The Woodville Republican. [volume] (Woodville, Miss.) 1847-1853, 1851-12-23
"Whith affords most happiness to mankind
MUSIC, or PAINTING?
By MISS P. A. D.

| though the Italians have carried this art to
the highest degree of perfection, and may
be said to have stood unnvaled, having pro-
duced the most charming ard noble speci.
mems any nation can boast. All these are
cast into obscurity when compared with the
unearthly strains of Beethoven or Mozart,
or the melodious voice with which Jenny
Lind is endowed. Painting acts but i'm.
perfectly on the imagination, as a solace
while music tends to increase our happiness
and inspire our souls with feelings SIS mex
pressibly sublime and bewitchng as to be
beyond the bounds of our comprehension.
J. consider music an essential element in
nature and in life. 1t is conducive to our
happiness and enjoyment, aud in great de.
gree increase on sympathy tor one an.
other The sonnd oi muslc--oh how en-
chantiug-how me.oa.ausy 1t laus on the
ear; and what teuder emotions ,hose strains
awaken Who car Gee SO apieaua aud so
souess as to be insena,3tc its influence
for | eonsidera person who dts,is-s music,
destitute of all tie finer and uober attn.
bates ot The soul.
" 'Thy man that hath no nusic in himself
Nor iana moved with eopcordo sweet sounds.
{stt Tor tcasons, stratagems @aa s1oils
Tho motions OF his spilll are duh as night
And bis affections dark as EIgbus;
Lci no sacu man be trusted Shakespeare.
Music isa source Of enloymeu. even to
the beast. A meiedy causoam the lions
rage the elephant tres5s delighted TO the
measure Of the baud. 1t was Orpheus' lutte,
"Whose golden touch could soften steel and
stones;
Make tigers tame, and huge leyiathaus
Forsake unsounded deeps to dance on sands.n
Shakespeare.
Nothing can recall to our minds a past
event with such vividness as music. With
what enchautment will a simple strain of
music penetrate the stiffness of the heart !;
awakeniR. a Thousand lJy-gone thoughts
and memories Of other days; and we fam
cy that we behold again, the faces of loved
ones long since departedto the "spirit land F"
What is it that comforts, yet saddens the
exile What is it that brings the tear to
his eye, and the "light Of other days a.
round him 7" Music. By its marvellous,
unearthly power, he is carried back to his
home, and imagines himself seated by the
side of fond parent, or an afectionate
brother or sister.
Music acts as charm upon grieved
spirit. A sweet melancholy strain from a
piano or violin, will often soothe and COM
fort the broken heart. And the Joy of the
Ilight-nearted is heightened when the voice
Of song full of sweetness and melody falls
on the ear.
What is it that charms away fear, and
summons up courage as the hosts move to-
wards the battlefield Music is the ma
gc-not painting.
Music brightens the joys of the young,
and is solace to old age. 1t is not inca
pable Of expressing feeling, though some
| persons are so constituted, as to be entirely
unable 20 understand it, No other pow.
er of the imagination is so complete, SO un-
controlable-the picture moves you, indeed,
but calmly--whie the sweet strains of mu-
sic, act so powerfully On the whole being,
that before we are aware Of it, we become
insensible to all external things, and fancy
| that our existence in in finer and brighter
region.
There is scarcely anything in nature des-
titute of music. There is music in the sound
of childish merrim ent; there is music in
the rustling of the foliage there is wild
unearthly melody in the sparkling little
brook as it murmurs along les grassy banks.
There is music in the humming of the lit
tie insects as they sport in the air, where
the sober livery of twilight is settled upon
the world, and what exquisite pleasure do
we enjoy in listening to the varied songs of
the little birds. There is a sweet sad mel
ody in the signing winds OF Autumn, as
they sweep across the wide savannas; there
is music in the play of the winds through
the forest of pines There is music, sweet
est music in the gentle whispers Of maid
ems love.
When the heart is desoate and sad, it is
then that the coEsoling influence of music
is felt in its heavenly power to soothe and
cheer the torn and bleeding heart; II causes
the being to thrill and vibrate with intense
and exquisite pleasure; il throws charm
a soace over those whose hopes have been
blasted and under its peaceful and heart
soothing influence those unhappy feelings
are insersibly worn away, and the noblest
and purest emotions nspired-while paint
ing is entirely incapable Of bestowing such
happiness.
Who can be so cruel as to be beyond
the modifying Influences Of song! By its
overwhelming powers, souls have been
saved from everlasting ruin The soul is
entranced and music holds unlimited sway
over countless hearts, with its mysterious
bondage. We fancy we are listening 10 a
being whose soul is made Of gentle musie,
and from whose bosom spring sweet notes of
gushing song. Such is the music that the
Swedish Nightingale" 50 enchantingly
lwarbles. In listening TO the slvery. yet