The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1889-11-16

aim to be a violinlst unless you have
very correct musical ear, and are
willing to labor long and strenuously.
You atch the cornetist leading
the church singing and think it seems
an easy thing to bring out those
clear, round tones that bear the
voices of the congregation upward
like peal OF bells, you forget the
hours of practice the player has de-
voted to it.
The old motto "there is no excel
lence without great labor" applies
here with force for unless you love
an art SO well that you are willing to
make sacrifices for it, it is hardly
worth your while to begin. Skill in
an accomplishment means hours Of
application when other girls are out
riding. walking or lounging around
''haying a good time" 1t means to
give up this little pleasure or that
recreation. 1t means to be in ear
nest to do that one thing well.
A young neighbor Of mine, recog-
nizing the advantage of being mis-
tress of an accomplishment, coaxed
her guardian to buy her piano.
"It is not at all certain that you
have any talent for music" was the
answer, "and until we discover that
such is the case, it is better to hire
an instrument.
A trial of term of lessons proved
the folly of wasting money on a mu-
sical education, and the young girl
turned to the study of French. But
the teasing French verbs were as
lions in her path, and after worrying
through half year, trying to get
interested in the language, she gave
it up. Now, If she had persevered
she might possibly have become in
time-that is, good long time-a
tolerable player on the piano, or per-
haps been able to read and translate
little French; but who is willing to
work so hard and be inferior after all
ones pains?
This young lady did what was bet.
ter. She gave it up before she had
wasted great deal of time and mon
ey on it. Not long after she found
in wood carving her true talent, and
devoted herself to it with an energy
that showed in beautiful results. Her
patience never tagged, and as the
sympathetic wood developed under
her practised fingers into artistic de-
signs for chairs, tables and desks,
she rejoiced that she had found out
how much better it was to be an ex-
pert in wood carv ng than a poor
musician or smattering linguist.
Perhaps no other art, except mu-
Sic, has had so many dabblers and
tinkers engaged in it as painting and
and drawing. The horrible daubs,
in excruciating coloring, that are
proudly paraded by many fond pa
rents as exhibitions of Sarah James
talent, fill one with sadness at the
thought of the valuable time wasted,
which might have been turned into
channels, productive of less pain to
the visitor, to say the least. For.
tunately this much.abused art is not
SO fashionable as it was a few years
ago and people are spared much
consequent misery, as well as the
sin of pretending to think pretty
what is positively odious, as is often
the case where the proud parents
expect compliment for their gifted
child.
To achieve local distinction as an
elocutionist is also pleasant for the
young lady who thus contributes to-
an evenings entertainment. Is
there literary social, church pro-
gramme to be made out for the COM
ing church entertainment? Be sure
that girl is not selected who has CIV
en- no promise of excellence-who is
not superior to other girls who have
studied this branch.
The world will not put up with
mediocrity. 1t wants the best. In
every small community as well as in
the great marts, whether in social,
literary or business channels. this is
an accepted fact. 1t may be that a
young girl has taste for botany.
If so, let her cultivate it, let her go
beyond the mere outlines of the text
book. which is part of the school
curriculum, and make herself an au-
thority on the subject among all her
circle of acquaintance remember
hearing a lady friend discuss this
matter with her nephew. a young
man just out of college. He was
an enthusiastic collector, carrying
with him in his rambles small lens
to aid him in his examination of the
flora of the neighborhood. and he
could correctly analyze all the spec
linens, but when questioned by his
aunt as to the habits of the plants
whose blossoms had attracted him,
she found that his observation had
not carried him SO far. His study
had not been thorough. He did not
know whether plant grew in the
marsh or whether its home was on
the border ofthe rivulet with only
its feet dipped in the water. To use
the lady's words, "You cannot be a
thorough botanist without also being
d naturalist" D."
Some ladies have made speciality
of the culture OF a certain flower, and
celebrated in local annals for the