Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1877-11-17
WHOLE NUMBER, sci.
Soul Of Form.

| 1hoA SohAPositiou, 0otbncuAik La6C
Hope" the following touching anec.
dote il related While in Cuba, he
was the guest Of lady who was an
invalid. Her disease, an incurabis
one, was very much aggravated BY
anxiety regarding her son whs was
absent. The greatest relief she fosnd
was in listening to the playing Of the
incompatible pianist who was making
his home beneath her roof. One
evening when she was suffering more
than usual, che suddenly exclaimed,
"Oh, for Heavens sake play Ne some
thingr Gottschalk took hn ssst ct
the piano, and improvissd the beau.
tiful melody We havo mention Cd. Az
he brought out one thought after an.
other, the idea took possession Of him
that he was playing his last piece for
his afflicted friend. The nsxt day he
departed for another part Of the island.
At the expiration Of geek hs return.
ed. As he gained the summit Of the
hill near the town in which che lived
he heard the bell of the little church
tolling for burial. Soon Q turn
in the road brought him in sight of
the church, and winding up tho path
way was seen the funeral train.
His hearts foreboding had been re-
realized and his dear friend had pass
ed away. Recalling the melody he
had played for her on their last meet
ing, he arranged it end named it
the Last Hope" Always after,
when playing at private soiroes, or
for friends, be finished his perform.
ance with this lovely srsditation, Be-
ing on one occasion asked the reason
for this, he gave the explanation relat-
ed above. Is it strange that . com.
position inspired at such time, a
whispered message from the life be-
yond, should have become ono of the
undying pieces Of our dayP We have
frequently met with pianists, We beg
pardon, piano manipulators, Who
boasted this piece as one Of their col
lection. We have heard them play it,
and although every aote was clear
and distinct, and the time faultless,
performance was no more effective or
inspiring than one Of Caeray's veloci-
ty studies. Another player with far
less executive ability, but vastly more
soul, would melt the hearer in tears
with the same piece. The one sees
ouly the notes the other goes deeper
and reads hidden meaning.
Our pianists and orsanists seem Of.
ten in danger Of losing their souls;
and when man cannot feel the spirit,
the real aesthetic life Of music, he has
lost his soul. The tendency of tho
teaching Of the age, is to make mere
intellectual matter Of everything.
And when We bring this idea into mu-
sic, we degrade it to our own material
level. Not that We would pretend to
deny that music is subject to the same
laws Of order that govsrn the uni-
verse and to have our music uhat it
should be we must understand those
laws of divine order. But in pursu-
ing this intellectual study. we must
not lose sight Of the more interior, -af-C
fectional element in tbs art, ayateri-
GUS something that cannot be studied
but of which every musician is con-
cious, for it is that which gives him
his rare power over an audience.
Music should be estesmed in propor-
ton as it elevates the heart and re.
fines the life Vox Humana.
NINE ladies rode for prizes at
tournament in Nevada ten days ago.
In order that there might be no ill-
feeling among the competitors, every
one was given 4 prize. The silver
medal was won by daring lady from
Long Valley, whose horse was almost
unDroken and plunged frightfully.
The other riders got tea-sets. cake
baskets, furs, pickle dishes. ehromos,
books of poetry and other raff. ~
was horsemanship exalted above
humber domestic virtues. Phi
were awarded for the best bread
neatest sewing and the prettisstV
low-shams. One lady WAS swardl