The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-12-19
The beethoven society.
Editors Intslltgencer :


The writing of this article is the "first
serious attempt" Preserved Seat" has
made ITO concentrate and develope"
his faculty for criticism. His criticism
has been looked "fOr with no little anx-
,lety and interest on the part of those
who have felt the great need" of such a
writer of criticism.
we admit that it would be unkind
and unwise, to apply the rules of criti-
ilL clsn 70 the efforts ofamateurs, with the
same temper and force with which they
would properly be applied to profess
sional artists" Why, then, does r. S.
act unkindly and unwisely? In IRE
served Seat" temper and force predom-
mate. Temper betrays itself, as a
deadly undercurrent running through
out his article. While his endeavor to
force himself on the community as its
writer or criticism, is too palpabIe TO be
discussed. When RistOri appears be-
lore Wheeling audience, and there is
need ora acritical writer of feXtraordinary
ability, the services of Reserved Seat"
be reserved.
"The interests of the Society and the
public are identical. The former de-
sirPs to please n cultivated and refined
taste. The latter desires to be pleased
on the same principle"
One desires to please: the other to be
pleased. The respective aims bear re-
ciprOCal relations to each other: but to
say the aims are identical, betrays the
inability of Preserved Seat" to COM
prehend the definition OF tidentical."
| Who Knows, but that, the criteria of
Judgment and criticism lin music and
breaking stones are considered by ar,
s." to be Identical? When identical
does not mean identical, then, in the
case just put, the criteria would be
| Identical. We delight to bubble over
matters of little moment.
The truth kindly and generously
| spoken and heard, is indispensable,
&c" Does "R. s." consider personal
criticism on amateur performers, in the
columns of the newspapers, i'truth
kindly and generously spoken" Let
us have, oh, "R. s." your 'judicious''
suggestions and criticisms poured into
the ear of the amateur, within the pre-
cincts of the SOciety's walls. It is
| puerile to use an incOg and blaze your
whitening sentences through the news
papers. For shame! Reprove and
correct friend in secret; when he shall
refuse to hear them, then speak to him
openly. a s.
Some of "the selections were beyond
the capabilities OF the performers" :"
We're Il lady L should thank you that
YOU were not afraid to express your
sentiments SO bluntly, and with such
gentlemanly boldness. We cover our
/ face with our cloak, that dying we may
not behold our murderer. a second
Caesar! Slain because he was ambi-
tious. "Too oambitious''"R., s." says.
Certainly we may be excused our
boidness,, when we say we. shall be
compelled TO take issue with ar. S.
He does not-understand the meaning of
"faultless." Does ar. S." think the
community Mt large put on the phrase
"iaultless i'll every particular a literal
construction? 1t was not necessary for
"R. s." to italicise Il mot" The pub
lie had done that unconsciously when
| they read, "Gaultless in every particu-
lar.i' Allow the public a grain Of com
/ mon sense. Admit TINT when they
read, they read partly with the under
standing.
Passing the remarks of the Register,
which the community did not accept
! literally, spite of 'R. s., 1--WE come to Il
most remarkable conclusion. "The
writer risked nothing and therefore
felt that he could afford to be reckless. -
! How n man can be reckless who risks
nothing, reminds us Ofjokes byA. Ward.
If we were called upon TO remark,
perhaps we should say, that ar. s., in
the use OF the words "indenlical" and
"taultless," was reckless. But, to use
his own logic, we would say that in
writing the article over 'ER, S." the
writer was reckless with his rep utation
because he "risked nothing"
"R. S. S.""proposes to,make such friend
ly criticism" as shall improve the
/ quality of the performances. he pro-
| poses to instruct the community in the
4 principles of the ''heaven-born art.''
Yet "he does not claim to be even an
authority in these matters!" Beautiful
| adaptation! Society has found the right
man in the right place. She owns me-
diately through the press, a writer oil
musical criticism, self. elected, who will
mould the musical taste of the commu-
nifty; but who acknowledges himself
not 'even an authority in these mat
tersr' lE .f
Is it that one who founders among
words SO easy of comprehension as
identical and reckless, takes upon him
self to enlighten community with
I 'judicious criticihm2" Can he who fails
! egregiously in the use of words, make
| proper use of ideas, OF which words are
| but the symbols2
eve hope we are fully UNDERSTOOD -
-. THAT'S ALL.