PAGE SIX
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 1950
The Editorial Page-
Lombardo (Ugh) Land?
During these years of post-war tension, music may seem shallow and unimportant. That would be a careless, faulty diagnosis of music's role in a nervous world.
Now more than ever music is assuming ever-increasing importance in man's day-to-day existence. It supplies emotional release, employment, and entertainment. This is true of every kind of music: jazz, classical, commercial, semi-classical, and folk.
The University of Kansas is faced with a peculiar situation in regard to music. True, it has many classes of instrument instruction, classes designed to teach an appreciation of music, and classes concerned primarily with music's history. All of them have their places and are worthwhile.
Then, too, it has a rounded program of concert music, symphonies, and numerous recitals by talented musicians. They are well attended and fill a definite need for students and faculty alike. Even folk music is represented—witness Burl Ives in the University's musical program.
But this rounded musical program has a chunk out of it. It's like a fresh pie from which a piece has been filched by some hungry little boy. We have no jazz.
The University and a good many of the students have turned up their collective noses at jazz. Why? One reason might be the unsavory connotations associated with jazz for many years and still perpetuated by many people. In the past, it is true, jazz had a lusty beginning and infancy. Since those "good old days" jazz has thrown off the seamy characters and disreputable establishments and has reached a status worthy of consideration.
It is no fluke. It is not a passing fancy of a fickle public. It is music. This is not to say that everyone must like or even tolerate jazz, but there must be an attempt at understanding and appreciation.
Another reason for apathy toward jazz might be the University's geographical location. Jazz is different from most music in this respect; it was and is regional. Today there are three chief centers of jazz and bop—Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York. In the past New Orleans and St. Louis have figured prominently. These places are remote, and Kansas City jazz, once important, has long since died on the vine. Music cannot be appreciated unless one hears it in person, not on record. At K.U. we rarely get such an opportunity.
K. U. doesn't lack popular music, as differentiated from jazz and bop. There are many good bands on the Hill, and in the past there have been good bands. Names like Art Standfield, Danny Bachman, Johnny Pope, Johnny Beach, Lynn Craig, Lancasters, Zweers, Moorhead, O'Connor, Livinggood, Hall, Bysom, Sellards—enough to make anyone wonder why this cry for jazz.
These musicians, however, would be the first to want "big name" jazz concerts. There is an incomplete parallel which points up the existing situation: K.U. has student recitals, and largely because of these and a more general interest, K.U. also has concerts by big name musicians and symphonies; similarly K.U. has excellent bands on the Hill, then why should there be no "big name" jazz concerts?
There are two solutions to the problem, depending of course, upon whether anyone is interested enough to attempt a solution. First, the administration could attempt to arrange at least one jazz concert a year to round out the University's fine musical calendar. Or, if this should not prove feasible, for reasons unknown, the students should assume the responsibility. Perhaps, the latter would be more fitting.
The students could correct their own apathy. There must be many who would welcome the advent of jazz, if for no other reason than to try to grasp an understanding of an American art form.
Editor's Note: This editorial is not an attempt to convert or coerce anyone. Instead, it is merely a sounding to determine whether there is an interest in jazz on the campus.
No one can know whether they like or dislike something without first giving that something, namely jazz, a fair appraisal. Let's give jazz a chance! —W.F.S.
It should not be construed, further, as a slap at local bands— it is not.
We would welcome letters of agreement or dissent, or anything that will explain satisfactorily K.U.'s "barren age." If enough interest is shown by the student body, or a sponsor can be found, there might be an attempt made to bring an honest-to-goodness jazz concert to K.U. during the middle of May. Concert personnel would include Charley Parker, Slam Stewart, and George Shearing.
Proctors are needed for Western Civilization says a newspaper story, and the freshman cynic snorts and mutters darkly that it will take more than a few proctors to save us from communism.
'Small Things'
A 15-year-old girl basketball player has averaged 31 points a game for Sumrall (Miss.) High school, and Phog Allen has dashed off two letters upon hearing the joyous news. The first to the girl describes the anti-asthma air on the Hill, and the second questions the Big Seven officials on their policy toward girl players.
The current display of documents, literary pieces and autographs at the Art museum is more than an intellectual curiosity shown it is in a sense representative of the depth of culture in K-
Art Display Represents Culture Depth Not Merely Intellectual Curiosity Shop
Five cases in the main room on the first floor of the museum are filled with mementoes of the great. One of the cases is devoted to British literary souvenirs, two are filled with American productions, and two are devoted to papers of historical significance.
There is a poem by Wordsworth in his own hand, showing the corrections and revisions he made before he was satisfied with his work. In the same case is Charles Dickens' inkwell—a brass and onyx affair, the genuineness of which is certified by Georgina Hogarth, the writer's sister-in-law.
Nearby is a steel plate done by "Phiz" (Hublot K. Browne), to illustrate David Copperfield. The original printing of Dickens' "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" is there, too. It is in its paper-backed form in six volumes, which sold for a shilling a piece when they first were published in 1870. Nearby is a note from William Makepeace Thackeray to a hostess, attesting the excellence of her food.
