West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1883-08-04
AN ESSAY ON MUSIC,
my PROF. NJ. NJ. LurApnR.l ]

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There is power in music that
even the stoutest heart fails to re-
sist. There is in music an influence
that serves to tighten the load of
grief that tho soul is often called to
support, aud TO call in the wander
ing mlnd from the frivolous pursuits
OF pleasure to the solemn reflections
and emotioua feelings, that through
our devotional natures, draw us GO
pear the veil that separates US from
immortslity-the veil that. by angels
hands, is held suspended between thls
terrestrial sphere and all the enjoy
ments OF "A higher life.
Music-the golden chord that con
meets earth with heaveR-tbe silye,
bridge that will lead us in proud
triumph across the dark river OF
death, which, with its murky waters
and foamiug catarscts, flls the un-
taught spirit with dreadful sensa-
ton OF the direful future awaiting
him.
Music the soother OF physical
mental and spiritual suffering in this
world-the theme that claims the
attention Of angels in another. Ii it.
The great boon Of civilization, and
not, as some would have it, merely
An artificial accomplishment.
Music is the soul OF government
aud the ha monizsr of national dis
cords. for IL il undeuiabe that the
people who have had the best music
are the most succossim and mos,
Jealous in the cause OF education
Italy, France, Germany, and Eng
land that have for 80 many centu-
ries rivaled each other and The world
IN musical pursuits, are the nations
that have also ruled the world.
The intellects that bave led tn r.
world down through the rocks and
into tie mines and reservois of the
earth-the great master minds thai
have penetrated the unseen regions
Of unbounded space, aud there dis
covered worlds by the side of which
ours would be almost insignificant -
the hands that have exceled in all
the iioe arts and mechanical accom-
plishments--all have eprung up uu-
der the sublime iuhnsnce Of music,
Then since music is such a great
auxiliary to civilization. morality
and religion. why IL it SO shamelully
neg glected Why is 30 little impor-
tance attached to the development
of the talent that, above everything
else, will fit us for the society Of an
gels.
Parents, would you not consider it
a grave crime TO senl your matured
son or daughter out upon the dash d
ing waves of an uncertain life with
out the shield OF even limited eda-
cation ? Ifyou have any interest in
tho welfare OF that son or daughter,
you would shudder at the thought o
the awful result. But do you not
commit 40 unnatural q alA by neg
lectug that which will develop the
moral nature Of your child ? That
which will lead it's thou ghts to bet
ter things, and put it in possession
Of that soIacing power which will
prove so consolinR to us all when we
reach our silver days.
Let us have more interest taken in
the musical WORK. The cause needs
more earnest workers. We need
more teachers, not such as the PREF
ent majoIity,but scient6c theoretlca
teachers who know how to deal with
( the sensitive vocal organizations 0
their pupils. West Virginia need,
more genuine music to soothe hei
faithful subjects in their political Al
we'll Az moral adversely. Let ouI
teachers raise the standard OF mus'C
dethrone a great degree Of egotisn
and then the poeple will fall in will
us and the work will 70 on as /
should-as an art and a science.