The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-07-05
nm, oAMpBELL's oRATIoN
On German Music and its InnaoSos on
German Historic

German Historic
A. the conclusion Of Mr. UIIcrts ad.
dress, Dir. POllack. with some highly
complimentary remarks, introduced
Mr.. A. ". Campbell, who was heartily
greeted by the audience. Mr.. Camp
bell made . fiuc address, which was
keeuIy appreciated. Imprinted below
in foil:
Next tn the sense Of obligation under
which feel u my Beethoven society
friends who have made me one OF their
guests on this occasion, comes some
thing ike sense Of surprise at finding
myself on their platform as one Of the
speakers Of the day. | realize that by
yirtue OF this position an expected
not only 10 say something about the
great master Of music for whom this
society is named, and whom it ia the
programme hero to-day to specially
honor, but, further, to add something
from my observations and readings and
general experience in regard 10 tho
great theme for which his name Is a
SYNONYM not only in his native land
but throughout tho world:
It seemed 70 me when received this
invitation TO he present nero IN tins
capacity as il some mistake had been
made; as il some one better attunGd by
nature and better fitted by education
and practice, las all this occa'
sion repressnts) would have been tho
proper and indeed tho only appropriate
sort OF person TO occupy my position
here to-day.
On former occasions, when honorcd
by tho Germans OF Wheeling to appear
on their platforms in the role OF n
speaker, had, com paratiVelY speaking,
| no sense Of embarrassment in accepting
tho invitation, and undertaking TO as
simtlato myself with tho especial OBJ
jocts Of the occasion, whatever they
might be, because there was nothing
technical or professional to be discussed,
but simply plain matters relating TO tho
present or past OF their history, such
as were open to all the world and IN.
derstood by NIL nations. and in all
languages. But now l must confess l
feel little as | did two years ago in
Germany. ] then cast about to zee IL
there was any way 10 learn tho German
language in six easy lessons. had
read somewhere that thoro was, anu l
was anxious to got hold OF that sort OF
hook. But l soon found that all such
books were what German would eX.
pressiyely designate Us zone grand
humbug," and that there was no short
and easy way to learn the language,
except, possibly, to take it in with
little music and little beer.
And 80, my friends, when l received
your invitation to appear hero to-day us
one OF your speakers, and began to re-
fleet upon what tho acceptance might
imply, and that might possibly be cx'
pected to know ut least as much about
music US the average congressional ora
tor knows about the tariff. which, l
need not say, is next to nothing, cou-
fcss that l iels once more like casting
about Tor book or teacher TINT would
tell mo MI about music aud saenger-
iests in very few easy lessons. But
las reflected to myself on this cmbar.
RAISING subject) surprising even that l
could lind such teacher, might he not,
after examining my special case, dis
miss mo with tho discourEging remark
onco made by tho witty man OF Dublin
to the serious man OF Glasgow, upon
tho subject OF jokes. which was that be-
forc a Joke can DO properly and thor
ourhly got into tho mind of u Scotch
man, a surgical operation must first be
performed upon his skull. fear that
this might have been the first prescrip-
ton In my case, as regards the subject
OF music.
Now eau conceive that man or n
woman born upon the banks oil the
Rhine, or on some OF tho many othor
streams that softly flow through the
various beautiful valleys OF the father
land (such rs are famous in German
song aud story) or even those born in
thu wilder and poorer aud sparscr por-
tons OF Germany lin the heart OF tho
Black Forest If you please) might learn
q great deal about music and song in n
very fOw easy lessons, for they arc SO
much the natural endowInonts OF those
who arc native to Teutonic soil so much
OF an instinct, rs it were, that they take
to it, ono might Faithfully say, as nat
urally rs TO mothers milk; or. as they
would say in Munich. as naturally as to
tho foam OF the Hot-brau, which is II
figure OF speech, am sure, that OK
presses tho idea exactly to oyery true
son and daughter OF Bavaria, il there
arc any such present hore to-day; for
oven beyond the fame OF tho music that
makes tho homes and gardens OF tho
great art centric OF South Germany so
mclodiOus night and day with sweet
sounds, ranks the fame and popularity
of their lloi-brau.
say that it Is conceivable, after ono
has visited Germany aud observed Tor
himself how universal is tho apprecia-
ton for music among the people OF all
classes throughout nil tho provinces OF
that great empire. that it Is part OF
their inheritance from music loving
| ancestry, for it seems TO be true, as
writer's upon blood pOculinriticl tell MS,
that the customs and habits OF one
generation become tho instincts OF tho
noxt. Therefore, US compared with a
less musical people, tho German docs
| indeed acquire musical accomplish
ments not only at an curly period OF
life, but seemingly without serious in
terfcrcuco with his regular occupation,
whatever it may DO. 30 ho mechanic
or merchant, professional man or
tradosinan, peasant or proprietor, he
easily appreciates and cuItivatcs music.
| remember how astonisbed once was
to 500 German minister, ono high up
In tho diplomatic sorvlcc Of tho empire,
load his guests IRON tho dining room to
! tho parlor and entertain thcm at tho
piano with degree OF skill that seemed
remarkable for ono OF his worry practical
bearing and manner OF liio. But ono
docs not need to remain long in Ger
many or to eco great deal otits people