New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-02

ed throughout tho country BY s1a,ooo,ooo. No
less than $4,000 pianofortes win be made in the
next year IN the United States, and the tiny tnk-
ling instruments Of century ago. TO which George
Washington, like his great admirer, Frederick tho
Great, blew an accompaniment on the dute In his
sentimental moods, has developed into a instru-
ment that asserts itself In an orchestra Of hun
dred instrumentalists.
This Ia q commercial view, but IL does moi close
the account of what the musical portion Of yester
days parade stood for. The singers who gave
their money to enrich the display and also walked
10 the procession were the incarnations Of that
spirit which has made music one Of the most
potent agencies in the refinement Of American
social life It was we'll that it was conscrted with
the chiefest of all those agencies, education, IN the
civic celebration Of the completion OF hundred
years of constitutional government. Several tab
leaus suggested these thoughts. In ono were
grouped living images Of the great composers taat
Germany has given to the world; in others ALE
gories illustrating some Of the poetica myths and
legends which have been the inspiration OF poets
and musicians, and figures symbolzing the su-
preme treatment which some Of those myths and
legends have received at the hands Of Germanys
last great dramatic composer. Was there lesson
in themp We shall see.
When tho century began whose conclusion has
been celebrated, few cities in the United States
had heard opersttc representations; but they were
representations Of the triding ballad operas of
England, and English singers had generally to be
waited for before they could be heard The boys
Of the Charity School sang in the choir Of Trinity
Church. Gluck had been dead year
and half; Haydn was yet to
wait nine years before writing his first oration;
Mozars at thiry.taree, was about to expire like
candle that burns itself out in half Its allotted
time; Beethoven, struggling orsanist Of nine
teen, had not yet written any of tho works that
have made his name inensble among musicians.
Almost q generation waa to pass before Wagner
was to be born. Music there was In New-York,
but not much; not long before pleasure parties
drove orrt TO Harlem to dance, and danoed to the
fiddle Of q negro slave What New-York enjoys
now need not DO enlarged on her instrumental
forces vie in number and skill with those Of the
capitals Of German Europe; her opera belongs
10 the noblest Institutions Of its kind In the
world, and Is supported, not BY subventions from
royal exchequers wrung IN the shape OF taxes
from the people, but one-half by those who go to
enjoy its pleasures and one-half by the ungrudged
gifts Of Q body Of pubhospirited citizens. In
very truth the goddess Of music has come down
from the sustere heights where once she could
only be approached by the elect among her
devotees she walks among the people,
"Her seet have kissed the meadows,
And LEFT the daisies rosy
Under smiling skies the festivities have passed
away, and taken their place in history. Millions
OF proud American citizens have participated In
them. No serious accident, no outbreak OF
wckedness occurred to put spot OF gloom IN
the record The devotion Of the people to their
political institutions their happiness and pros
perity under them, their respect for law, their
constancy In tho old faith, have been wonder
FUZZY exemptfed. The festival has been period
Of great glsdness to those Of the present; II Is
an sugury Of sfess FOOD 70 those who are yet
TO come.