Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-19

things to talk about this week
Christmas carols: children:
programs; Edward MacDow-
ellis birthday, and conductors, with
and without opera companies. Each
subject has many possibilities foi
discussion. Due to so many churches
catching time by the fore lock and
giving their Christmas music almost
q week prior TO that day, there is not
overmuch space left to devote to
other subjects.
At any rate. Youth deserves FIRST
place, as always. and Christmas IS
the season of Youth. 1t is the birth
of the Holy Child that gave Christ
mas its reason for being, although
that fact is sometimes lost sight OF
in the pulling troubles of buying
presents apd making long lists for
cards.
AS Peter Pan represents eternal
childhood in the world of fantasy, so
Christmas is an annual reminder OF
the Youth Of the Soul and its I'M
mortality. One of the greatest fears
of humanity is the fear of age. The
Christmas carol, even the earliest
example, provides weapons to fight
that fear.
Today, not only in many of the
churches, but also in social programs,
the Christmas carol is featured. Ibis
will be the case in many other secu-
lar programs throughout the week.
Tuesday night, Handel's Messiah"
will present the idea in more elabo-
rate form. Friday christmas evel
and Saturday Christmas day. will
see the elimination of such pro-
grams which will overflow into next
Sundays church programs and
carry on through the holiday week
in Bess Schreiner's "The Other
Wise Man." to be given three per
formances.
THE gallant little band of chill
4 dren known as the Vipivoce Club
gave such a fine program sincerely
and with the unafraidness of chill
dren last week, under the direction
of Frances Gutelius. that an after
mention seems called for. The pro-
gram they presented is just the type
that should make an ideal holiday
program for other children TO hear.
1t does not talk down" to even the
smallest child present. 1t makes no
haby-talk or Sunday school moral
concessions. 1t is sensible, beautiful
and humorous entertainment, worthy
Of any mentality. There are color
and verve and plenty of ideals I'M
obtrusively presented. More of such
work by children locally should be
inspired by so fine an example.
In the write-up given the program
on Tuesday. through hurried in
advertence, the name of Gladys Cow
sill was not mShtioned. This hap
pened to be Gladys first appearance
on any stage as soloist, and very
important event. One would never
have guessed from her fine stage
presence that this was the case. 1t
is with an added flower to the bou-
quet III view of this fact that we
mention here that Gladys seems to
be carrying on very we'll in her
chosen musical field. She played
the Perpetual Motion" of Bohm ad-
i1irably for one SO young. and her
sister Muriel showed nice touch
in her accompaniment at the piano.
1t is fine thing when the children
in family learn to make music"
together, for the home is the ideal
place for music to be enjoyed in its
most intimate and charming aspects.
THOSE who revere Edward Mac
L Dewell as leading American
composer whose works promise to
live with those of old masters
paused moment and gave thought
TO the fact that this composer was
born December 18, 1861. 1t is not
quite three quarters of century
later, yet his memory is we'll
established
Still, in the invigorating pineland
of Peterboro, N. H., Mrs. Mcdowell
carries on" Still the little rough
hewn log cabin where the great
composer wrote some of his biggest
works stands among the trees look
ing toward inscrutable mountains. 1t
is to be saved to posterity by the
campaign that the children of the
Federation of Music Junior clubs are
carrying on, giving pennies as an en-