The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-07-28
luoh Plano. ana not Enough ofSet-
M ~ ter Things. kiss sn'-'

8 lluoh Plano, ana not Enough okBst-
~ N ~ ter Things. %. Is co. =
y Queen of the present dsy's educatien in
fashionable boarding schools and Conyepth
10 the Piano. An ambitions aud exaceia 9
Queen she 10, in sooth; ambitions, fol. she
will scarcely allow auch menials a. Read.
ing, Writing, Spelling, Arithmetic, History,
Grammar, Composition, to come near her
throne exacting, for she demands more
time, more homage, more service than
well, let Us rudely cay, she deserves. Has
her Majesty, Queen Piano, such wonderful
power that sue cannot be dethronedi Is it
possible to arouse little disloyalty to-
wards her L it crime to rebel against
her rule 7 And il We should inaugurate
rebellion against her, is it likely to suc-
ceedi 81. - %. ore - -er -
Now, we have great respect for the
Piano-as we have for other people and
things-ip her own place. We have, our
selves, eight Acquaintance with her.
She is, in her ewn place, very much to be
admired. We do NOT, however, like to see
her putting on airs, and, looking down,
with ill-concesled contempt, upon Read
ing, Writing, Grammar. and others Of the
same family. We do not think that Queen
Piano has done as much for this poor
world and for human happiness as those
have done whom she 20 despises.
She does very we'll ut an evening party !;
but life is not series of evening parties.
Grammar, for instance, is q great deal
older, more sensible, and, let us say it,
more respectable, than she is. Arithmetic
may not always be so pleasant COM
panion !; but certainly is better and more
trust worthy friend And so of History,
and others Of that humble family whom
the aristocratic Piano regards with ineffa :
BILE contempt. .a
Why, then, should Piano govern educs-
toni
Is it the highest or one of the lowest
efforts of study to become fine Piano
playerf
1t, certainly, requires more finger labor
than mental toll. And who ever did see q
professional piano player who had not a
crook in his brains-if he had any of that
articies
And, yet, the parent brings his daughter
to fashionable boarding school, or con-
vent, and ssys: "Madsm-or Sister, wish
my daughter to pay particular attention to
music. I desire her to learn the Piano.
Please see that sue practices every day"
And four or Eve years afterwards, the
daughter graduates and che does play the
Piano skilfully but, alas! she knows little
or nothing else. But, knowing the Piano,
che 10 considered scholar Her fingers
are educated! That is enough. 1t is &C
pretty to see pretty hand deity moving
over the keyboard. Pa and Ma are de.
lighted. Coming home graduate, party
is given in her honor. Collegians who
understand so we'll how to handle cane
twirl watch-chain, or turn over the leaves
of the music book, are invited. My deal
Miss So-and-So is called on to play {
piece. With an ineffable artlessness, sht
begs to be excused. Really, she canno
play. But she dces play. First--a -four
ish of fingers up and down the board
Then pause. Then look Of such divine
resignation to her fate. Then the question
"what shall playf And she does play
once, twice, thrice. And Pa and Ma ant
little four-year-old brother, and baby sis
ter and immaculate shirt-collared cole
gians, and, in fact, all present, are pleas 81
-delig Aud sweet to tn
ears of the young Miss, as she rises from
the Piano, are snch encemiums as: "Hov
handsome she plays!" show beautiful sh
fingers the instrument ~ &C., &c. Coo
praise, though bad grammar.
But, it may likely occur, that som
grumbler, like ourselves, seated in an OBJ
scure corner, with q fair amount of com
mon sense, and not small quantity of tn
sense Of the ludicrous, may give expression
to such remarks as the following: "WeI
four or Eve years schooling! long time
good deal of money spent; studio
everything; had best opportunities; yel
has q good deal Of talent and, after al