Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-03-29

Now YORK, harcn IVA Dlttcf Gun
trovcrsy over jazz has burst forth In
New York AZ the result Of recent
play by J. Hartley Manners. called
s"fho National Anthem" whucb treats
of tho bslefui efftots Of syncopation.
Jazz, according 10 those who champion
Mr.. Manners Wow, II a national curse
which In wIckedly leading wholesomc
Americans astray, whils It's defenders.
insist that IL In nothing more than a
pleasant, II banal, form OF amusement
and n beaIthful. stimulating exercise.
Although this sudden assault upon
our ono conspicuous contribution~~to
music may appear trino late now
that Jazz in it's widest state has
passed on 70 Europe and has been re-
placed by a more refined phase over
here, tho reform element in making
tho most OF II. A bill attempting 10
Regulate 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 tho theatre and In
tho pulpit. arc eloquenty voicing their
Vows on the subject.
My objection 90 jazz" say, Miss
Laurette Taylor. whore talent and
charming personality are making her
husbands play. The National An
them" a great success. lis that ono
can't cit still when Il 10 piayed. You
just must get up and wear yourself
out dhncisg. When you become ac-
lcusturned 20 the pronounced rhythm
you arc unable 10 get that beautiful
declaration which comes from tho ap-
probation OF fine music. This r. really
doing q terrible injury 10 young peo-
pie.
Miss Ida ". Tarbell. well known
d author. holds q somewhat similar view,
Jazz is 20 me a very irritating
hing" she declares. 1T assaults the
nerves and dulls the brain. / do not
b sos how Il can fail 10 have a dernors1-
b 1zing effect II one subjects ones sell
b 20 II constantly. Drink IL it's natural
accompaniment have been across
the continent Ave times. and every
0 where on the streets and IN the hotei'
q / heard 81 One could dance "A grea'
, deal 10 harmonious music. should
> think, and not have this terrible ner
= vous excitement. But Jazz is no
a music
Jsyz Cuts Down Booze
On tho other hand, Miss Msrgare
;, Hawkcsworth. dance organizer. al
'serts that jazz serves high an
,. noble purpose in diyertIng people an
!. thus keeping them out Of trouble. Sc
believe that people would ali drin
- more without It," she says. Il SEQ n
; connection between Jazz and drink ex
~ cept that 10 there were nothing 20 d
? IN the evening people would DO NOR
"a likely 10 sit around and drink. Ja7
=, goes through ell classes Of our nation
!, al life and / think II Is here 70 stay.
, is "A godsend for both upper and low.
classes"
n This opinion Is echoed by Mr.
" Charles Tiffany. prominent New Yor
Of matron who says: 1T seems 20 II
that dancing has done moro good tha
~ harm Older people exercise al The
/, never did before. People are moro ~
81 iciabie, more human. And after a
~ Jazz affects only a fraction OF the poI
be lulation. Eighteenth century drawinl
at iirooms were just an checked by u
NJ waltz and other so-called round dane
ne as we are today by tho ultra~mode
g. steps that accompany Jazz music. Z"
ey A nerve specialist quoted by a Ne
he York newspaper considers Jazz vel
s. bad for the world in general. while
or we'll known priest declares that It
ty rotten" leading TO all sorts OF la
Obvious dancing and destroying wha
- ever taste for good music there mig
be-"
II Irving Berlin, who has made a 70
4 tune in composing jazz hits natural
/ defends the product. We live in
| jazz age" he points out, and II "
Il don't like jazz you are out OF tn
| with the times. And a majority
II people must Ike II or Il wouldn't
| universal throughout America, as
| most certainly II. Music reflects :
l. thoughts and habits OF the Peep
/ There is more freedom in social Gu
toms now. Young women go abo
alone, everyone is more independe
II and all this is duly reflected IN I
music OF the day"
III Better Than SentImentAlity.
IL At least one serious composer al
Miss Rebecca Clark, young WON
II whose compositions for the viola hs
attracted favorable attention. takes