The Washington herald., 1922-11-29
ROUTINE
MUST PREVAIL,
OFFICIAL ORDER
First Sing Was "Howling" Suc-
cess, With Director Forbes
Contributing a "Mean Bass"
WHISKEY TENOR BARRED
But Joyful Voices Soon Were
Choked as One Statesman
Seized a Pad to ''Figger'
"Pipe down"

Pipe down."
Seven thousand alleged song birds
in the Veterans Bureau lost their
thirty-minute weekly sing when this
peremptory order came from the
directors office.
Seven thousand voices, more or
less musical, were silenced. "The
Harp That Once Through Tara's
Halls" has nothing on the workers
in this Government bureau. The
music from their souls has fled as
truly as from the famous stringed
instrument. Smiles may be on the
faces of some, but it is a safe bet
that curses are in the hearts of
many more. Henceforth the dreary
monotony Of filing, Of typewriting,
of checking, will not be broken by
joyous half hour in the assembly
hall singing popular songs. It's all
over now.
Under the direction of Robert
Lawrence. the Community Associa-
ton of Washington started a series
or sings in the bureau. The first
sing was bowling success. Every
body did his stuff. The office bows
formed a baritone group, while
Col. Charles r. Forbes, director.
contributed a mean bass. The flap.
pers couldn't keep their feet still.
but they sang just the same. Some
American Legion men with a 100
per cent American reputation caused
the only trouble when they refused
the sing mezzo-soprano because ii
was hyphenated. But Robert Law
renee dropped the soprano and al
lowed them to sing simply mezzo.
TOO GOOD TO LAST.
However. it was too good to last
Congress heard it, or heard of II
Some say the statesmen could not
stand the noise; others that it was
merely the principle of the thing.
Paying people to sing?" one fiery
Representative was heard to shout:
Monstrous! Paying 1000 of them
him. Then he reached for his pen.
Gil.
Seven thousand people singing
thirty minues week is $500 hours,
Flfty-two weeks a year makes 1872.
900 hours or 22.749 working days
a year" He worked it out on
paper.
Shortly thereafter a delegation of
Representatives called at the bu-
reau.
1T won't be long now" the bow
predicted as he opened the door for
them. 1t wasn't. Even the lucid
explanation Of the officials could
not convince the Representative that
employees worked better after a lit
tie recreation. The scientific ex-
plantations Of the medical men
understand the policy of paying gov
ernment employees for singing.
ORDER COMES THROUGH.
Just one of several little things
a Representative finds trouble in
comprehending." an official re-
marked after they had gone. But
the order to stop the singing came
through.
Musical questionaires had been
sent to every employe. What kind
of voice have you?" was the first
question. 1t is said to have Of
Tended several elderly ladies on the
fourth floor who regarded il as an
impertinent query. One of them
threatened to resign when she
found that a flapper had scrawled
as an answer. IAN awful one"
Other questions asked by the
QUESTIONABLE apparently anticipated
the advantages Of employees having
music with their meals. IF YOU
are a solo singer would you be will.
ing to sing when your recreation
group meets in the cafeteria for
musical recreation?"
At any rate. the songs are over,
and the nearest resemblance to a
sing at the Veterans Bureau is the
chirping of English sparrows on the
window silIs.