The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1896-04-08

the start there shall be music at the
close While this heavenly art has often
been dragged into the Uses of superstl-
ticn and dissipation, We all know it
may be tho means Of high moral cul-
ture. Oh, it is grand thing to have
Our children brought up amid the sound
Of cultured voices and amid the melody
Of musical instruments.
There is in this art an indescribable
fascination for the household. Let all
those families who have the means to
afford it have flute or harp or piano or
organ. AS soon as the hand is large
enough to compass the keys teach it
how TO pick out the melody. Let all our
ycurg mcn try this heavenly art upon
their nature Those who have gone into
it fully have found in it ill!m!table rec
reutiCn and amusement. Dark days,
stormy nights, seasons CT sickness, bust
rcss disasters, will do little toward de-
pressing the soul which can gallop off
over musical keys or soar III jubilant
Icy. 1t will cure pain. 1t will rest IA
tigue. 1t will quell passion. 1t will re-
vive health. 1t will reclaim dissipation
1t will strengthen the imm Mortal soul. In
the battle CT Waterloo, Wellington saw
that the hiehlanders were falling back.
He said, "Wkat is the matter there:"
He was told that the band Of music had
ceased playing, and he called up the
pipers and ordered them to strike up an
inspiriting ar, and no sooner did they
strike the air than the h!ghlaDders were
rallied and helped to win the day. Oh,
ye who have been routed IN the conflicts
Of life, try by the force Of music to rally
your scattered battalions.
am glad to know that in our great
cities there is hardly night in which
there are not concerts, where, with the
best musical Instruments and the sweet
est voices, people may find entertain
ment. Patronize such entertainments
when they are afforded you. Buy season
tickets, if you can, for the Philharmonic
and the Handel and Haydn societies.
Feel that the $50 or 81 that you spend
for the purpose of hearing an artist play
or sing is a profitable investment. Let
ycur Academies Of Music roar with the
GcclamaUon Of apprec:atlve audiences as
sembled at the concert CT the orutcrio.
A Sound Body.
Still further, l commend, as worthy
Cf their support, the gymnasium. Inls
institution is gaining IN favor every
year, AID know of nothing moro free
from dissipation or more calculated to
1ecrperate the physical and mental en-
er9ies. While there are g2od many
people who have employed this lnstitu-
ton therc is vast number who are lS-
noranr Of its excel!encies. There arc
men with cramped chests and weak
sides and despoEdcnt spirits WHO through
the gCmnasium might be reused up to
exCbcrarce and eXhila-atiOn Ct lie.
There are many Christian people de-
spOudent from year to year who might
through such all institution be benefited
in their spiritual relations. There aro
Christian people who seem to think that
it is gocd sign to be poorly, and be-
caHse Richard Baxter and Robert Hall
were invalids they think that by the
same sickl:nesS they may come to the
same grandeur Ct character. want to
tell the Christian people Of my congre-
CATION that God will hold you respon
siblo for yCur inval:dism if it IS your
fault and when, through right exercise
~ h lar ~
end well. The effect Of the hody upon
tie soul you acknowledge. Put man
CT mild disposition rpUn the animal
diet CT which the Indian rar;akc5, ard
III little while his blocd will change
its chemical proportions. 1t will become
like uilo the blood Of tie lion or the
tiger CT tie hear, while his disposition
will change and become fierce and IN
1elerting. The hcdy has powerful ef
feet upon the soul.
There are gcol people whose ideas Of
heaven are ell shut out with clouds OF
tobacco smoke. There ale people who
dare TO shatter the physical vase in
which God has Put tha jewel Of eternity.
There are men with great hearts and in
tellects in bodies worn out by their
own ncglects-magnifceDt machinery,
capable CT propelling Majestic across
the Atlantic, yet fastened in rickety
North liver propeller. Martin Luther
was so mighty for God, first, because lie
had /, noble soul, and, secondly, because
he lad muscular development which
would have enabled him to thrash any
five of his prosecutors + it had been
Christian so to do. Physical develop
mcnt which merely shows itself in fabu-
lous lifting, or in perilous rope walk
ing, or il pu.ilistic encounter, excites
only our contempt, but We confess to
great admiration for the man who has
great soul in an athletic body, every
nerve, muscle and bone Of which is con-
sacratcd TO right uses. Oh, it seems to
he outrageous that men. through neg
lvct, should allow their physical health
TO 80 down beyond repair-a ship which
! ought, with all sal. set and every man