Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-12-02
The Influence Of Music.

Happily II does not require hlS"i!
cultivated taltc, il does not even need
musical ear, TO lie able TO find certain
enjoyment in music. Men like John
Foster. who had no ear, and no scientific
ACQUAINTANCE with music, have often
found il cxIuisitcly pleasing. Certain 1t
i That OF the minor solaces Oi toll, moth
ing is more generally popular, or more
cilectuaI. when properly used, in kccpirg
up or restoring the tone OF the system.
The servant-girl who huns tune rs she
sweeps the floor or washes the dishes, the
plownan who whistles fayorite air 10
cheer the moDotony OF the pIow, the ear
pcuter who makes his plane 60 10 the
music OF POI ular song, ate al deriving
benefit from the refreshing power ol
music !, was. perhaps, the highest
triumph OF this restorative faculty that
attended the harp OF David. when It dis
PEELED the awful dcprcSs Ssion of King saul
and for time restored hts PROSTATE
laC.iiic, to the yigor of his better days
Similar instances OF IA rc,iy.ug poEcr
ormusic are scattered over history as.
ror example. in the ease Of Philip ' OF
spain, whose oncrgics. utterly pfu,ifiied
and paralyzcl. were restored % igor by
the stlalcgcm Ol his cJuuiers. who. send
ing for celebrated musician. c"ntI.vcd
that. ia thc apartment neat o. thc kns.s.
he should sing some 81 hi. most popular
s1ug-. which be- did with such ciIoci that
The King spnug from ai' Ic,haf-y sam
moucd ,..c artist u,, hi- presence. loaded
him with thanks. and presently returned
90 Tie lu'i,, 90 hs Office
The restorative powe, Of music hcing
so great, 1t j. iust what might Ic cNpcrtcd
that in our great conIcs OF industry
where toll !, hca,i.s and most exhaust
inc. musical entertainment, should hod
q very prominent place amon- popular
rccrea,.ons. There seems 10 be some
thing in it. sweet strains peculiarly
adapted to repair some paIt al least OF
The exhaustion caused hy close appIica.
ton 10 work or business. It j, peculiarly
an evening enjoyment, not only because
in the early part OF the day most persons
are otherwise engaged, hut because ii is
naturally adapted TO follow labor rather
than contribute strength. II j. Il touch
ing thing, as one walks along street in
Il large town OF m evening, and passes
house where the piano or the organ, with
the accompaniment OF the human voice,
is sending forth its eloqGencc, to find
wayf;irer or two lettering ut this corner
and at that, unwilling 10 lose the chincc
that has come in their way Of gratifying
the hunger for music which long days
work has whettcd into unusual kecnnCss.
The gricyous pity is, that musical en-
tcrtainments arc oltcn-happily not al.
ways-so conducted as not only to mcu-
t9lizc the good effect of music, but 10
become pcrnicious in n high degree.
The excitement with which it is often
connected, the drinking, the rollicking,
the excited dancing. the heavy atnios-
pherc, and lhe late hours, contribute to
exhaust the mind and body far more than
The music goes to revive them. /, will
be 4 happy day, not only when, by musi-
cal instruction becoming universal in
schools, the taste for music shall be more
generally cultivated, and the power OF
producing it more widely difluscd, but
when its whole surroundings shall in
every case he in harmony with itself,
when full scope shall be given 1t for pro-
ducing lis proper effect, and when it shall
be gratefully recognized everywhere as
one of the means provided by Divine
Wisdom tor recruiting exhausted energies
and keeping up a buoyan, youthful feel.
ing through the hardest struggles of life.
-[Rcy. DR.. Blaikee.