put a wreath of affection and appreciation about the brows of them all. Like many another organization the Music study Club had a very small beginning It's all ways the way. A few catch the gieam and carry it forward to light the way of those who are to come after
  I'll not z into the detailed history of how the faithful ones have had their ups and downs in trying to educate the Birmingham public into love for clas- sical music. They have had successes and more often failures. but it's hard to drown the ardor of devotees of good music. They seem to have the fervor of the religious saints and to worship at the shrine of music with a loyalty and a faith as great as that which has char acterized the great religeuse of the past It's passion with them that cannot be Lightly given up.
 But this devotion is not strange when we realize the truth of Chateaubriand, the great Frenchman, who said, Music is the child of prayer, the companion of re- iigion" Now, while sacred music has all ways been looked upon as an aid to wor- ship, and it's history is rich with blessed associations, and the very greatest of the worlds artists have felt it privilege to give their best productions to the church, yet believe with him who gave utterance to the sentiment when some one reflected upon secular music that he did not think that the devil was entitled to many of the best tunes. There is a place for both kinds.
 I make no claim to be a musical critic. for have not had the special training necessary for me to qualify. All that l can boast of is I have always loved music and have had an opportunity to past quarter of a century for during my student days in Europe I got to hear the best English German and Italian operas; properly staged It was but a part of my schooling. and saved me in later years from falling into the error
 
 said that the Birmingham Music Study Club began in small way, but in it's time it has brought for our delectation some renowned musical celebrities. It was some time back when it gave our city a great feast in presenting the mas ter violinist, Eugene Ysake, in one of his wonderful recitais. He was the first great violinist presented by the club, but the memory of his appearance still lin gers pleasantly by those who had the lnrivilege to hear his marvellous playing. l And now he is to be here on Thurs ! day afternoon and night at the Jefferson. The mere fact that he comes as the di- rector of the world-renowned Cincinnati {, Symphony Orchestra ought to assure him great house of appreciative listeners. 1
 l In this twenty-fourth year of it's activ- ity. the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra comes before the musc-loving public with better organization than ever berore, ! an organization which in artistic strength | and musical excellence is second to. none lin the country. Under the commanding leadership of Eugene Ysaye the splendid ], been brought out and the tonal ele- inents of the different choirs welded into an harmonic structure quite in accord