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Show Ragtime Barred In St. Louis. After extended deliberation and numerous nu-merous conferences, the officials of the SL Louis exposition have decided against the ragtime song, or even the ragtime music without words to accompany accom-pany It. The musical director of the exposition, ex-position, and tho chairman of the musical mu-sical programme, have Issued an edict that all songs, either In the State pavilions, pavil-ions, Festival Hall, or along the Pike, shall be strictly classical and modern If possible, but all element of the ragtime music hall style of singing shall be eliminated. elim-inated. "I have no personal feeling of enmity against ragtime," says the musical director, di-rector, "but I think too much of It ls a bad thing. I believe the people like good music There are many beautiful and popular selections from the classics. Because music can be called classic does not necessarily Imply that It should be heavy or generally unattractive. Some of the most popular music of today Is the lighter music of the classics." The chairman of the musical programme pro-gramme says that one reason the ragtime rag-time tune was eliminated from the exposition expo-sition was that, like the measles, the air that Is given sentiment In these tunes seems contagious, and the people would wish for nothing else, once the ragtime tunes began. The decision of the expositlpn officials to exclude ragtime has created a furore along tho Pike, whero It had been arranged ar-ranged to have some very new and up-to-date songs with a ragtime air about them. The Pike concessionaires have held a meeting and have decided to take up the musical proposition with the World's fair management. Collier's Weekly. |