The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-02-14
For Good of
the Community

Il chestra in Birmingham on Satur-
day was perfect. No other word applies.
The Dance of the Bacchanales," from
Wagner, and the Spanish Rhapsodie" of
Chabrier made men and women who
heard marvel how it could be done.
What is it that has made this western
orchestra capable of doing the perfect?
What has placed their leader and the en-
semble beyond the critic and criticism?
Not musical emotion. Not the leader.
Not any one instrument. Not assemblage
of the units adapted to orchestral perfec-
ton.
Something more than that. 1t is the
leader bent on an attainment. 1t is each
player bent on doing his part. 1t is not
only pulling together; it is also not pull
ing apart.
What delicate thing is that attune-
ment of 100 instruments. Each of the so
violins must be keyed to the same pitch.
The horns and the 'cellos must cores
pond. Those curious looking fagotti,
whose tones are so low that one cannot
put finger on the part they play in the
whole, cannot depart from the pitch any
more than the flute, whose slightest note
rises birdlike above and clear of all the
rest
The harp, with it's, hundred strings,
must obey the law of pitch. The pitch is
the law All conform. One instrument
out of tune would spoil it all. No instru-
ment must infringe on the rights of the
other. None must be jealous Of the other.
There are times when one is prominent
and times when it gives way to another.
The law of harmony demands that each
shall do it's part in it's turn stand aside
when the other is in action
A perfect orchestra is like nature. The
birds, the winds, the thunder, the waves,
the sunset coloring, the baying of hounds
the droning of insects, the alternate sun
and moon, day and night-they come and
go in turn and it is their coming and going
in their rhythmic turn that is the sym
phony of life.
The perfect community will be that
which uses all it's instrumentalities for
the production of harmony of achieve
ment More and more are communities
acquiring this sense of proportion. These
instrumentalities are piling on top of one
another with such rapidity that, at first
blush, it is marvel that there is room for
all. But that is the keynote. There is
room for all; room for as many men and
women and coteries of men and women
working for self-betterment and better
ment of their community as there are men
and women and the capacity to organize.
First there came the Rotarians. On their heels
entered the Kiwanis Not far behind were the
Civilians and the Community clubs. That seemed
enough, but the Exchange club has found niche
for itself. There was a Chamber of Commerce.
The Civic association came into later being. The
old Southern club has been augmented by the
Country club.
The Chamber of Commerce has organized the
younger men into a Junior Chamber. These young
fellows found themselves at once and they have
already done good things for Birmingham and
Alabama There is Mercy Home and there is the
Children's hospital There is the Boys Industrial
school and the Katharine Inn the Y M C. A., the
Y. w. C. A. and the Y M. H. A. Do they get in
one anothers way? Not at all. Each is an instru-
ment attuned to the good of the community in one
way or the other. The good of the community adj
mits of no discord.
Masons, Pythians, Odd Fellows, Beavers, Red
Men, Elks, Moose Do they hurt one another?
No; each serves certain lots of men according to
their tastes. Each plays an instrument in the