Children's Re-actions

"They are surprisingly critical--they may not know much about art but they know what they like." No irony, no derision, rather a compliment to his symphony audience was this paradoxical platitude, uttered patly last week by Ernest Henry Schelling, conductor the past season of the children's concerts of the Philharmonic Society. For months New York children had been watching & listening to tall Mr. Schelling explain familiarly the stories back of the music which his orchestra played for their edification. After each program they were asked to write down comments, such as children can make, in notebooks kept for the purpose.

Last week marked the end of the series of concerts for children and it marked too Mr. Schelling's culling from notebooks the comments made by the children to give to the press. Marked among many were:

"I think Schubert's music is so beautiful that it hurts my heart to hear it." (aged 8.)

"Schubert wrote beautiful singing music. He loved the country. So do I. Perhaps I could write music if I lived in the country all the time." (aged 8.)

"The Midsummer-Night's Dream actually put me in a dream in which I saw Oberon, Titania and the fairies. I heard a lot of pizzicat in the Scheherazade. The first and middle part made me think of caramel sauce, thick and gummy!" (aged 11.)

"I could see white horses riding on clouds and fire all around them." (aged 10.) "/'// tell you the reason

The concerts this season

Are perfect as perfect can be;

There is sweet story telling

By dear Uncle Schelling

And pictures a pleasure to see!

Each man plays so sweetly

That we are completely

Delighted and filled full of joy;

By their great "Orchestration"

They're winning our nation--How splendid for each girl and boy!"

(aged 10.)