The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-12-20

Music Brings to
Sailor Renewed
Will to Live
BY Helen EsSSry
Aud nov-Christmas.
BY Helen sSSry
-.

Preachers of the Gospel will rise
in their pulpits and speak of Peace
on Earth and Good VIII Toward
Men. They will struggle with
vague phrases to hide the grief
which they as men Of God must
feel as they contemplate human be
ings, millions OF human beings,
Historically working to create a
hell on earth for lch other. and
calling the hell progress.
A desperate day, this Christmas
will be IN the all out war. And
yet through the thick despair you
may catch as | did. the light Of
hope and kindness Like good
candle shining in a dark and wicked
world.
found my candle yesterday in
the story of a wounded seaman at
the National Naval Medical Cen
ter in nearby Bethesda. Ma, and in
The music that gave him back his
reason and the wish TO live.
The aman, we will call him
Seaman Johnson. was one OF those
cases described in this war as the
mentally depressed. The music
that saved his mind was mode on
The Little Brown Piano, a gift
10 the Red Cross Society and given
by the society TO the medical cen.
ter The piano has a role in my
Christmas story. II this were a
classic drama it would be the deus
eT machina.
The story began the day the pia
no was wheeled into one OF the
mental wards on it. tour OF good
will. From another wing OF the
hospital another patient, We shall
name him Seaman Miller, was in
vited TO play for the mentally de
pressed. For the mentally depress-
ed, I understand, there is no set
treatment Sometimes kindness
and ragement-which is kind
ness-restores their war-shocked
nerves. Sometimes a chance word,
music, TIE sound OF voice, lifts
the distress that is clouding the
spirit OF the man who has seen
more Of misery than his soul can
endure.
Miller, the patient from the out
side world, had already helped
many OF his fellow patients. He
was a hne musician and a willing
one. Wherever he and the piano
went they took with them a little
forgetfulness from pain and ankle
~
In the ward OF the mentally de-
pressed Musician Miller found little
response. Not az first. Somebody
would suggest Give US oh What
Beautiful Morning or maybe
Dixie" But the suggestions would
be half-hearted. Probably they
came from the nurses. Not the pa
tents who ' ere gathered in a big
circle listening, faces expression
less.
Then slowly, varily. neot the
meptally depressed edged his way
from the outside fringe OF the CIR
Gle through the crowd. toward the
front row. After a while he moved
TO the piano and stood beside II
quietly.
II was Seaman Johnson, one OF
the most hopeless OF the men in
his ward. Johnson, the lad who
lost interest in everything. He was
one OF those hard-to-reach patients
the recreation4l workers talk about.
Johnson was an exaggerated case
of the hard-to-reach. He had de.
cided he did not want 10 live. He
was doing nothing to help himself
get well.
Musician Miller at once noticed
the boy standing by the piano.
His attitude and the sudden life in
his expression showed that he
liked music with the sort OF liking
musicians feel. Miller asked the
boy TO play. The boy declined
brusquely and hurried OF into the
back OF the listening circle.
A Red Cross worker had watched
Johnson at the piano. Here per-
hsps was a chance to give the poor
fellow an interest that might help
him get we'll She got permission
TO take the Little Brown Piano TO
an open ward.
There she and Musician Miller
persuaded Seaman Johnson 10 at
least sit at the piano TO get the feel
OF the keys under his hands. For
few moments he sat without NOV
ing.
Then one finger found key. An
other. And another Moving slow
ly awkwardly. fearfully as IL they
were rediscoyering a lost world.
Suddenly the boy Johnson got up
from the piano. TITS no use," he
said lifelessly. I've forgotten
everything
The other patients had heard the
few frightened notes. They resliz-
ed that Johnson was somehow com
ing back to life. They clapped
their hands and shouted Give US
some more"
Johnson sat down again. At frst
his fingers faltered as they did be-
fore. As IL thew suddenly under
stood the touch OF ivory, they be-
gan to play music. "eautful music
The sort you listen TO in big con.
cert halls. Chopin, Grieg, Mozart
and Beethoven.
Why, you can really play,
mste!" exclaimed Musician Miller.
"Where'd you study"