The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1899-10-19
The SPIRIT OF SONG.
Prof William NJ. Tomlins, of Chicago
Delivered a Splendid Lecture at
High School Last Evening.
THE EDUCATION OF THE BOY

Large Number OF the Teachers OF the
City Embrace the Opportunity to Hear
One of the Finest Speakers in the Coun-
try on the Subject of Music Practical
Results of the Study of Music in the
Schools of the City.
One of the most delightful evenings
entertainment ever given in Kenosha
was the lecture given last evening at
| the High school building by Professor
William M. Tom1ins, of Chicago. The
| lecture was not public, but was in the
way of private talk to the teachers of
the schools and their escorts. The
mention of the name of the professor
will be sufficient to assure all of the
charm of the entertainment, but only
those who were present and carried
away the beautiful lessons Of the short
talk can appreciate the great good the
| lecture has done for the teachers and
school children of the city.
Professor Ton11ins chose as his sub
| iect ''The Spirit of Song" The lee
! ture was technical only in theme. Pro
fessor Tom1ins adds to his magnificent
ability as a speaker the natural ability
of an actor and his illustrations of the
points of the lecture were exceedingly
charming to the audience.
"The Spirit of Song" was great
subject in the hands of a master mind
and he found in it the substance for
discourse on the proper education OF
the boy. In his discourse Professor
Tom1ins laid down the fundamental
fact that the education of the boy re-
quired the study of his three natures.
His outer nature, as the world saw him.
His second nature, as he saw the world
and himself; and lastly, his real ma
ture, in which the true nature of the
boy was revealed. In this inner nature
is to be found the spirit of the boy and
it is better reached by the study OF nu-
sic than anything else. Music gets at
him unconscious1y. 1t brings out all
his better qualities. The songs he
sings and the tunes he whistles are the
true index of his inner self. The song,
be it what it may, appeals to his better
nature and gives the teacher true in
dex of his character. He breaks out
into true song voicing tbs true sent1-
n1ents of his inner self. It may be the
song of the street or the song of the
home, but it is the expression OF his
spirit. The powers of oratory and
song are closely connected, but still
differing widely in their expressive
power. Words express much, but
when tuned to the sweet music of the
soul they take new meaning. In the
song all feelings are touched and the
tender sensibi1ities are blended until
they express every emotion of the
heart. Music is universal. Every
composition affects all classes of peo-
pie. Patti sings "Hone, Sweet Home"
and the business man, tired with the
duties of the day, forgets his 1abors;
the wandering boy of the streets stops
and listens and seems to dream of
| times gone by, the disappo. nted heart
gathers new hope from the strain and
all voices are blended in the chorus of
an up1ifted humanity. All have been
affected, but the result is different in
every case.
The power of music is universal.
Every heart responds. The 1oafer on
the street stands with his hands deep
in his pockets and dreams away his
time, but when a band approaches
playing the martial strains heis quick
ened into action. For a moment his
senses revive, he catches the martial
step and for awhile he marches with
the music and thinks that he is man.
Music is the language of the heart.
The simplicity. naturalness and true
individuality of the person gives the
true song and it is true music. When
the bell is struck every vibration of
the rythmica1 music declares that it is
a bell, and so when music comes from
the person, in order to get the true
ring it must be the music of the heart.
the intellect and the soul,
The love of music inspires all the
better qualities of the child. He seeks
to make his life parallel to the senti-
ments which he expresses as the music
of the soul. It means the cultivation
and uplifting of the body and the mind
and makes of him a better and nob1er
man.
The lecture of Professor Tomlins
| left strong impression on the minds
of the teachers and it is greatly to be
regretted that every patron of the city
schools could not have been permitted
to hear such a mastery defense of the
study of music in the public schools.