Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1842-04-09
A very serious Chapter, on Nhistlins and Sing
ing.

A very serious Cha pier, on Whistlins and Sing
ing.
We fad the following paragraph, from the \
York journal Of Commerce. going the rounds
aud we have made II a peg to hang a very gray
disqnisltion upon:
..Ofall the contrlvances for making music, non
has been So much neglected, IN proportion 10 II
real worth as whIstlIng. Almost every boy Ca
whistle, and almost every man sooihes himself
IN all his revcTses, With this natural INSTRUMENT
Some persons, ottener negroes than whites, &C
quire the power of giving great force 10 sound
uttered 10 this way; and there Is often so much II
this, that a few blasts from o pair. OF thick blaci
lips, viii attract the attention OF who are near
We once knew a young man who was HignIy &C
compllshed in The performance ot.ocai aud lnstfu
mental music, but never could he interest his au
Gience so much as when he whistled. Two oc
tayes are easily comprised by the whistle, anc
sounds may be uttered with an emphasis anc
sweetness which no instrument can equal. lheie
Is more IN he natural power than has been
dreamed of: IL wants only what 1t seldom re-
ceives-cultivaiion We propose that somebody
who has cultivated his own whIstlIng powers
should open a school and now that musical con
cer!s run low, we will engage that u concert o.
well trained whisilers shall succeed perfect i
would he well TO hurry a little about the matter
for times are coming when we may all whistle
Now that is lust what we have alway said
While men are constantly siraining their gnl
lets 10 produce what they imagine Is musica
sound with their vocal powers, and II Is called a
gen,eel accomplishment, the man who exercises
his whistling powers, and with ten told better
success. is regarded as little better than a loafe
DOT that singing aud whistlIng can stand or
the same level-they cannot; they are rs unlike
as a piano forte and IA brass band; both exccllen,
in theis places-both especially genteel. Now
whistling is more pleasant, to the common ear than
.- - -.,u y,tirtio Nth ;r,p.-:..
and perfect complaiccncv too. where he might
not dare, or would be ashamed to sing. We shalI
illustrate by ond by.
Did you ever hear a man whistle "Wood Up
for instance-putting in the hugIe solo in a
smooth musical tone, and bearing down on the
chorus and finale with a comparative power tha,
no instrument can equal? And did YOU ever hear
a man try 10 sing II? No man Can sing "Wood
Up".' bat we have heard many whistle it and al
ways with pleasure, when we'll whistled. We
uscl 10 be no fool of a chap at whisrling ourself.
bu, growing cares. and dignity, and growing chill.
dren, have driver us ont Of practice sadly-vet we
can whistle Yankee Dood!c,' upon a pinch even
now.
There is a virtue in whistling. 1t is a social
exercise, which can be practised solus. with ad.
vantage. There is many a specimen Of humani-
ty we wot of for whose good company we would
not exchange our owl, good whistle. We have
walked many a sleepy waichman who would have
taken US up for a vagrant, and n fellow Of our
size nigh, have figured in one Of Counsellor GllI's
police reports. Singing in the streets is rowGy-
sm--whistling respectable, merely.
Whistling keeps up ones courage. Does q ca,
set up her hideous night veil in your very path.
Just whistle, anG if the cat don't run, it will re-
store 10 you the use Of your legs. so that you can.
But you can't DO i. bv sinring--the sound of
vour own voice NAV frighten the cat, bnt il Will
frighten you as much. Our vocation once cali
ed US 20 be about the streets. wharves of Boston,
at all hours Of night. and when 'sfeering" about
in dark corners, where dangers might be, We al
ways kept up our courage BY whistling. So we
speak knowingly when we say that whistllng is
a courage inspiring exercise--and when in The
discharge of our duty as a military hero. we are
called TO fight the "Blue Noses" or any other no.
ses which trust themselves 100 far into our own
or Uncle Sans porridge dish. e.shall. no doubt.
charge TO the "martial breethings" Of our own
whistle. 1t is worth the attention Of the Army
anG Navy Departments, The cultivation of the
wh!s,ling power in man. No force on earth. We
are sure conlj stand before a troop of Whis'Iing
Yankees!
Whis,ling is Notwithstanding is peacefnl-
Men sing al Church. but they never whis,le--it
would wake the pugnac,tv Of the parson himself
and set the whole congregation hv the ears
Men sing at home. amid their f. antilles. they whia-
tie in their workshops. and when in rougher con-
tao, with the world. Women never whistle. l.
is masculine, az well as warlike. Bows. the EN-.
hryo soldiers md patriots Of future wears. are am
bilious of whistling. and when thew don their pa
per GAYS, and flourish their wooden swords and
play The soldier. they keep time as best they NAV.
TO their own attempt TO whistle Yankee Doodle
So marched our fathers. in tho dav which tried
what souls were made of--N. II. Telegraph.
E~ypEnITInN To nDPCnN