The courier., 1901-08-03


artistic ends cannot hope at the conclu.
sion Of each season to fully measure the
results Of our efforts, for the years of our
sojourn, like the milestones on the noun
tain road, are but incidents OF the jour
ney. Ii is difficult for US in this, the
year of our Lord 1901, to appreciate the
fact that our forefathers who lived one
hundred or one hundred and fifty years
ago, lived-in 50 far as music and art
are concerned-.in the dark ages. Nor
was this strange, for the early settlers Of
our country we're strenuously opposed
to all forms OF art. and made the mega
ton of everything that looked to artistic
expression an unwritten article in their
creed.
Our early history was not reflected in
a rich heritage OF folksong and folk lore,
thus forming the material FOR the po-
etic expression Of coming generations.
Free. independent, conscious Of their
power. holding their destiny in their
own hands, the conditions were not
those that produced such folk litera-
ture as We find 10 Europe. The circum-
stances attending their emigration from
the home country fostered the spirit
which, though inimical to art. gave us
our freedom and our national indie
pendence. Where the forests were to
be laid low; where the struggle for mere
existence called forth all the powers Of
manhood; where strong races were en-
gagged in the task OF forming a nation it
was not to be expected that the milder
side of life should receive much consid-
GRAFTON. The Anglo Saxon race finds its
highest artistic expression in poetry
rather than in music, and when at the
time of the troubadours, 10 England. the
enforcement of poetry and music took
place at an early stage OF the movement
and more stress was laid on the former
than the latter, we witness the begin
ming of that glorious line of poets, than
which no race has produced a greater.
at could hardly be expected, under
the then existing conditions especially.
that in the New World the race would
reverse the order Of things to such an
extent that music would be accorded
foremost place. But 10 :he race-as in
all races-there existed latent possibili.
ties in this direction; and when after the
storm and stress OF the War Of inuepend-
ence, the arts OF peace we're again cult
waited, many turned to the pursuit Of
music. They were inspired no doubt by
news Of the work Of the leading EugIish
composers who then, as now, frequently
wrote, as German critic remarks. "es
timable, God-fearing music. though
somewhat dry'-and the greater compo-
sltions OF Handel, Haydn, and daring
genius-one MOzart-later an incompre-
hensible composer hy the name of Bee
thoven. | shall not weary you by de
tailed account of the rise OF psalmody,
of the theoretical books 10 which the
blind led the blind into the pit la the
early decades Of the century Just passed
the humble ministrations of the singing
school teacher. that musical circuit
rider, began to bear fruit in a genuine
interest in the art. Too much stress
cannot be laid on the work OF these men
the unobtrusiveness Of whose labor often
blinds US to it's real value.
Then came the convention-a truly
American Institution. Ii has been called
a music town meeting and thus direct
outgr owth Of a typical American pro-
ceeding. 1t might be called a musical
camnmeetinp Too often cnndnrteh hv