The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-09-22
WIIISTLlNG AS A FINE ART.
now THE MORNING SONGS IN 4 PUBLIC
SCHOOL 1RE ENLITENED.
a Chorus or 600 Voice. Accompanied by
the Melody from as Many Puckered Lips
Now, Boys, Make nil the Noise You Can.

n Chorus OF 600 Voices Accompanied by
the Melody from as Many Puckered Lips
Vow Boys Make NIL the Noise You Can.
al think there arc more useful things to
teach to children than whistling," was the con.
cluJinu sentence of n note by an Indignant
father. who recently wrote TO THE sun, COM
ulaininp that his two eons were compelled 10
whistle I'm tho primary school in Thirteenth
street. between Fifth and Sixth avenues. The
father soid olso that he did moi wish his boys TO
learn the minstrel business and that he thought
whistlinp should he left TO birds. owners Of
docs. nnd lonfrrs. JTo evidently had in mind
prvdon,s ,ran,n who ,vbistlod os no went for
" ,,,,
want oi thought
The father was sought for further particulars
-, go 81, -, - ~ ~ Al, t ,....
LOT Ior ""'u'u"S nisi' f'Io'l On '''o "uS' "''nuo
s,crs OF perhaps and years of ngc. and they
- - ~ - 10 - " 80. ~ w.
poth agreed mat papa docs not want us 10
whistle" On the point Of compusion they
wore not 40 clenr They wcre understood TO
sa, ,ba, ,,o o,h"r ia,s ,y,'i.,,c1 i,', ,ho, tbcv
had themselves never been punished for not
Ono Of the women teachers Of the school was
found in tho midst Of n cheerful homo circle in
West Eleventh street where there generations
clustered around tho evening roaulnR "plo'
/ thr nature ana cAl' NJ OF the Whlstillg.
. wen declare she Sa'l' Always tn9usht
| II a reporter came To interview mo ] should smut
the door. but I suppos, this is public business.
| 7 -. L,J ,,,.,.,,.,i',i,, 81, ,t, at,
i,,,Ha,r, AL "i,' ,, ho,, ,', ,h, ~
Mt least ten years. All there is Of ii. consists Of
the voluntary whistling Of the Lovs when the
school is singing. The Principal, Miss Clark.
simply says now boys. YOU may whistle the
chorus OF that song II you like. instead Of sing
! ing it, sometimes tho music teacher. Mr..
George IT, Curtis. will lead tho whistling. for
he is a good whi-i'r' but there 10 no eompul-
sa " anamsL me- q NJ .l@ e somtm1s "s on 9nS RM nr
ihe,, 'h1ol VII sns II, chogs , ~ The o,hcr
~ oa Ts WI ynr gg are Sa asad isadPy "
our whistlug choru-os. We have about GOO
boys whose Ngcs vlry from 5 70 II years. anl
| most Of them whistle The late james w.
Gerard used T. bc very fond Il this feature. md
s. many medal. delights in T. anl have
and was very mu ,.rosed. one Of our foreign
| visitors once said in rapturous praise ot our
boys; ,.....,.,..,,... ...,.
never knew before that whlstling was
scl;rG,"' H., No mama vary ov,er.
siN' part ot our "N'rclses because " only comes
in occasionally, aud then for q few moments in
the morning. along with "a, singing, Ihe boys
very well. lhaye heard 1t said that
,whi.ulnt ,lr,.an, Growing hen,
n A HIf L. aN u
| hui mover hoard that any harm came rom tho
! bows In our school whi-'iug. We've had chill
| drcn II nr, Mm. Taylor, DR.. Burchurl. DR..
| Chaplin. and other well. known cit 1"ns. NO 20
| hfs always been noted for sending tho most
| boys to the college. though could hardly claim
| II WIS the whsting TINT did it, Certainly there
hns never born whistins enough 10 interfere
| with the studies.
The effect upon visitors Is always comical.
They are taken by surprise, and want more Of
| IT,. Then they come back; and bring their
friends. and always think 1t Is good loSo. AS
| for furnishing the boys for not whlstiinRs ~ IS
| Just tho other way We often have ulnlcult
Put do you give the boys, no cnnuon to
whtstie only at proper times ana places ,..
| No. l nave never henrd any, DIV we thke
pains to eonilne the school whlstlng t9 tho
opening hour; mo slngllng ~ ,compuIsory
when we lnd that the boys nave elther voice or
| tnste. although Whon they maze ulscqrd or
inharmony W. request nom 70 deslht' nave
hcard. however, OF no SUN ithlu WIN, re-
eard 10 whistling except. perhaps MISS Clark
might say:
much noise Ygu can make.
| We REGARD " IA ono OF tho nmusements. like
calis.h tncs the hnnd nlspning, and other in
nOcent relief from tho nOu0tlny Ot study and
not one Of our visiting diCnitaries ever inti-
mated that It was vulgar. On tho contrary. rs
| l have said. they are charmed"
| Wol" venerable lAly chimod in. the
| mother OF the silver haired Indy who spoke last
never knew that whistling hurt anybody |
| had two boys and only one Of them whistlcd,
| but they were both good boys"
| Yes" member OF the second genoration
below added, and hnvo hoard Prof. Burbank
whistle Home Sweet Home until cried. and
Le couldn't sing for sour apples because he hal /
oNeryn2uS hn"NS ~ up s,reY,S, npoT1 r rI1r S@NVT @