The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-04-10
He Dresses To
Rag Time Tune
EDery Morning
Charlie" Mitchell Appeals for Musical
Program Masses Can Understand
State Convention of Teachers Ends
Here Today,

Charles L. Mitchell, of Topeka, laces
his shoes to a rag time tune every
morning. he told members of the Kan
sas State Music Teachers association
at the morning session of their con-
vention here today. The four-day
convention closes tonight.
Mitchell voiced a strong appeal for
musical programs that the masses can
understand. He told the teachers they
were at fault in arranging programs
of such classical nature that they go
high above the heads of the average
man and woman.
Il often go with my wife TO hear the
famous singers and players" Mitchell
said, but ! do it to get the benefit of
the encore es. After a particularly
| ton, they usually come back with
something I can understand
Mitchell told, amid roars of laugh
ter, how, upon arising in the morning.
he puts a rag.time record on the
phonograph, dressed to rag time, laces
his shoes to rag time and hits rag
time gait for the office after break
fast.
Explains Shoe Shine Melodies.
/ Did you ever hear Annie Laurie or
Auld Lang Syne played on the phono-
graph in a Greek shoe shining shop %
he asked. Certainly not. Most peo-
pie think the proprietor of the shop
puts a phonograph in there to enter
! tain his customers. But, If you will
watch carefully when a rag time rec
ord is put on, you will see all the
sinners hit a rapid gait in keeping
time. Imagine how long it would take
to get your shoes shined to the tune
| of Annie Laurie"
| Mitchelrs appeal was to the effect
| that the teachers in arranging. pro-
grams, divide them fifty fifty" be-
tween rag time and classical selec-
| tions. The rag time and popular music
will serve as a drawing card for the
! masses, he said, and in time they will
fbecome educated to better music.
/ Dean Henry v Stearns. of Wash
burn, agreed with Mitchell on thi:
score in the discussion which followed
and said he attributed the success OF
Thomas orchestra, Chicago, to these
! tactics. At the time of his death in
1902. Stearns said, Thomas had edu-
Gated his audiences to classical music
/ Eyaluation of Teaching.
An evaluation of the work done ir
music in the public schools. from va.
rious viewpoints. took up the morning
hours the last day of the annual con
vention Of the. Kansas State Musi,
| Teachers association. The meeting!
| today were held in the high schoo
building.
The tevaluation of the work done IL
music was discussed from the view
points of the supervisor, the grad,
teacher, the high school principal. the
| city superintendent. the private teach
] er, the taxpayer, the parent. the artis
and the/expert in educational measure
ments.
/ Addresses and discussions concern
ing some everyday school problem:
were on the program for this after
noon.
| Friday night a concert was given BY
| the members of the association at the
First Christian church. Rev. Fletcher
Homan, of Kansas City, Mo-. spoke or
Business Wisdom for Professiona
People" On the musical program were
Katharine Dotson, Newton; Arthur
Uhe, Lindsborg: D. A. Hirschler. EN-
poria; Justine Regier, Newton; Henry
V. Stearns, Topeka; Henry E. Malloy
Hays.
That a child has a keener ear thar
a trained adult was demonstrated Fri
day afternoon by Prof. Frank A
Beach. retiring president of the asso-
citation. in a series of tests to deter.
| De