Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-05-01

and no class. 1t is universal instinct of
human nature dwels alike in the breasts of
the untutored savage and the refined eiti-
zen; go where we will we witness evidences
of it. AS the races progress in knowledge
and refinement the means OF producing and
enjoying music have improved in CORES
bonding ratio, and this is the most en-
lightened age of The world, we may safely
say that it is the most distinguished for the
general cultivation of the love of music of
the highest order. It is fortunate that this is
the Case. for there is no source OF purer en-
joyment. ''Musc cam" as has been truly
said. "give US pleasures we cannot account
for, and raise feelings we cannot reason upon:
sue can transport US into sphere where sell
ashness and wOrldliness have no part to play;
her whole domain, in short, lies in that much
abused land of romance-the only objection
to which in real lite, is, that mankind are too
weak and too wicked to be trusted in it,
This she offers unreservediy to our range
with her attendant spirits, the feelings and
the fancy, in every form of spiritual and
earthly emotion, of fair or fantastic Wis
ion, stationed at the portals to beckon and
welcome US in. But, il she cannot captiVate
us by these cans, she tries no other. She
appeals neither to our reason, our principles,
nor our honor. Sine can little point
moral as she can paint picture. She can
neither be witty. satirical, nor person
al. There is no HoGARTH in music.
Punch can give her no place on his staff.
She cannot reason, and she cannot preach;
but, also, she cannot wound, and she cannot
defle. She is the most innocent companion
of the Loves and Graces; for real romance is
always innocent. Music is not pure to the
pure only, she is pure 10 all. We can only
make her means of harm when we add
speech to sound. 1t is only by marriage
with words that she can become a minister
of evil. An instrument which is music, and
music alone, enjoys the glorious disability of
expressing single vicious idea, or of in
spring single corrupt thought.
Music never makes men think, and that way
lies the mischief: she is the purest Sanscrit
of The feelings. The very Fall seems to have
spared her department. 1t is as if she had
taken possession of the heart before 1t be-
came desperately wicked, and had ever
since kept her portion of it free from the
curse, making it her glorious aVOcation upon
earth to teach us nothing but the higher
and big CHER enjoyment ola innocent pleasure
No means are dispropor.iOnate to this end"
Well might the author OF this exclaim-"How
Fortunate that all art thus essentially incor-
rupt should reign over greater number of
hearts than any Otherr' 1t does, indeed,
reign in every heart, in greater or less de-
gree, as it (the hearty is cultivated or uncul-
tivated. 1t would be better for mankind if
It's reign were supreme in all hearts.
In no city of its size in the country is there
a more general cultivation of the love of mu-
music than in Nashville. This is evidenced in
the large audiences that attend musical en-
tertainments, the many teachers that find en-
ployment in our midst, and the number OF
pianos and other musical instruments sold to
citizens. The majority Of our home circles
daily experience the enjoyment of music.
IL is not those who make music that always
enjoy it most. A mere smatterer on any in
strument probably appreciates its sweet
sounds the least. \ competent amateur, one
who is alive to the delights OF music, not only
enjoys them himself, but imparts the enjoy
ment TO others. How important il is then,
especially in the home circle, that there
should be no smatterers--that those who are
seeking to acquire the art ofexecution should
be Thoroughly instructed. Parents, in choos-
in. teachers for their children, should see
that they are not only competent to instruct,
but that their hearts are in the work-that
they labor not simply for the remuneration
in money that follows but also for the high
er reward which is reaped in the proficiency
of the pupil, and the Consciousness of having
conferred upon her the means of almost un-
limited enjoyment. We have teachers of this
sort in our midst. They are blessing TO
any community. Amongst them we cannot
refrain from mentioning Mr.. G. +. THURsroN.
As teacher OF both vocal or instrumental
music, be is fully competent, and is too con-
scientious to neglect his pupils, hundreds of
whom, in this community, will remember
him with pleasure and gratitude.