The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1872-02-15
THE LESSONS OF TIE CONCERT.

1 y
shape to few thoughts suggested by
the great concert of last week? No
doubt others will praise the entertain
ment will give the credit due to the
| gentlemen who first suggested the pro-
| iect, to the ladies who contributed SO
literally and labored so assiduously to
prepare he bountiful repast served up
on that occasion. and do ample justice
and laudation to Pref. Rieling and the
talented musicians who assisted him In
making the evening so entertaining and
instructive.
Of these things do not wish to write.
My object is to present a few Of the
thoughts brought UP by the occurrences
Of the evening.
Heretofore there has been between our
German friends and those calling them
selves Americans, too much of the spirit
| of caste ; too much sectional strife be-
tween North Side and South Side for
both to work together in harmony.
|
ever been any feud or ill-will manifested
by either party toward the other. On the
contrary all personal or business rela
| tons between these nationalities have
been of the most pleasant type. But in
all gatherings for social enjoyment and
intercourse, each has tacitly understood
| that the other was to be severely let
alone.
In the present instance the call for aid
to the Jones Library Association seems
to have been rallying cry for all to
| flock 10 common standard. 1t Is at
other proof of what Prof. Reed calls the
Universally of Literature. Great
men do not belong to one nation, or one
age merely, but to all nations and all
ages. Goethe did not write for Germany
alone, but for the world. Shakes
| pere not for England only, but for all
lands. Hence when any part of a Deo-
pie call for help to sustain library, they
touch upon ground common to all, and
all feel an interest and desire to aid
1t may much astonish many of our Amer
can citizens, to know that our German
friends are nearly, if not quite as CONVEX
SAINT with our standard British and
American literature as they themselves
e. If any one doubts this fact, let
I'm step into the German circulating
Library Of our city and look upon the
mass of translations of English and
American writer's, all bearing undeniable
marks Of constant use IF he has further
doubts, let him enter into conversation
upon the subject with the Germans whom
he is in the habit Of meeting and he will
have them speedily removed.
Meeting upon this common ground,
all labored together in the utmost har-
mony, to prepare the finest entertain
ment ever held in Manitowoc All met
with the kindliest feelings. in the FIRST
instance and it was a glad sight to see
men and women of all natonaities for
getting for a time. these petty differences
of birth and training in social intercourse
with each other.
We hear a great deal said from press,
pulpit and political rostrum, about uni
flying and Matchmaking the different and
diverse elements Of our people. and the
leading men of all classes that have
sought these shoers have always
taught the necessity of so doing.
But the true means of accom- plishi ing this
end. is not by continually thinking, writ
ing aud talking about it. IF the fact of
these differences could only be forgotten,
or wholly ignored, there would be but
little more to be done il the way of ma
tionalization. One social gathering of
this kind, where all differences are laid
aside and where all separate with kind
feelings and esteem for each other, is
worth score Of speeches or editorials.
Not only was the object to be attained,
one of common Interest, but a more ap-
propriate medium could not have been
chosen. A great author says that music
Is the universal language" the Medium
by which thought and feeling can be COM
municated. 1t is some thing on which
all can unite. If we can strike hands
with our German friends anywhere il
must be on this common ground They
have certainly taught US one lesson that
is well worth needing.
They demonstrated that man can be
successful business MN andyet find time
to cultivate his aesthetic faculties. Ask
grown up business Yankee to Join a
Singing Society and spend a couple of
hours each week in music aud social in
tercourse, and he will tell you he has no
time for such nonsense.
Yet he can generally contrive to spend
at least triple the money and time re-
qnired, upon billiards, cards or other
things, which have no tendency to i'm
prove man either mentally or morally.
Among the gentlemen who took part
IN those superb choruses, we're men of
ali trades and occupations. 1t was plain
ly manifest, that man could cultivate
music and be an able editor, good ma
chinist,a successful merchant, an excellent
farmer, in brief follow almost any pursuit
successfully.
Another advantage of this concert is,
that 1t contributed to the musical cul
ture OF all that attended, in so far that
1t brought the musical tastes and cultiva-
ton of both peoples together and showed
what was excellent in both. It made