The New York herald., 1878-11-17
A NEW PHILANTHROPY.

To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
Among the new phases Of philanthropy is charity
very little known of which many of your readers
will be glad to hear because it illustrates the true
province Of charity 1t is benevolence which gives
without pauperizing-which gives education. status
and character instead of money. refer to the choir
schools of Mr. Charles S. Fischer Jr This gentle
man has good income from prosperous business,
and in lieu Of sailing yacht driving fast horses.
the like. prefers to take hundred children
under his charge and to give them thorough
musical education. These mostly boys of
poor but respectable families. and often as
wild and untutored the majority of New York
boys. But the astonishing refining influence of
musical culture, when added to careful training
shows itself, for the lads who ut their initiation
might have been classed street Arabs become
orderly, courteous, reverent and so fond Of their
music that many would forego meal rather than
miss rehearsal OF course the secret here lies in the
fact that the appeal always to their higher nature and
that they are invariably treated as young gentlemen
master Thomas" &c. Mr.. Fischer provides for
them reading room, handsomely furnished and
well supplied with illustrated papers, also library
with several hundred standard volumes.
In the summer Mr.. Fischer takes the boys with
hotel for the purpose. He not only gives free mus
cal education but also furnishes places with salaries
in the churches whose music he gratuitously
superintends. If the musical appropriations
not sufficient he pays the boys salaries
out of his own purse All the little courtesies
considered, for instance, boys salary is handed
to him in an envelope. strict discipline is main
tanned; boy frequentng unsuitable places of
amusement loses his place Again. when boys
voice fails and he is obliged to leave the choir he
finds that handsome sum has been laid by for him.
SO that he leaves with full purse. boy dying
while in the choir service has monument erected
to his memory. This paternal, loving government
leads to ardent attachment the part of the boys
and enables Mr.. Fischer to musical thorough
ness in his choirs rarely attained with boys Indeed
bishop, lately from England and celebrated pro-
fessional singer who has been listening this summer
to the choirs of ST. Roch and of the Madelaine both
expressed the opinion that the chorus at the Church
OF the Heavenly Rest, where Mr.. Fischer ociates
organist not surpassed by anything in
Europe. There of course much larger choirs and
finer solo singers; but the smoothness. accuracy and
unity of chorus effects comes not only from drill, but
also from love and general harmony of ideal and am
btion 1t is part of Mr. Fischers plan to find situa
tons in business for all his trustworthy boys and he
continues his supervision after they have left
the choir and the city His graduates scattered
all the country and many correspond regularly
with him and are aided by his counsel and support.
And thus, in the course of the years during which
this work has been going many hundred lads have
owed their culture and their position in life well
their musical education, to Mr. Fischer 1t is noble
record. SENEX.