Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 300, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 December 1911 — SOUSA IN FAVOR OF RAGTIME [ARTICLE]

SOUSA IN FAVOR OF RAGTIME

Noted Composer and Leader 6enles Allegation of Dr. Qruener of Ber- ■ lln—Catchy Music Liked. - Pasadena Cal. —John Philip Sousa composer and player of ragtime, who has the. reputation of having played more ragtime compositions than any other musical director in the world, denied the allegation of Dr. Ludwig Qruener of Berlin that ragtime induces insanity. Dr. Qruener, in a statement made recently after a study of insanity patients at Bloomingdale, N. Y.; Kankakee, 111., and SL Joseph, Mo., declared that much of the hysteria in America was superinduced by ragtime music. Sousa takes issue with Dr. Qruener, claiming that more people have be* come interested in classical mußic through their interest in ragtime than have ever been driven insane. "I am not an idiot, I know, and I don’t believe I am crazy," said Sousa when asked concerning the claims of Dr. Qruener, wbp is a noted alienist in his native country. “Hysteria is the form of insanity that an abnormal love for ragtime seems to produce,” said Dr. Qruener. " "He is way off,” iB the reply of Sousa. "People like ragtime because it is catchy and it generally leads to a greater Interest in classical compositions.” “The effect of ragtime music, socalled, unduly influences the auditory centers, spasmodically, and also <the Intellectual centers, which will produce a subnormal Intellectual condition,” was another of Dr. Gruener*s expressions.^ Sousa claims the contrary.