The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-03-27

New York City, Mafcn Co
bitter controversy over jazz mas
burst forth in New York as the re-
suit Of a recent play by ]. Hartley
Manners. called The National An
Them" which treats of the baIetul
effects of sycopation. Jazz, accord
ing to those who champion Mr.
Manners view, is a national curse
which is wrickedly beading whole
some Americans astray, while It's
defenders insist that it is nothing
more than pleasant, IL banal.
form of amusement and health
full, stimulating exercise.
Although this sudden assault
upon our one conspicuous contri-
button to music may appear trif1e
late now that jazz in its widest
state has passed on to Europe
and has been replaced by a more
refined phase over here, the reform
element is making the most or 1t.
A bill attempting to regulate mod
ern dancing and dance music has
recently been introduced into the
New York legislature, and will
doubtless be- vigorously pushed
through the law-making machinery
in the near future. Meantime, New
Workers of prominence, including
many in the theatre and in the pull
pit, are eloquently voicing their
views on the subject.
My objection to jazz" says Miss
Laurette Taylor, whose talent and
charming personality are making
her husbands play, 1.-The National
Anthem" a great success, lis that
one can't sit still when it is played.
You Just must get up and wear
yourself out dancing. When you
become accustomed to the pro-
nounced rhythm you are unable to
get that beautiful relaxation which
comes from the appreciation of fine
music. This is really doing a terri
Bile injustice to young people"
Miss Ida NJ Tarbell, well known
holds a somewhat similar
view
Jazz is to me very irritating
thing" she declares. ''It assaults
the nerves and dulls the brain.
do not see how it can fail to have
a demoralizing effect if one sub
jects ones self to it constantly
ment. / have been across the con-
tinent five times, and everywhere
on the streets and in the hotels l
heard it. One could dance a great
deal to harmonious music, I should
think, and not have this terrible |
nervous excitement But jazz is |
not music" |
Jazz Cuts Down Booze,
On the other hand. Miss Margaret
dance organizer, as
serts that Jazz serves a high and
noble purpose in diverting people |
and thus keeping them out of trou- |
BILE. Il believe that people would |
all drink more without it." she |
says. 81 see no connection between |
Jazz and drink except that if there |
we're nothing to do in the evening /
people would be more likely to sit |
around and drink. Jazz goes !
through all classes. of our national I
ife, and l think it is here to stay.
It is god-send for both upper and
over classes"
This opinion is echoed by Mrs
Charles Tiffany. prominent New
York matron, who says: at seems |
10 me that dancing has done more |
good than harm. Older people ex-
ercise as they never did before !
People are more sociable, more hui |
man And, after all, jazz affects |
only a fraction of the population. |
century drawing rooms |
we're just as shocked by the waltz |
and other so-called round dances
as we are today by the ultra-mod-
ern steps that accompany jazz
music
A nerve specialist quoted by i
New York newspaper considers jazz
Tery bad for the world in general,
vhile a well known priest declares
t is rotten" leading to "all sorts
If lascivious dancing and destroy
ng whatever taste for good music
here might be-"
Irving Berlin, who has made a
ortune in composing jazz hits, nat
lrally defends the product I'VE
i've in a jazz age" he points out,
and if you don't like jazz you are
nut of tune with the times. And a
majority of people must like it or
t wouldn't be universal through
tut America, as it most certainly
5. Music reflects the thoughts and