Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1875-09-04
A Plea for whistling Girls.
Whist'ing girls and Growing hen,
ALWAYS come to some bid end.0

verse? MyrladS or authors whose Wrlt-
ings are less widely known, whose senti-
ments are infinitely less accepted, whose
gotten up theories are less
practiced, are eulogized aid
exalted by volumes Of well written books
and articles. All informed persons ale
conversant with their lives and words,
and have at command whole pages of
their sayings. How is it then that we
have not the name of the talented and
truly prsetical individual who wrote the
above. 1t emtellishes not tie literary
chronicles of any land or nation. One
might, from its extreme uniqueness of
expression and conception, be reminded
10 turn over the pages of Sancrit litera-
ture, for it is without doubt creation of
ancient days. This is conclusive from
its bold ignorance of the popular ques-
ton Of to-day. There is something
almost pitiful in the complete and utter
fearlessness with which the author shows
himself opposed to "womans rights
Thus in the researches which have been
made into its origin, this has been Of
palpable assistance in showing that it was
useless to look into modern literature of
any land, In its attempt to poetize the
objects Gf every day life, one recognizes
a characteristic and favorite plan of
Wordsworth, who as poet laureate of
England preceded Tennyson. But the
fact mentioned above is unsurmountable
proof that the author was of much more
ancient extraction. With the bold genius
of Byron, with the simplicity of style
peculiar to Goldsmith, fraught with the
beauty of Shelly, so deep and still that it
ambles on the edge of sublimity, and yet
with that quaint and quiet humor akin
to the creations of Washington Irving. it
floats down to us from the past apparent
ly without parent or origin.
There were Greeks of the old mytho-
logical days, we would whisper tits of
the gods" Thus it weaves about it gar
ment of mystery, deep and marvellous,
which covering no labor or earnest re-
search has yet been able to lift from it.
Its very age has wrought about it some
thing OF the weird and superstitions
which renders its influence deep and
subtle.
Certain it is that somebody in days
gone by has done, said, or written some
thing IN disfavor of whistling girls, and
it had its influence too, for without some
aiding and impelliug force the preju-
dice against them, could never have
reached its present point, and the above
is the only production of that tenor ex-
tant. or certainly the only one generally
quoted.
Why don't girls whistle? That is, why
is popular opinion against it? Is it be
cause of the influence of this couplet
or do 1 hear some one answer, " Because
boys do" (Ah, well, confess boys are
an ill class of beings whose habits it
would not dltoays be well to follow.)
"Because boys do" Well, boys eat, that
is no reason why girls should not. II any
girl thinks so I would that she try the
practice of her opinion; theresult would
be in every way beneficial to the race at
large. Boys comb their hair, boys blow
their noses, boys walk, boys sleep, GER
tainly it is clear that we n,ustfollow some
of their habit ts,why exclude the worthiest.
Why is not whistling cultivated as an
art? 1 can mention many reasons why
it should be, and challenge any one to
name reason why it should not be. Ali
persons have the power to whistle. On
the contrary how many music-loving
people mourn because they have not
voice to sing. Thus they entertain the
mistaken idea that they must be as silent
as mummies, and try to content them
selves by listening to their more for
tunate brothers who shave voices never
dreaming that the power they possess to
make those clearer, finer tones, could be
developed into an accomplishment more
beautiful. In whistling it is impossible
to produce harsh or coarse sound. ,Ev-
cry sound throughout the scale is delicate
and true. 1t is unnecessary to add that
with most voices the contrary is the case.
That whistling is capable of becoming a
science is evident from the fact that its
sounds afford opportunity for the finest
and most delicate expression of both tone
and movement; every slur and trill, eve
ry different shade of power and pitch.
which only wonderlul and highly educa-
ted voices are able to produce, can be
brought out much clearer by any one
with a little practice IN whistling.
AS in every study, those with talent and
quick appreciation will excel, and the
successful ones Will be as a hundred to
one compared with singers. The T,iano
or harp afford beautiful and cJngenial
accompaniment, with its alto, tenor and
soprano tones, which sound like flutes o.
marvellous power and sweetness.
Ihave seen two young ladies, two only
in my life who recognized and appreeia.
ted this power. They loved music bul
could not sing. Friends at home are en-.
Nltained by whistling, alto and soprano
with piano accompaniment. 1t is a novel
pleasure and delights the most accurate
and accomplished ear. i believe that if the
menas of whistiing were acknowledged
it would make broader the field of music
1t would bring out new field of musi-
cal literature of which the birds would
be the model and teacher; music would
be more universally enjoyed, and it fol-
lows that we would be the better, the no.
bier for it, For what is man without
music ~ DONNA.