The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1893-09-28
To- 8. SALTWATER MINNESOTA SEPTEMBER 49, 1893

turbance. With it's elevating inspiring
influence it can lead us from the ma
terial realms of the finite into the in
finite; rapt in it's exquisite folds the
soul can rise above circumstances and
revel in celestial joys leaving all earthly
trials far below. 2. A. F.
Music is the universal common Ian
guage of mankind. All civilized ma
tiOns can read it alike; and to the bar
barian it speaks as plainly of peace or
war, anger or love, JOY or sorrow as to
the soul with the perfected harmOnies
of the divinest composer. The harsh
bray of the pagan horn, the signing ca
dence of IsraeIs harp, the chant of the
pipes OF Scottish highlander of Tyro-
lean mOuntaineer of Savoyard peasant,
the plaintive twang of the banjo each
speaks with rOusing elOquence COM
mon language of hope or peace. The
drum, the shrill fife, the bugle blast,
the trumpet call, all are potent to rouse
in man that joy of battle which hurls
him headlong on his foe without count
of cost. All humanity understands it's
meaning, for it is the voice of nature
prompting man to an ever higher civili-
ZatiOn. OSSIAN.
Xxx
Music is language of the soul. To
its voice does the soul respond accord
ing to it's attuning to morality. Among
SavageS, whose moral and mental plain
is low, music is of so crude a nature as
to be hardly worthy of that name. AS
the mind and soul expanded to broader
and loftier views of things temporal
and spiritual, so have the perception of
the beauties Of music and the expan-
sion of it's methods of expression in
creased. Among all fully civilized
people music is power, rarely, if ever,
leading to evil, but wondrously effica
ciOus to move to good. However low
down in the scale of civilization we
may find the crude germs of music it
will be in connection with religiOn-Of
a reaching upwards. From the simple
timbrel in the hands of Miriam and her
followers to the mighty organs of our
present cathedrals and churches, the
praises of God have ever been sounded
with musical accompaniment of voice
or instrument or both. j. B.
| x"*
Music, sweet language of the soul,
wherein lies thy transcendent power to
Danish hate and jealousy, to sOothe the
sorrowing and to gladden. the sad, to
engender joy and create love? What
spirit moves in thy sweet melodies, call
ing us from present to the past only to
hide it too from our mind as thou cast
eth thy spell around us and we hear thy
magic hand sounding the chords of love,
hope, peace and happiness. Holian
strains watt their harmonies across our
frightened pathway, bidding us revel in
the sweet heaven of pure and holy
life, the life of the soul. Down in the
lowest depths of the most degraded
mind it's moving power descends. Softly
the harmony falls upon and steals away
its conciOusnesS of vice. Pure thought
is engendered and for time fourishes
amid it's base environment. The soul
where turmoil, strife and the vicissi-
tudes of life are forgotten when we
dwell in music's spirit land
LEONARDUS.
***
Why is it that music is so potent with
all creation. From man in Gods i'm
age, through all the creatures of the
earth to the lizard and the serpent, the
voice of music has it's enchanting spell.
Perhaps, did we but know it, down to
the lowest animal organisms this
"voice of the great creator" speaks the
divine language. Nature is full of
music; the ripping streamlet, the laugh
ing brook and the murmuring river all
sing their hymns of praise; the winds
whispering to the tree tops sing of the
infinite harmony of all creation. Man
kind as he awakens from rudest bar
barism gives voice to the celestial Ian
guage in shrill untutored utterances.
AS his mind developes and his soul as
pires, he evolves newer and better
methods of exnreSSinp himself in that