Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-09-26
A TASTE FOR MUSIC.

strain of those charming sounds that de-
ilght the ear and soften the heart. The con-
ciusion he comes to, is, that we have no music
in this otherwise beautiful and attractive city
This opinion would not be correct, because
there is some music in Wilmington, though
not 1.-THE of what there ought to be.
Consider it in any light you please, 1t Is a
matter of too much importance to he over.
looked. 1t is worthy the attention not only
OF all the genuine lovers of this 'art divine,
but of parents christians, and all who seek
the happiness of their race.
What charm it gives to the family circle
How it lightens the burden of toil-flls up
the odd moments-and prevents, what would
otherwise be dull hours, from hanging upon
our hands, Such a thing as ennui, where
the pleasures of music are enjoyed, is an i'm
possibility. And with all the attractions
that surround refined and virtuous home,
we venture to say no family is complete in
its sources of enjoyment, without this.
1t is true, music will not feed and clothe,
and shelter one, and sometimes new coat
or good dinner, may be better than song.
But it will so cheer the heart and relieve the
mind from care, as TO make all things move
more smoothly, drive away thousand i'm
aginary ills, and enable individuals and
households to accomplish far more at the
end of each year, and of life, than they other
wise would. It is the lubricating oil that
keeps the machinery of life from rusting,
and makes all the wheels run without fric-
ton
Who shall say then that music is not profit
ableH-that indirectly it does not add to our
g1insf Its direct advantages are by no
means to be despised.
Many a teacher of music, many who play
in our bands, and not few who sing in the
choirs of our large cities, know full well that
1t pays. There is more than one person high
in the walks of life. and first in his profes
sion' who payed his way and carried him
f self Through college, chiefly by teaching
music. Some of our public singers
have amassed fortunes, and enjoyed repu.
tation and carved out fame, hardlyinferior
to that of the Poet or Statesman
But not that alone is valuable which can
be coined into dollars and cents. The oh.
ject of life is happiness, and whatever con.
tributes to the enjoyment of mankind, ha,
value as much as gold or silver, or stocks
r and lands. And it may be greater, for thas,
n cannot give us appiness-sometime the,
make us wretched-and not unfreouently
+ take wings and fly away
. The worth of music is felt in our churches
This ia in tho
good singing, and never to be without it,
No one would think of preaching without
IS choir, and no church in this city could kue
h their pastor month if they were to dispens
with singing.
Y 1t not only makes the church more attrac
d tive, and more than any one thing els,
at draws people to the sanctuary, especially Oh
at young but it is an eloquent and powerf,
of preacher of the truth-truth in its meltin
to and saving effect. Many a soul will owe i
rs birth in Christ, and its final translation I'M
the Kingdom of glory, to some sentiment fro
a Wesley or Watts, that was brought homo
,;c the heart by the touching and thrilling pow
ge "f '''""'" -.'rsi~ a-,,,od I,,. tho uoi- G...
- with divine and saving energy
N But the church is not the only place. Gu
side the family circle, where its value
known Satan's schools and churches a
IT. largely supplied with music-the theair
u the ballroom the drinking saloon-are ,
aided in drawing and keeping their crow
N, of votaries by its attractions. Even al
of whose way leads down to death, lures al
We bewiders her victims by the charms of M
sir II ia co6 n fl,tnI, hot l,n, Il -,
so pure in its nature, and so refining and q
waiting in effects, when rightly used, shop
oii be prostituted to such base purposes Il
81 81 as the counterfeit proves the existence O
'Oi value of the true coin, so the power Al
value of music, is strikingy seen, in its &c
his eral and profitable application 10 such Il
ish worthy purposes So the superior digni
om and worth of the angels may be inferr
from the splendor and power that still 81
ov. round the fallen angels
vas Music is employed in war as well as pea
by 1t leads the armed hosts to battle, and dro-g
icb the noise of the wounded and diving. nj
their groans may not disturb the minds
re- the combatants. 1t cheers the boys on
he, march-it soothes and comforts them in
m, hour of sickness and death in the tent a
~, hospital
rk. 1t has such power over the Swiss sol d
,ro in foreign lands, that the effect of so
md touching strain, once heard in the homr
his childhood, has been known TO sever
chords of life.
,a, Its influence over the Scotch particula
-, the Highlander, is wonderful. This is es
- cially true of that decidedly national inst
,ha ment the bag,pipes All will remember
nm. effect it had upon the Scotch maiden at
-ro, serge OF Lucknow, and the thrill of io'g
sent through the heart of Havelock and
brave Highlanders, as it announced to tn
'eo the welcome tidings that the long looked
relief was at hand
w. 1t adds charm to the beautiful song.
Ramsey, Burns and Campbell
is Music has made the poetry of Rob
B. Burns dear TO the heart of scotland's So
ties almost as their Bible.
mt, Much of the charm of poetry in all lal
ior is due to the aid OF this wonderful art.
The songs of the nursery lull us 10 sll
ill, in infancy, in childhood and youth we
int. attracted and pleased by the harmony of sw
sounds, in middle age, music-chaste a
ire, solid music-affords us the purest and ~
by exquisite enjoyment In old age it cheer
the in death it consoles,and on the wings of r
oe. sic the disembodied spirit takes its ei
from earth to Heaven.
sed The Italians, the Germans and the SEQ
10Y are among the most musical nations.
nly In our own country there is an increas
N =