Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1931-11-19
THURSDAY, NOV. 10, 1881
THE REQUISITES OF CULTURE
Bv GEORGE B. LOCKWOOD

Prof Erich kieber Of Berlin, conducting concerts
in New York, says that in almost country in the world
has he found "such astonishing susceptibility to
lc as he has III the United States Z stunned, he
says at the tremendous popularity of the good music OF
all nations in America Americans have, he says the
three requisites that make good music possible
patriotism and love.
That America leads Europe in the appreciation of
good music is statement that will Of be disputed
by homegrown critics who think it makes them ap-
pear sophisticated when they parrot the statements of
many Europeans that Americans barbarians incap-
able of understanding what they call good music, any
other hi CHER form of art.
But what Professor Kleber, competent commentarian
says Of the national characteristics which make the ap
probation Of good music possible is something worth
thinking about.
Cynics and materalists who chronic knockers OF
America and also Of patriotism religion and all sent
ment and emotion the enemies OF all cultural advance
ment, which flowers in real literature, in real music in
real art Of any description Wherein humanity progress
it advances beyond the material level which
animals live.
The maerias conception of society has rapidly gained
ground in this country 1t is entrenched in the colleges
and churches well in the counting houses. Sent
ment, emotion enthusiasm spontaney rdiculed as
puere This represents retrogresson and reaction En-
Of his essays made strong plea for the pre-
servaton of the characteristics which peculiarly
Americans rather than stupid imitation of the culture Of
the older world Our history has been romance Of con-
quest Nature The history of our republic is the
world thrilling story Of adventure To fail to com
prehend this is evidence either of ignorance lack
of imagination 1t proves that great material pro
gress has brought about the worship Of maeriasm on
the part of many, that they fail to understand the
meaning of America.
But our material development should be thought of as
means and not end 1t has meant not acquisi-
ton Of wealth. and diffusion Of comforts and Injuries but
an opportunity to millions for emancipation of the spirit
from the cloggng circumstances of lands in which the
struggle for existence is necessarily the chief aim
of life
The material achievements of America only the
side Of the tapestry The pattern is to be seen
in all its beauty only the other side. The creation
of an economic situation in which the battle for
food, clothing and shelter, becomes Incidental rather
than the main object Of life brings with it the obligation
to use wealth and leisure in developing that taste foi
those fields of human effort in which the human spirit
takes wing into the empyrean. If material things re
main the purpose Of existence people, then al
that we have accumulated is than worthless since
it will smother in the lust for power to be gained
by the selfish use of these things.
The political and economic philosophers now domin
ant in Europe are not for if wish to achieve om
peculiar national destiny. The European plans Of die
tatprsip for economic purposes, crushing the divine