Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-01

own safety ne adopted the cruel poIcy Oh
putting the musicians 20 death. BRUSH
narpers were in great respect long peioIc
the conquest Of England BY William, Duke
OF Normandy.
Henry Ill gave 10 shilling and ppe
OF wine 10 Richard. his harper. Edward
+. his son, and successor. short time
before he assembled the throne. took his
harper with him 10 the Holy Land. and
when Edward was poisoned with knife
fin battle the musician rushed into tho
royal apartment and killed the assassin.
IL is recorded In history that al
the early rulers, Of whatever coun-
try. were fond Of music. and granted
special privileges to their Ministries.
Among the Irish and Scotch not only
the kings and rulers were musical. but
every petty chief had anclently their
bards and minstrels attending them. To
celebrate their achievements in battle
they sang odos 10 the accompaniment
Of the harp. all the people joining in the
chorus. Many of these odes are pre-
served, and are mentioned in the "His-
tory Of the Antiquities Of Ireland" The
Irish excelle1 greatly in composition and
execution OF music. The chief musicians
were so highly priced end favored by
the royal family that they were exempt
ed from all civil service. from taxation
and they had large estates settled on
them. and their persons and properties
were inviolab,e: 1t was sacrilege to mo-
lest them In any manner. The genius
Of the Scots has In different ages con-
spiciiously appeared. not only in the
more useful branches Of literature. but
likewise IN music and poetry. Long as
pure genuine tastes remain, the poems
of Osslan and the music OF the old Scot
t'sh win continue TO be admired. The
majority Of these songs possess what
may be termed melancholy, melodious
cast. but are so very chaste. and express
the passions so strongly. that their va
rious strains seem 10 breathe the Ian
guage Of hope. dependency. and suppl
cation. Surely. no one will pretend -
q taste for music whose whole frame
does not yihrate IN unlsol 20 a good
Scotch song. when delivered with pro-
per regard TO the sentiment OF words
and music. Many OF these songs were
known as far back as James L.. or
Scotland, who was known as poet,
great theorist In music and an excel
lent harp and lute-payer There Is now
hanging I'm the Somerse. house ror-
trait Of King James playing the harp
Many attribute TO him the authorship or
many OF the old Scotch songs James
the First, Fourth. and Fifth. kings Of
Scotland were great friends Of music.
and did much TO advance IT'S cause. both
I'm study and appreciation. Roderick Dal"
was one Of the most famous musicians
Of the time, having the reputation OF
playing on the harp In superior man
ner. and singing in pleasing enchah'-
ing way.
We are led by tracing this subject
thourhtfully and faithfully 10 the 1ol-
lowing conclusions: 1t is conceded hy AL
great writer's on history that music pos
sesses most remarkable power on the
destinies Of man. To record them Win
any degree OF fulness would require
very large boc' piutarch wrote dia-
lorlIe on musi. .. nich he recte1 many
remarkable in..'.nts II peace, praise. and
10y caused by the power Of music over
man: Scion excited his people 20 way
by his songs: he so aroused them that
they were ready for any glorious deeds
he might propose Pyth9gOras was
powerful singer. and performed many
good deeds by means Of his voice. Am
phOin built the walls OF Thebes by the
aid and sound OF the Tyre The story Of
Arion. how his life was miraculously pre-
served by dolphin. Is said TO be a fact.
II is recorded that Arion returning from
i'HAHIl III ~ FGiP WHICH Nv isi'. III "a
from the Corinthians. the sailors muilnled
and agreed 10 throw him overheard
that they might convert his riches 20
their own use. Soon he was Informed
Of their intentions: he offered them bis
entire treasures II they would spare his
life. The selman. being inhuman. com
manded him either 10 kill himself or
leap Immediately into the sea. lie earn
estly entreated them TO permit him to
dress himself in his richest apparel. and
10 sing while standing on the side Of the
ship promising 10 Kill himself when he
had done. His request being complied
with, he put on HIS robes, took his harp.
and began 10 sing an ode on the conclu-
SION Of which he leapel into the sea.
a dolphin. which he had charmed with
his music, received him on his back. and
carried him safely 10 Tanarus, his home
where he told Of his experience. and
which was afterwari confirmed by the
sailors who sought his life. The innres-
sions made on Us by musical sounds are
certainly more lasting than those made
on us by words. for we often retain every
note OF melody in a sonr. when every
word IN line OF poetry is entirely for
gotten.
Ihere are some persons who, strange 70
say, are deaf TO the charms of r,reic
" men such Is the case Il must certa,nl,.
De owing 10 somp defect in the organiza-
soh OF the auditory nerves. | recently
heafi gentleman Of education say hat
the rafting of a fire-engine on a naved
street was as grateful 10 him as any
concert NJ ever heard. at the same time
he candidly admitted that, 10 many per
sohs music was source O. exquisite de-
hsht' ana IN his opinion such persons
tl1OyGI ada. al
VINO had no ear for music, entertained
The same opinion. And so W. might con
nnue 10 enumerate Indefinitely. We nav
larry conclcde that all those who labor
uhder any defect Of nature III this re
spect ar unfortunate, are incompetent
judges. are disqualified 10 praise or seu-
sure, and are certainly deserving our sim
cere sympathy And, although we should
meet with persons Of the first character
IN other respects possessed OF great
powers Of intellect and learning. we can
not concede 20 them univf rsal excellence
in understanding. The cynical and morose.
we know, regard music not as a means
Of education and advancement. but as a
luxury. III only TO unbend and enervate
the mind Of the lazy and 20 disqualify
persons from the pursuit OF what they
consider the higher. the more substantial
studies In literature.
But celebrated writer has said: There
Is no agreeable sensation we receive
either from beauty or subimity, but what
is capable Of being heightened by the
power Of musical sound" The powers
Of taste and imagination are calculated
10 give us the strongest impressions OF
tho benicnity Of our Creator. To all
those whom he has so richly endowed he
has widely enlarged the gnhfre Of tho