The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1865-07-29


The Recent Great German sReneerfest
lin New YOrII-RNtIOnRlity and Sim.
Dlteity OF the German idea OF Life
,Rnd Its EnjOymentS.t -. A
(FrOhH an. article Ia The ". 7. InGlepentEent---
- Henry Ward Beecher's IR1per.) sriI
The German element in our pObula-
iOny us n rule, exhibit certain cbnrncI
teristicS from which, perhaps, it would
be Nvellif we were Iottoo proud to learn
II wholesome lesson. Tho Germnns arc
certainly not less thrifty, and nre us,lnl
lN more frugal, than Ourselves. They
are apt to be our sIIperiors in those en-
.ployments which demand the exercise
Of patient industry. Their commercial
virtues are II proverb. Their pecuniarvi
success shows their aptitude for busf-
ness. In every walk of life, they attain
posltlons OF eminence and honor. Tie
collntrymen of Luther have not lost
their sense of religion; but, like him,
they believe that II good Christian
should be merry and wise that music
should not be mOnopOliZed by the chill
dren of the devil and that the Lord
may be praised in dance and song bet
ter tnnn by pennnce and SaclSclOth-|
The union Ofjoy and earnestness mark
ed the heroes of the Reformation, and
the same spirit enliVens the hearts of
their descendants among ourselves.
The taste for music, which is univer-
sally cultivated among the Germans,
and which inspired the pleasant ra!
unions of last week, we are persuaded.
eXerts the happiest influence. With us
music is more of an art; with them it is
u passion. We make it minister to the
pride of life; they use it as the vehicle
ofsentiment and affection. We value
It MS an ornament; they as n necessity.
With us it is sort of fashionable dis
tinctton; with them it is the mamma
from heaven, as essential as their dailyI
bread. Our daughters learn music mt n
costly expense of money and OF time
and, after marriage, come to regard it
as q drudgery; the German children
imblbe the love Ofmusic with their mo-
ther's own milk, and retain the tESte for
its practice in their maturest days,
This universal and impassioned deYo-I
ton to the "cOncord of sweet sounds, ~
II not always n source of the highest
and plIrest emotion, tends TO preserve
the. freshness of the soul, to prepare it,
for generous enthusiasm, and to-
quencht the taste for coarse and degrad-
ing pleasures. Our celebration of the
Fourth of july and other public ami
versarieS, seem almost tame, certainly
superficial, compared with the frank
and geninl heartiness with which the
Germans entered into the spirit OFtheir
great musical festival. It was evident
to every spectator of their festivities
how much they were,in earnest on the
occasion; how truly it was "a matter Of
heart and soul with them; how bright
ly the old national fire glowed in their
bosoIns ms they sang the songs of hearth
and home in a strange land. sr.r II 4
Doubtless the gregariOus disposition
oEthe Germans enhanced the Interest
of the festival. The German does not
loveto be alone. For him solitude has
no charms. He is never SO much at
home as when in society. He takes his
wife and children to share in his favor
lie amusements. He loves to smoke
his pipe ana drink his beer in company.
The German is the last man to enjoy a
He must have compan-
ions even in a riIrhl ramble, and hOIi-
day without his family would be no
holiday to him, The greatest of Ger
TiaH thinkers alWays had four or FIVE.
friends with him at dinner, though he
lived and died confirmed ole bac achelO r.
This trait In the German character gave
a peculiar flavor and zest to the recent
gathering. Although you went as a
Stranger, you were met with a smile Of
recognition as conlrade, and with a
cordial hand-shake. On such an occa-I
sion, the American would stand far
more on ceremUny.f He would not be
apt to eat or drink with yuu without the
splemnity of an INTRODUCED He ewould