Evening star., 1926-10-17
NJ i S | c.
BY HELEN FETTER.

YOUTH in America is generally
4 considered frivolous, careless,
giddy, always wanting good time
before everything else, and the
phrase, "Oh. well, we are only young
once" is frequently found on the
Eps of the most indulgent parents
in the world-Anerican mothers and
fathers. And due in no small part
to this indulgence, past generations
Of young AMERICA" have grown TO
manhood a1d woulanhood so nearly
completely igrotant of the underly-
ing reaso1s-1or the beauties in high
brow ~ and music that mot know
ing. a thing about music" as they
,,fsnty acknowledge with a salts
faction that is almost snug. they do
NO begin TO realize what they them
s.lves are really missing-that it is
they who are cheated of pleasures
and appreciation, and that they are
so cheated because of the lack Of
farsightedness and knowledge in
their parents.
Last August in Salzburg. one def
mite example Of this fact was brought
home to the writer with unusually
heavy emphasis. 1t was between
acts Of the premiere Of Max Rhein-
hardt's "Turandot." gorgeous
spectacle with subtle. incidental
music. A tall. broad -shouldered
young American, a typical six
footer" and an obviously athletic in
dividual. inquired during a conversa
ton if we knew a certain young lady
from his home town" Chicago. who
was studying voice with "a Nine.
Lehman. whoever she was" Neither
my companion nor I knew the young
lady from the Windy City. but of
course we knew Of the great Lii
Lehmann and her famed retreat in
Salzburg
The most interesting thing about
the gentleman from Chicago was
that he had discovered such unusual
things about himself since he had
been in Europe. He was a young
surgeon spending short periods OF
study at various clinics abroad. He
said his father shook his head du
hiousl lv-b being. as the son put it.
100 per cent higgcr-and-better husi-
ncss American-and prophesied that
vcy in Europe would set him back
tha' long in business progress.
Well said the American, I'm one
of those fellows that played on the
varsity foot ball team. went in for
III" usual Jazz night life, etc. and if.
A few months ago. anybody had told
!, nc that | would fall for this music
festival stuff. come to high-brow
show Ike this OF my own free will
and ali alone. and go to every con-
c"rt OF the Vienna Philharmonic and
enjoy such music. | would have told
that person that he was decidedly
cuckoo.
This American could not get over
thc fact that he had discovered more
abo,n himself than he had dreamed
existed He seemed amazed at the
fact that he had a genuine appre-
citation of beauty in art and music;
that one did not have to assume an
interest in these things. but could
Re sincerely alive to their values.
Evidently he had known some very
hvpocritcal people during his life
and, equally evident, he had not had
the right kind Of we'll balanced
education at all His remarks along
similar lines to Europeans would
prove only another instance of re-
fecting unhappily on the degree of
cultural education in the United
States And Chicago is notedly pro-
gressive among our cities in educa-
tional lines.
Such incidents make it additionally
heartening to hear of the Junior Club
work in the local branch of the Fed
Grafton of Music Clubs. Frances
Gutelius. chairman of this work. is
trying TO get in touch with every
music teacher. seeking cooperation
in the building up of these clubs. or
ganized under individual instructors
for arousing initiative efforts in the
children they teach to combined
musical and social programs. Litera-
ture ON the starting Of such clubs
and building them up may be had
from {. NJ. Tremaine. IS West Forty
fifth street, New York City. Miss
Gutelius. at No. Dupont circle. Co
lun1bia 2524. will gladly answer in
quiries.
Among other things, a national
musical crossword puzzle contest
IS soon to he launched. Puzzles are
l.. :,.-;o,,,,c Noreover many