Evening star., 1925-09-19

There is one nuisance in Washing
ton that ought to be abated, through
joint action of the District Commits
sioners and parents, aided by the po-
| lice. If necessary.
1t is none other than screaming
children at band concerts. No matter
what park one goes to in Spring or
Summer to hear any one of our very
fine service bands, Susie and Willie
and Mary and Johnny are sure to be
| there, too.
Now willingly we would foster the
love of music In Susie and Mary, and
especially in Willie and Johnnie. They
need it. But the sad truth is that
not one of this delicious quartet
nor any of the hundreds of similar
sroups-comes to the park 10 hear
the music.
, They come, each and every one, sew
orally and collectively, 10 holler, to
scream, to roar, to shrek, to run, 10
play, to cavort, TO roll, to tumble, 10
fight, to pummel. to amble, TO trip,
to fall down, to get up.
They come to manifest the divine
right of the modern American child
to do as he darn pleases anywhere
and at any time, and out upon you
for a crank If you dare to want TO en-
joy the old music.
They come to do anything under
the softly setting sun except TO listen
to the old music. Who wants TO listen
to the old music. anyway? Amt we
Sot piano player an phonoSraph
at home, and amt we got When You
and ! Were Seventeen" and iii See
You in My Dreams" and many other
such popular pieces Of music?
They come to have high old time
n lnAN
from parental restrictions or interfer-
! ence i'm any shape or form; and If
you don't like it, you can stay at
home, where old foSies belong. For
Heavens sake, you didn't expect to
be able to hear the music when you
came to listen TO the band?
Having never once, in many years
been allowed by the children 10 en-
iov a band concert in a Washington
park. circular or square. l determined
to put one over on the kids.
| would listen in" over radio TO a
concert.
Rather pleased at this idea. | un.
limbered my one-tube squaller and
tuned in. late the other afternoon on
the Navy Band playing at the Capitol.
Now for little genuine saustac'
! ton. l tOiO mNSe!, dS cut III JUST
as the band was beginning selec-
! ton from Victor Herberts Sweet
hearts" The score of this musical
comedy is one Of the best in Herbert
last period of inventiveness.
With his Algeria" his Sweet
hearts remains firmly in the aHec-
ton Of all Herbert fans" among
whom / am honored TO place myself.
The operetta is filled with haunting
melodies in such varieties that bands
everywhere delight in playing the Sc
lections.
AS a matter of fact, the bands OF
the National Capital for years have
included Herbert in practically every
public concert. This is done not only
because Victor Herbert struck the
popular fancy, but also because his
melodies are so finely orchestrated
that musicians such as compose our
bands here find real musical pleasure
in playing them.
There is never anything cheap
about a Herbert tune, or the way 1t
Is orchestrated. This man. whose re-
cent death was a great loss to musl-
cal America, had theory at the finger-
tins of one hand and melody at the
tips of the other. | am sure that as
the years go by he will rank higher
and higher in the musical history of
our country.
The band was pla yinS selections