The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1882-03-16
III & HALL
~ VERSUS EUROPE.

Dyhtly reported remark Of JENNY
10 Is sail Of food for reflection for those
Z OF us on this side Of the Atlantic. This cell
ebrated figure In the world of music ana
song is said to advise all American giris
who are studying music in Europe to re-
main at home. where she declares the in
struction is equally as thorough and good
as will be found in the old world. what Is
said bv the prima donna with reference TO
music is rapidly becoming true IN every de-
partment of learning, the arts, sciences and
the trades. For some years past IL
has been thought, indeed, that no
man could lay claim to anything
like advanced scholarship, or as
sunie TO be socially or Intellectually I'm
ished until tour of the continent had
been made or a term had been spent in the
schools Of Europe. In short, certain class
Of people with us, and the more cultured,
100. measured all excellence in the United
States by foreign standpoint and We were
rsfred or gross, intellectual or otherwise
II uroportion, as we were moulded by the
influence of European ideas and European
models. In the last decade great strides
have been, however, made by the peo'
nile OF the United States, and it IS now
notorious that among the most po!lsheu
of travellers in the old world are Americans
who are for the first time visiting the his
toric shores. 1t is Il source of unalloyed
satisfaction and pride to us to witness the
changes of q few years in the direction IN
dicated. The savage has given place TO the
mos; cultured specimens of manhood, and
the waste places have indeed begun to BIOS
som as the rose with us. In music, IN the
arts. in ancient languages and mathematics
as thorough and accurate instruction is
now afforded in Cincinnati, boston, New
York. New Haven and other points in the
United States as will be fou.d in Paris or
Leipsic or Florence. The only advantage
now possessed by Europe over us is IN the
matter of models, the old masterpieces IN
sculpture and painting, of course, remain
ing in the principal art galleries OF the
Old world. Aside from this, and III the
matter of instruction simply, as fine or de-
sirable field is furnished here as there. In
politics no nation of the earth is so fully
posted, or so astute as the American nation,
and MANY of our statesmen and diplo'
mats will compare favorably win
the most accomplished and celebrated
of Europe. In pulpit eloquence and
that of the bar we are prob
ably ahead of the world while in the use Of
the appliances of modern engineering IN
projecting and executing great physical
achievements, we are not behind the French
or English In fact, when we reflect upon
the simple and casual remark OF the song
stress. with reference to music, we cannot
but be impressed with Americas great
march in civilization in the last quarter Of
century, and her practical independence
of the world in all the departments Of
human thought. The one great lesson
ought to be taught in all this, that we are
standing in our own light in our continued
reverence for European institutions ahd
patronage Thereof. We ought to more
closely watch and attempt to build NJ
oar own places of learning, nd ne idea
should - v'sOr ,usIy cont ited which
suppostYS. 2t there is nct he hiefest ex
celleTS1 hone. 1t is always hard tC
teach % people his fscJ but We rust thai
the pubic mind will speedily and gradually
grow up o hi ides. As long a. Te con
tinue 70 admit he superority OF other ma
lions and iruo our own, we may look 70
nothing else tSan dropping establishment
here. The shoddy element in American
society which pe1sists in raving abou
Europe and shutti hs its eyes to our own ad
vancement, not OILY does us great injury
but renders as ridiculous in others eyes
The only remedy is to make this practice
itself ridiculous by the calm criticisms o
ME really intelligent and cultured people