Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1845-04-15
VOCAL MUSIC IN COMMON SCHOOLS.

VOCAL MUSIC IN COMMON SCHOOLS.
Horace Mann, The interchangeable Score
tary of the Massach lse,ts Board OF Edu.
cation. dIscourselh in this wise (iu the Re.
por, which he has jus, made 10 the Legis-
lamre.) on the physical benefits of Vocal
Music:
Vocal music promotes health. l, accom-,
pIishes this object directly, by the exercise
which il gives TO he lungs and other vital
organs; and indirectly. by the cheerful
ness and general flow Of spirits which il is
The especial prerogaiive Of music to bes,ow.
Vocal music cannot be performed wi;hou,
an increased action Of the lungs, which
necessarily causes an increased action of
the heart, and Of all the organs of diges
ton and nutrition. The singer brings a
greater quantity Of air in contact with the
blood. Hence the blood is better purified
and vitalized. Good blood gives more &C.
live and vigorous play 20 all the organs OF
absorption, assimilation, and excrelon.-
The better these functions are performed,
the purer and more ethereal will be the in.
fluences which ascend TO the brain. The
latter is an organ SO exquisitely wrought
that its finest productions, are dependen,
upon the healthiuness of the vital process
es below. A fit Of indigestion annhila,es
sta'esrnan's power, though cation per.
ishes for want OF his counsels and q fe-
yer dIsarmsa warrior, before whom Iegions
have trembled. But, on the other hand,
energy and electro celebrity Of movement
are generated in a wel-lormed brain. when
i, is supplied with heallhful and highly OK.
ygena,ed blood. Spontaneous illusions OF
serenity, of cheerlulness, and of strength,
a;e the natural results Of wisey -managed
physical organs and the qualities serve
TO invigorale the health that produced them
Thus, by the action and reaction Of the
material and spiritual natures upon each
other, joyous and tuneful elasticity is
dispensed to every part Of the complex
system OF man. The scientific physolo.
glst can trace the effects Of singing, from
the lungs into the blood: from the blood
lnto the processes Of nutrition, ana back
again into the blood, and into the nerves
and finally from The whole vita tissue in
TO the brain, 10 he there developed into the
flower and fruit OF cheerful lness, increases
strength, prolonged life, just as certainly
as a skil.ui manufacturer can trace \ par
Gel of raw material which he puts into his
machinery, through the successive stages
OF being b. oxen down, cleansed, sofiened.
changed into new forms. and made to
evolve new qualities, until it comes oul
al last, finished and perec, product. la
both cases, there may be various conspi.
ring or disturbing forces, tending 10 aid or
deiea, the result but still, from beginning
to end, the connection between cause and
effect is distinctly ttaceable, as is n
broad white line running across a black
surface
In our climate the victims Of consump.
ton are host 1t is u formidable disease
TO males, and still more to females .Abou,
20 per cent. Of all the deaths that occur,
are caused by consumption and this esli-
mate includes infancy and chill hood, as
well as adult age. Restricting the com
parison to adult life, probably one half, or
nearIy one half, Of all the deaths that &C.
cur. are caused by this terrible disease
alone. Vocal music, by exercising and
strengthening the lungs, and by impar,ing
gayeiy to the spirits, would tend TO dimu-
lsh the number of the sad procession whom
we daily see Fastening 10 an early tomb.