Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 67, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 May 1901 — Encourage Our Own Boys. [ARTICLE]

Encourage Our Own Boys.

Editor Republican:— Speaking of the encouragement given in a substantial way toward the training and sustaining of a band in Rensselaer, by the citizens, I would like to say one word for onr own Rensselaer boys. It may be a good thing for onr business men to employ help who possess musical knowiedgb. This may be the best way to gain for our city the notoriety of having the best band in northern Indiana, but it occurs to me that a better way would be to encourage our own citizen’s sons, and while we are assisting in giving a better musical education to such persons as are willing to return a part of this to our people in the way of open air band concerts during the summer months to give these boys the benefit of this training. Last fall about 15 or 16 of the young men of Rensselaer made an attempt to start a young mens’ band. They bought their o*n instruments and now have them, but as all of these boys are not not financially able to employ an instructor, they" are not now receiving instructions of any kind, and do not seem to be considered byjtbe persons who were active in soliciting funds for the band. To make any institution a success it seems to me that more is necessary than the employment of people who have no interest in our community than a temporary job. Give your own sons and the sons of your neighbors a chance, while dispensing a musical education, do not ignore them. In my judgement this is the only way to create a permanent interest in this institution. No hireling soldier is the equal of the patriotic volunteer.

A SUBSCRIBER.