Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1876-02-12
GIRLS AND MUSIC.

+ GIRLS AND MUSIC.
"Thhmp, thump, thump! Why,
the money wasted upon the attempt
to give the American giris a musical
education would iu less than five
Years time, pay off the national debt"
ThAt was all chanced to overhear
on the LL~bjeet. The voice Of the
fcOmmsntatOr was q Woman's. She
asserted what may be fact but the
most deplorable feature of the busi-
ness is not its waste of money, but
its frrepsrable waste of opportuui-
ties. Ii there is any one thing more
than another that a boy has. to be
thankful tor because he is q boy, it is
that by virtue of his birthright he has
q decent chance of escape from learn.
ing music. Aud this means much
1t means time and opportunity to
make man of himself.
There are two things sny ordinary
observer Of human affairs in this
country must recognize-the uneer-
tainty of fortune, and the need OF
special application to some one
branch Of thought or study in order
to achieve success.
| 81 wanted to study engraving ten
years ago." said aiady not long since,
| 'but father would not listen to it.
He was on the high wave Of financial
prosperity then, aud willing to pay
Que hundred dollars q month for nv
music masters. had no special apti-
tude for music, but practiced six
hours day to the utter exclusion of
other studies. aud became, after three
or four years. . fair performer, as
musical execution is sordinsrily meas
ured. Then misfortune came. Faith
er sickeued, and during six months
attendance upon him, lost my facil-
ity III playing. and had no heart to
re-acquire what l had at first only
gained at great expense Of both time
snd money, and for which had nev-
er any special predilsction. To graf
ify parental vanity, gave the best
years of my life for the possession of
what, ut best. was only intended for
an accomplishment, aud now have
nothing left. So I say TO all girls
about TO begin the study of music,
tDon't.'" y.5..-.
/ or all the girls In the world, what
proportion may reasonably be reck-
Oned upon as being able to afford
musical education extending over a
course Of three, i've, or ten years ?
| A very small one indeed. A glrl,
quite as much as b0y-in this coun-
| try of changing fortunes-needs to
learn something by which she may be
| able to support herself iu time of
need-a time which comes to most of
US. Most kings aud queens are wise
enough to provide against such con-
| tingencies, in the education of their
children. They are the short-sighted
aud p0rVenus who sneer Al solid ac-
quirements, and regard useful knowl-
edge as supertiuous. But it is not of
music as solid acquirement-a pro-
fession-that is objected to, but as an
accomplishment. ,hI4.7r ..t
Nine-tenths Of the girls who practice
year In aud year OUT hammer away
at an accomplishment that in the |
majority Of cases results in very in
different pleasure to their friends, |
and is at best al ephemeral posses |
sion. A few weeks illness, q lame
finger, absence from piano, because |
Of travei,or the demands of society,"
aud where is the accomplishment? |
Flown, like q bird of passage. And
what las the girl to show for her
time and perseverance, Nothing.
Or, If she marries, with her house,
hold cares, er heI children, her mu.
sic becomes thing of the past. Sac |
in turn allows her daughter to repeat
the old story-sO many hours at the |
piano, SO many music lessons so |
many music bills. And for what
good2
Music hath charms when q skill.
ful hand knows how to reveal them,
but the msjority of fingers aud
throats only change golden silence in
to a paudemonium Of torture. Ifa
girl could learn to play the piano
agreeably incidentally, we'll and good,
But it is an imposslbllity. She must
throw all her energy and enthusiasm
into the study in order to become
even q fair performer. With the
same amount Of time and attention
given to the study of chemistry, nat
ursl history, botany, drawing, even
medicine, law, architecture, litera-
ture, cookery, housekeeping, engrav-
Ing, designing, bookkeeping or
dress making, what q revolution
would be produced III societyl The
intelligence, helpfulness, companion
eosSASoo Ss "osACu WOulu U0 cuU8uCs |
ed hundred per cent. while their
usefuiness to society would be aug.
hented in proportion to their own
personal gain thereby in happiness
for, say what one will, some occupa-
tion that requires vigorous exercise
Of the mental powers is as necessary
TO haPplness ss fresh air to the lungs.
And the value of music per Sc ia
what 1t 10 not study that gives
breadth aud tone to the mind, de.
velops character, snriches thought ,or ,
fuses the student because of it into i,
Closer sympathy with nature. 1t
cultlvstes the ear and trains the hand
and that, in most instances, is ali.
Let 1t not be understood that the val !,
ne Of music in the world is dispar.
aged, or that all musicians and
"ould-0e musicians are regarded as ,
10 many tmDs sent into the world as y
to ones small stock !.
II patience or endurance. Blessings =
lpon all, indeed, who contribute 10
he cheer aud innocent pleasures of /
ife.
The only question this paper is iu-
ended 10 raise, is the very impor- il
ant one. will it pay?' Let fathers,
Mothers and guardians with girls to 6
EDUCATE, ask themselves if go much c
ime and money expended upon mu. /,
lc be the best Investment for the f;
iris youth and strength-if so many f;
ours day at the piano will best de- Il
elop her womanhood, be most in
with the bent OF her gem
ls-if she has any-best fit her for t,
he duties and enjoyments of society c.
nd last, but not least, be her most b.
elpful consolation when fortune A
:OWns. U,
"A man or woman may afford to al
pend money to crafty whim, ca ii
rice or rule Of fashion, but six fo
lonths of time, never. So, no girl
nless she has the unmistaka able gen
ls Of music III her soul, eau afford TO
liter away her girlhood in search
the most subtle and elusive of
ossessions, when there is such a har- ln'
.st of imperishable delights to be 20
i'll other fields. So, no girl raj
n spend her youth in learning "to icl
ay" simply for the sake of giving cH
omentary pleasure to father, BROTH tre
or lover. She can only afford to its
SO when the pleasure yielded is tn.
'nulne, and the ability to yield it prl
ntinuing so long as the use Of the eis
nds remains.
H..