The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-23
ANUS ENENTS


,,A.is,inO that the American public Is second to
nnnc I'm the world for musical taste. do not
10 with him at all but haven't got his stub
ss.rness in an argument Of this kind.
'Ibave observed that in the matter OF musical
,lo, the American people prefer mock to real
,nrle. Tho great American prima donna made
"a, money by abandoning Italian for English
mora. or what is called English opera-a dilu-
Nan Of Italian in the vernacular. The Albanis
Tuienses and Pappenhems went away disap-
,oin,ed but the Aimee stayed here to gather
nasni1cent harvest. The most popular singer
Ne ever had in this country was woman who
,sdoared herself 10 the populace by her bal
l.ds and who failed oftcner in the higher
Somain Of dramatic music than any other artist
lido not find on examination Of our published
nusic that we are eminent IA composers-only
,rolino and ambitious. We have not as ma
ion vet outgrown our own barhnrous folk
,ongs OF the plantation. and even Nilsson and
Iucca had to resort 10 them when thoy wanted
,omoyc the masses. | observe that DR.. Doremus
csn 40 more for the Philharmonic Society than
mr. pamrosch: that the Anvil Chorus is more
efneacous for n benefit than the Hallelujah
chorus; that our populace does not care as
r,neh for a high purpose in art IA for high c
en- execution that its favorte native singers
are warblers. not vocalists that pleasure seek
ers care less for good taste than for good
,no | remember too that the great music
rublishing house OF the country distributes
more musical trash than all the other publish
ins houses together; and. upon my word, be-
Ilsye that IL a symbolical instrument Is ever
carved on the temple Of our muses. it will be a
hanio or a xylophone and our Apollo himself
will bear an ndistinct resemblance 20 Tom
Bakor or Max Marctzek.
Theodore Thomas is the only man who has
,larted himself s1uarely in the rolled current
ndheld on in spite OF the swollen tide long
enough for few solid impediments 70 accumu-
late around him.
His admirers make n monstrous mistake in
FALLING him a reiormer. pioneer. and rev
olutonist He Is nothing Of the sort H.
has neither the enthusiasm nor the aggressive
Individuality Of path opener. He is not a
man Of new ideas. There is nothing radical
about him-he does not take root like strong
new germinant plant that dcnes the elements
and Aouri-hes In them. On the contrary. he
imbeds himself permanently by his weight
and sodiiy. and the verdure that we admire
has grown over and around him with time.
His great virtue is not his momentum. bat his
inertia lie docs not develop and usurp. II,
sticks and q cretcs. We are 10 honor him. NO
Tor his prowess but Tor his patience
Tho mistake that his too ardent or at lens
Ms too careless admirers have made is In at
tributns 20 him qualities that he does not pos
sess. and in overlooking the elemental and sim
rle excellence OF his mission in our art work
They have been inclined 10 regard him as a ere
alive genius moving upon the face OF chaos will
divine right. dwelling. renovatins. planting
Watering and swing the increase with the trip,'
a. ia. 4 aaN.
But he Is not creator. H. Is conductor
W. need not belittle his work by understand
INK H.
To- pant md water and give tho increase. il il
hr.t a'e--ary to have the soil. After Thoma
has deposited the stratum Of alluvium. on
gardener will come along with the seed in him
And il is soil that We have needed all along
NJ OF the germs that were scattered upon gu
healong currents We're whirled away and lost
Tlelamnmtahlc and astonishing fact to al
wa that everything here seethed and crcled II
sueh ln 'essant motion that she had no stabl
place To- rest her foot. We tric 20 picture on
condition as that ola limpil lax. ful of islands
Bu' really W. were gnllopng Missouri q
high mark. folming, flashing, rolled wit
tn earth we carried on our bosom: pictu
reslue only by reason Of the d i1ris we sweI
together; grand only in the primeval banks W
tunh, q down.
nihis astonishing descent Of the element
several gardeners did try to plant and wer
themselves swept away. The great hope ,
housht'ul people who looked on was thu
o. some time something would stick.
Anlit did-iu the course of nature. Ono la
shoulder That had come great way lodged.
The result was inevitable and simple. Othe
atoms began to lodge there also For hitee
years the torrent tore AT IT, eapt over il, eat VI
der il.
Formonths It was under water altogether. bl
IN ,he sereue seasons people said that II wa
uereye out OF all the storms some golde
tali- were piled up around is base, and BY an
BY there wl, a glcam OF sand bar, and then I'll
biri- came and SANG there and dropped IL
seeds that were u make il glad with permaneI
ehoirs
suppose that in redeeming the tracts
human nature we have got to have engineer
before We have artists. But before we have Ell
eneers. even. We must have something bettt
tan guieksanl 10 survey.
Mature has only one way OF securing the be
tfth!ng-she takes years Of acoretion
Thomas ha- initiated her.
do not call him path opener so much as n
earth builder. He is not making new avenue
Tor the people 20 my mind. but giyln- them II
material and the desire 10 make new paths f
themselves
said did not call him a reformer. Well
course. In one sense no Is. But if he is n
former let US not mistake him for the eruli
Erasmus when the condition u our affairs cal
tF stuFdi Luther
lwas struck with the acumen o. that report'
WHO the other day. In writing about Gilmore
Garden specially admired the curve
Theodore Thomass back.
That WAS "a shrcwd observation Thomas z
III curve in his back bracing himself for ii
ieen years against the popular current.
II Mr. Thomas had been a great master !
could have done the work he has s,ror
husiea. individuality is one that projects tse
OUT upon rs environment. 1t does not resist
current, 1t stems il.
The creative musician Of this or any oth'
une Is be who formulatos the spirit Of the tin
a. new beauty. His method Is one Of inner in
plIse' uot II outer Wisdom and thrift. L
glen.r sings like Berangcr than fights III
wagner but he attracts all men % him becaui
lsspeaAs n9wly 70 them.
Thomas has never challenged the world. I'll
grateful public which desires TO worship hin
MA I0ss Aowio 70 about it. for there are !
corners 10 his individuality upon which
haAg tribute. He has succeeded like all =