Evening star., 1954-11-06

ory. Sousa's manner of conducting, the
vivaciouS rhythm that seemed to pene-
trate every fiber of the members OF his
group: the wild, exuberant cheers of
the populace, not only gave a rich
flavor of appreciation but seemed to
lift ones feet from the earth.
To me, "The Stars and Stripes" is
a thrilling masterpiece, but when other
pieces follow, stamped as Sousa's. they
also give definite lift to the soul.
This self-made man brought human
beings together. on the same level, with
glamour of music unexcelled.
We hope that Congress will acclaim
"The Stars and Stripes Forever" as the
national anthem and place a statue of
John Philip Sousa in the Capitol.
Ada S. Butcher.
Mr.. Fryklund's thesis that we should
junk that unsingable foreign import.
"The Star Spangled Banner" has con-
siderable merit. That old English drink
ing song has no place in God-fearing
country like ours, especially when we
have the stirring star-spangled Amer
lean songs of John Philip Sousa.
I wonder If Mr. Fryklund is serious
about using 1.-THE Stars and Stripes,
Forever" as our national anthem.
Albert Fowler.
That crack by Mr.. Fryklund in his
article, "Flourishes and Ruff1es for
March King" to the effect that "The
Star Spangled Banner" is unSingable
and a foreign import, made me see red.
Just who does Mr.. Fryklund think
he is? In the first place, the song
is not unsingable-I've never had the
least trouble singing it. Maybe Mr..
Fryklund can't carry tune, in which
case he can't sing anything. In the
second place. it is not foreign born"
and for saying so Mr.. Fryklund only
shows how ignorant he is. Any Ameri-
can fifth-grader could tell you the cir
cumstances of the songs birth, and
more thrilling or inspiring set of cir
cumstances it would be hard to en-
vision. Obviously he has reference to
the fact that when nation selects its
national anthem the words are what
count. He also fails to take into
consideration the fact that when the
Congress officially designated 1.-THE
Star Spangled Banner" the national
anthem, Sousa's music had been
around long time.
And what makes Mr.. Fryklund
think that the American people would
be thrown into Mysteries" by 1.-THE
Stars and Stripes Forever" as the ma
tional anthem? don't agree with him
that that's what ought to happen"
I'm very proud of the way American
audiences stand silently at respectful
attention when that beautiful song
1.-THE Star Spangled Banner" is played,
and I'm proud to have the same family
name as its composer.
Frances Key Ward.
To my mind Richard Fryklund's ar
ticle, "Flourishes and Ruffles for March
King" Is the finest article ever to ap-
pear in Washington newspaper. John
Philip Sousa was the greatest COM
poser and director of martial music
this country has ever known.
AS Mr.. Fryklund asks: why should
we continue to use foreign import.
The Star Spangled Banner as our ma
tional anthem, when we have Sousa's
great The Stars and Stripes Forever'?"
A copy of Mr.. Fryklund's article
should be placed on the desk of every
Senator and Representative to greet
them at the opening of the next ses-
sion. There must be a forceful man in
the next Congress to present and force
through bill to change our national