The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-09-22
A P.puiar Nuissnce


| Whether that modern institution, the
piano, has been greater blessing than
-curse to the human family, would make an
excellent question for debate during the
looming winter, in the country lyceum. Tt
lis, perhaps, all the better from the fact that
il can not be definitely settled After
wrangling over the dispute as long as pru-
dence aud patience would Justify, each dis
putant would have the pleasure of retiring
with perfect safety within the impregnabte
fortress of his own opinion. OF course. the
prevailing doctrine taken by common COR
sent, rs it were, and without reflection, en-
thrones the piano as the most desirable
thing 70 be found On earth. For who shall
dare TO vote himself suptd
brute by dispsraging music? Every
body Is fond of music, or
processes to be. If one is not susceptible, an
this point, he is deficient in tho attributes
And next to music, in general. it is obligu-
tory to admire the piano, in particular
Music means the piano forte, and if you
don't like that yeu don't Like music, and
needn't pretend that you do. But on this
question it is luxury to be a dark, dsfe
hesthen. No one can imagine the delightful
sensation of freedom that comes with the
will to openly curse this unmtigated nui-
sanee, whe has not tried it. In the first
place, il is the most unwieldy,
awkward and abominable piece of
furniture that ever came into house to
turn the people out of doors. To get it into
a room, possibly up stairs, requires a regi-
ment, and is the most potent agency in the
world, except a stove pipe, to develop latent
profanity. When once in. 1t fills one side
of an ordinary house with its uneouth bulk,
which is the more unsightly the instru-
ment is valuable, the grand piano being at
terly without symmetrical form or comeli-
ness. Then comes the cost. Ii the thing
were living elephant, it wouldn't eat up
more money than this Unsuitable creature of
sound. First comes the tuner, or piano
groom, as necessary as the keeper OF Gold
smith Maid, and far more expensive. His
skilled service is requisite once a month, or
oftener, if the thing is to do spe-
cial duty. After this "voice
crying in the wilderness" follows
the musical Messiah to teach the art of tor
ture at a dollar lesson, the lessons being
''fine cut" so that it will require about ten
thousand, more or less, to qualify Angelina
to entertain company, or destroy the pleas
ure of social party with an everlasting din.
The Curriculum" of lessons, sheet music
and songs suffice to dissipate a respectable
fortune or tie down the doting parents to
toll in order to pay the bills.
When pa has paid $500 for the quadrupedal
monster In the psrlor. if he understands |
himself, he will deposit 81. 500 in bank for It's
support. Then, what does he get in return? |
The first service of the new acquisition IS to
disqualify his daughter or daughters for any |
useful service. The piano stands on
the dividing line between useful womanhood |
and genteel heIplessness. AS a rule The
girl sits down upon the piano
stool, she becomes thenceforward a queen
to be served. On that throne she is lifted
beyond the reach of any duty she was made
% perform. To thrum the keys takes deli
ate fingers, which must be exempt from
oil, be she poor or rich. Then comes the
.ruelest test OF all. the music. There are
musicians in the world, born musicians.