Another case contains an unpublished verse by Robert Louis Stevenson in his own hand, a letter of introduction signed by Mark Twain, notes and verses by Lowell, Bryant, Longfellow and Harriet Beecher Stowe, and a quaint and formally worded letter of invitation from Eugene Field to a Miss Smith, asking her to accompany him to a "Grand Indian Exhibition." Miss Smith was the mother of the owner of this collection, and her name was actually not Smith, but Brown. Field's confusion probably resulted from the fact that she lived with an aunt whose name was Smith.
In another case are letters from King George III of England to his son Frederick a, letter from Lafayette telling of a cholera plague in France, and a document signed by Napoleon as First Consul of the French Republic.
Other documents include an indenture signed by William Penn, a draft on the United States treasury by Benjamin Franklin, and a telegram from Gideon Welles, secretary of the Navy, informing an admiral that he suspects Jefferson Davis and his cabinet are about to try to escape across the Mississippi river, and admonishing that the admiral exert all watchfulness.
An envelope bears a rare authentic signature by George Washington, and proves that the father of his country was not above using his franking privilege. In another letter Thomas Jefferson orders a book, and indicates that he would prefer the French version to the English.
Daily Kansan
University
News Room K.U. 251
Adv. Room K.U.376
Student Newspaper of the UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Member of the Kansas Press Assn,
National Editorial Assn., Inland Daily Press Assn., and the Associated Collegiate Press. Represented by the National Advertising Service,420 Madison Ave., New York City.
Editor-in-Chief... Warren Sasn
Managing Editor... Kay Dyer
Asst. Managing Ed. ... Doris Greenbank
Asst. Managing Ed. ... Dale W. Fields
City Editor... Keith Leslie
Asst. Managing Ed. ... Fayne Kelley
Asst. City Editor... John S. Hill
Asst. City Editor... Robert Sigman
Asst. City Editor... Edward Chapin
Feature Editor... Kay O'Connor
Society Editor... Nix Neville
Asst. Editor Ed. ... Fayne Wiley
Asst. Society Ed. ... Elaine Evg
Telegraph Editor ... Norma Hunsinger
Asst. Tel. Ed. ... Ralph Hemenway
Asst. Tel. Ed. ... Richard Tatum
Asst. Tel. Ed. ... Harrison Madden
Sports Ed. ... Nelson Ober
Sports Ed. ... Richard Dilse
Asst. Sports Ed. ... Robert Leonard
Asst. Sports Ed. ... Robert Enright
There is a letter from Amos Lawrence, or whom the town was named and whose original grant of $10,000 made the University possible.
The display has been lent to the University by Mrs. Chester Woodward of Topeka, Mrs. Woodward, the former Frederika Bullene, was graduated from the University in 1900. She is a step-daughter of Gen. Wilder S. Metcalf, who long was prominent in Lawrence and Kansas history, Mrs. Woodward's husband's parents, Mr. and Mrs. B. W. Woodward, lived in the house which now is Templin hall, and it was there that their large collection of rare books, paintings and historical mementos was housed.
The Woodward family several years ago gave the University the collection of paintings which may be seen in Strong auditorium and the third floor corridors of Strong hall.
The present display which will be shown through March, was arranged by Miss Nellie Barnes of the English department, with the cooperation of Dr. John Maxon, director of the Art museum.
Business Manager ... Bob Doy
Adv. Manager ... James Shriver
Nat. Adv. Mgr ... Robert Honmold
Cir. Mgr ... Dorothy Hogan
Classified Adv. Mgr ... Forrest Bellus
Promotion Mgr ... Charles Reiner
KU Students To Academies
They are Arnold H. Winkelman, engineering sophomore, and Winston D. Patterson, engineering freshman
The appointments to service academies recently announced by Sen. Harry Darby include two principal appointments to K.U. students.
Winkleman, the West Point appointee from Hiawatha, is one of three principals and nine alternates selected by Senator Darbv.
Patterson, who received the Annapolis appointment is from Leavenworth.
Both students took competitive examinations the past year for the appointments to be made now. They intend to finish the present semester at the University before leaving for their respective academies in June.
Four To Discuss US Education
Read the Want Ads Daily.
Two University professors and two foreign students will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the American educational system at an International club meeting. 7:30 p.m. today in the Kansas room of the Union.
Dr. John Ise, professor of economics, and Ariel Rivlin, student from Israel, will discuss the bad points of the present system. Dr. Laurence Woodruff, professor of biology, and Luis Lemus, student from Guatemala, will present the good points.
Nehemiah Kronenberg, president of the club, said every time a foreign student is interviewed by a reporter, the questions concern mainly what he thinks of the climate, the country, or the girls.
"After all, we came to this country for education purposes," he said, "and this naturally concerns us much more." Kronenberg said.
The discussion will be followed by an open meeting. All students are invited.
Girl Scout Leaders Meet For Workshop
A workshop for Girl Scout leaders from eastern Kansas will be held at the University Tuesday, March 14. A general session will begin at 9:30 a.m. in Fraser theater and workshops will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Pine, English, East, and Kansas rooms of the Union.
The all-day "program workshop" is being sponsored by the University Extension.
Read the Want Ads Daily.
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