Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 May 1909 — Thomas’ Discouragement. [ARTICLE]

Thomas’ Discouragement.

Financially music rarely pays for Itself, and its producers often do thetr work even at a sacrifice. In a book entitled "Musical Memories” G. P. Upton tells an anecdote of Theodore Thomas, the German American orchestra leader. It was during the Sunday night concerts In Chicago, while the c|ty was in a disturbed state, owing to the great railroad strike. The concerts were thinly attended At one end of the huge exposition building was the concert hall. The other end was occupied by military companies, waiting for an emergency call. I reached the building one evening some time before the hour of opening and saw Mr. Thomas sitting at a table with his head upon bls hands. He beckoned to me to come to him. I Inquired if he was 111. "I’m a bit blue tonight, old friend,” he replied. "I have been thinking as I sat here that I have been swinging a baton fifteen years, and I do not see that the people are any further ahead from where I began, and as far as hiy pockets are concerned I am not so well off.” He paused a minute and then added, “But lam going on If It takes another fifteen years.”