Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-04-15

Concerning nusieaI Matters Generally.
To the Editors of the Appeal:
AsI take 1t for granted that everyone
| fortunate enough 10 have had an Invitation
| 10 the second concert given by the NCZarts
| svziled themseives of II, and thoroughly
| enjoyed the elegant entertainment furnlahed
| by the sociely on that occasion, am not
| going to commi. myse.f 10 a criticism, Which
| would prove my own inadequacy 10 tbs task
OF musical critic, but will simply sgrae with
everybody who extends cordial NEED OF
appreciation to the conscientious instructors
Of the MoZsrts ard TO the ambitious member
of that socisiy. 1t would seem 10 anyone
1 interested 10 the reputation Of Memphis, that
this society ia doing better thing than
merely entertaining the public; and that
| public has mone to be grateful TO Prof Downs
and his able assistants than for the delight
full hours be secures for it by such concerts
as that of last Thursday. We-thst il,
Memphisns (among whom this alien med
der is proud to enroll hersslf), suffer from
| standing reproach, which one 10 apt 10 hear
| repeated on all occasions, and with the We
hemencs of conviction: "Memphis is a purely
commercial place-ifs good place to go TO
| make money" our detrsctors will tell you,
| shut, uoiid toutP' And, come 10 think Of it,
| we have given our detractors good and sui
fcient cause for just such amin sdveTslons.
money, why should it not be made a good
place to spend that money in nationally,
intelligently and elegantly? Somebody Of
fered us library Il don't like to mention
the gentleman's name, for it has been made
target Of for all the locals Of all the papers
when items ran short for the past year or
two), but we would have none of it. We see
all sorts of Improvements going on in Mem
phis-buildiogs and removals and enlarge
| a.
and in the brick aud mortar Hne-but what
of the people? Our people, our young peo-
pie of both sexes, with whom our city
swarms and of whom, physically, any
locality might make boast, We
hear of very few moves for i'm
proving them morally, extending them
mentally or enlarging them socially.
Dear boys and girls, over whom a
multitude OF mothers are fretting and
Tuning, helpless to instill any higher no.
tions than that of making a good appear
| ance in society. Within the limited expe-
rience OF this writer no move hiss been made
in Memphis that has more promise Of good
in it thaa that inaugursted BY the MOI ;rt
Society, and has refining, elevatiDg, alto
gether good and desirable social influence.
) 1t deserves the hearty support and eo-oPera-
interests of the place at heart. In
all ages OF the world, and in every cline,
music haa hsan an acknowledged power
for elevatiug the masses, and when We
see such systematic effort, such marked pro-
. greas and such happy results achieved IN 80
short a space OF time, We may confidently
look forward to the time when Memphis will
have something better to boast of Than her
| "purely commercial advantages" Flood
: your homes with harmony, and my word for
it, eur young men will find them more at
trsc.ive than the giided saloons or the
I hired minstrel. THERE'S one inconvenience,
!, however, attaching TO all reviyais, and
2 suppose il is not inaccurate to say that Mem
!. phis is in the midst of musical revival
u that is, that the frenzy SEXES uper
g all Unfortunately. This evil, how
Is ever, is not inersdicsble to some
= extent. One of the most potent Illustration
of my meaning is 10 be found in the chill
A dren's operettss, which are becoming so bale
4 fully popular. OF all the unwise, pernic
q ious, wholly undesirable descriptions o
a amusements, this strikes me as the most rep
rehensible. 1t would seem a marvel tina
, anyone understanding the physical nature o
:, child should be willing to jeoPsrdize al
u the possibilities of its future by strainin
h mot training) its immature vocal powers
40 perform feats that should be demanded Q
neither sex before the years OF adolescence
are safely passed. 1t would seen
eoually marvel that any parent
/, prixinr that possession for her chiidre
y 40 far above ruby-modesty-shou be vii
Ing 10 have them thrust into publcity Il
their tenderest and most susceptible years I
court public favor and to win IL by the a
sumption of such airs and gracss as woul
m become the professional ooera-sipser, an
ly what in the children, who thus become iust
{. table in their cravings for public notice,
d. pronounced $50 cuteP $50 cute" mother
Ne to have your bsbies' voices cracked an
10 strained and marred until, when the prope
IL time shall have come for the exercise
at | their vocal powers, they shall all be four
like sweet bells tangled. $50 cute" mother
to have your sweet girls, not yet IN the
nd teeni, mounting the story OF loves al
ia, lovers woes with all the aped manne
me of a stsge-worn actress! 50 cute
va to break down the barrier between Il
cradle and the public arena and let 20
- little ones cope with the oldest and mo
world-weary in the empty pursuit OF III
empty bauble, public favor. Upon my wor
in sitting down 10 express in my own ciut
sy fashion nay conception of the good wo
being done by the Mozarts, l did not me
to run q muck at every body, but when
have such q good, wholesome and improvi
avenue for musical inslructiou offered
&, our youth, we cannot but wish that 1t shou
be very fully appreciated, and that our ':se
corn," as the little ones may properly
considered, should be reserved for futu
sowing in the same goodly coil, and then
would knou what the harvest should be. =
MOTHER GO06I