The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-02-05
The Power or Music.

That Is q very beautiful story OF the
clergyman who visited an insane
asylum and was attacked by ma
MAC, but who broke into a song and
sung 1t 30 clearly and sweetly that the
maniac was subdued, and when ne
stopped from exhaustion, the maniac
cried for more, and he sung more, anu
the maniac gave up. This story maze
strong impression upon MI. C0viiie
and the more he thought OF IL the
more he was impressed by 1t. "A day
or two after reading this beautiful
story, Mr.. Coville's boy caught boy
named Philips near the foundry and
filled his hair with tar. The boy
went straight home, of course, with
his shOcking-looking head, and as
his home is on the same street with
that of the Covilles', Mr.. Phillips
hurried there mt once. He vOcifer-
ated into Mr.. Coville's ear the cause
of his visit, and requested that Mas
ter Coville be passed out and cut up
between them. Mr.. COville express
ed his indignation at the outrage his
son had committed, and promised to
punish him severely for 1t. But this
was not what Phillips wanted. In
stead of comforting him the promise
appeared to irritate him. He danced
out to the walk and clutched an i'm
aginary boy by the hair, and struck
an imaginary boy in the face with a
ferocrity that was dreadful, and then
danced back again, and hOwled for
Master Coville to be brought out
Mr.. Coville was frightened at his We
hemence, and sought by all the pow
ers of persuasive Orat0ry to so0the
him, but he was not to DO quelled.
AT every fresh argument he repeated
his singular demonstration, with such
intimidating additions AS swapping
his fingers, ard shaking his fist In
the face of his neighbor. Having
exhausted his reasoning, and Phillips
becoming more inflamed all the while
Mr.. Coville was about to beat a re-
treat for the safety of his own per-
son, when the beautiful story of the
clergyman and the maniac suddenly
flashes into his mind. Here was sure
and unexpected relief. Mr.. Phillips
had danced down the walks and was
dancing back, with q half dozen
imaginary boys In tow whom he was
belaboring in most murderOus man.
ner, but Mr.. COville did not mind
him. He felt that he had the turbulet
mass of passion within his control,
and as he realized his power faint
smile of triumph and pleasure stole
into his face then he began to sing.
It Is years since Mr.. COville indulg.
cd In the luxury of vocal music, and
his catalogue of pieces Is neither
large nor varied, but he took up the
first one that presented itself, and
rolled it out. It was "A Life on the
Ocean wave," very pretty piece, and
quite popular when Mr.. COville re-
tired from singing. 1t was long
time, as we have said, since Mr..
Coville had occasion to use his voice,
uneven at first, but he remembered
that his purpose was noble one, and
he did not shrink from criticism. AS
he advanced along in the song he
was pleased but not surprised to see
Phillips first stare at him, then drop
his hands at his side, and afterwards
draw back and look around as If he
werc planning an escape. But Mr..
Coville did not stop. He gathered
strength as he proceeded and turning
his eyes to heaven, and keeping time
with his feet, roared along through
the measure with amazing force. He
had got up on the highest note he
could find, and was bursting into Q
perfect apoplectic howl of melody
when he felt himself caught abruptly
by the collar, the next instant was
made aware that he was on his back
on the walk, and that O man looking
dreadfully like Phillips was pound,
ing his head against the frozen earth,
and doing something with his ribs
that appeared to be uncalled for. -
Then he felt himself slide through a
planning mill, and opening his eyes
saw that Phillips was gone, and that
Mrs. COville was trying to get him
on his feet In this direction he gave
her all the help possible, and getting
up, looked around for the planning
mill, but not seeing it, allowed hel
to lead him into the house. To all
her questions she could get no answer
but occasionally, while she was APP
up with, ga life on the OCEAN" and
then suddenly stop, smile family, and
softly rub his nose. 1t was several
housr before he acted natural again
but aside from conceding, that posi-
BILE Phillips didn't have the right
kind of madness, or he himself may
not have got hold of the right tune
J he shows no disposition to converse
on the matter. Sunday afternoon
young Coville, to be smart, and
thinking that his father was asleeT
in the chair, undertook to start the
tune, for the edification of his moth
er, and the futility of that air for en-
chanting an audience was again
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