Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1879-04-26

frOnted with this question at an early
period of the 'sfinishing'' process. And,
in speaking of ''taking lessons,'' the
piano 10 of course understood to be the
instrument in question; for its hold on
the popular favor Is so strong as prac-
tically to rule out all Others in the great
majority of cases. So much does the
piano stand for, in estimating the social
status of community, that it conveys
very intelligent idea Of the character Of
q village in the newer-settled portions
Of our country to speak of it as 80 ten
piano town." or shorty piano place."
Ability to perform on the national in
strument has, therefore, been one of the
first things sought for by daughters in
well-to-do families; and, as step up
and out Of the unlovely and often hard
conditions of life, it was ambition to en-
courage. That we have so much home
music in this land to-day, and have seen
within forty years SO rapid and wide an
increase in the popular knowledge
of really good music, is due
more to the piano than any other
instrument-it might also be said
than to all others. The first thing to
be considered in answering the ques-
ton, Shall she take lessons? is whether
she wants to. This idea will probably
be new to q great many parents, who
act as though they suppose that +" les
sons" are all that is required to make
musician. We have not enough con-
sidered, in this country, the adaptable
ty of children to their avocations; and
SO large share Of the round holes in
our Industrial and professional activities
are filed with square pegs, and vice
versa. II q girl has no special liking
for the piano, and particularly if she be
manifestly deficient in the natural gifts
requisite to its mastery, why should she
waste her time, and you your money, in
vain attempt to learn it? Perhaps
she could learn the organ better, or the
violin, or some other instrument. Or.
il her ear be dull for tones, her sense of
time deficient, and her physical and
mental aptitudes are unsuited for the
loving and successful study of music in
any form, why not accept the fact, and
permit her to ascertain and follow
her bent in other directions? "Every
being that can live can do some
thing; this let him do," says gruff
but wise old Thomas Carlyle. The girls
can not all play the piano, but they are
not therefore shut out of accomplish
ments. Let them sing. or sketch or
paint, or embroider, or lavish their art
instincts on cooking. A good deal of
this futile forcing Of the inclinations
comes from q desire to shave some
music in the house "-and . very laud-
able wish it is; but why don't such par
ents set son to painting. though he
may be color blind and unable to draw
q straight line even with the aid of
ruler because they swami some pic
lures in the house?" 1t would be quite
as sensible proceeding as the other.
Good mechanical music can be had
much cheaper from a music-box or
crank-organ. 1t is to be remembered,
also, that piano-playing is an art that
en- be retained only by continual exer-
else. Even the great masters of the in
strument depend upon daily practice
for the preservation of their skill. If q
girls situation in life is not likely to be
such that she can retain her practice,
either for profit or pleasure, it is folly,
and often cruelty, to teach her an &C
eOmplishment, and perhaps give her a
source of delight, that she must SO soon
abandon. The question of providing
music lessons for the daughter, except
in cases where she is so clearly gifted as
to make the course plain, is therefore,
in our view. largely one of policy. If
you can afford the money, and your
daughter the time, it is often worth her
while to learn the little the majority Of
her pupils acquire, us a matter of dis
cipline, and for the pleasure she may
feel, and give to others, in being able to
play the sprightly measures that enliven
the social circle, or the simple accom-
paniments for home-songs. But, if pur-
sued in this way, and for this purpose.