The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-05-01
ABOUT TOWN.
Reflecti Ons and Observations.

All healthy girls have delighted in a
game OF ball, since the time when those
Greek msidens enjoyed It down by the sea
one day in the Golden Age. Blind old Ho.
mer knew 1t to bea pretty sight, and gaz-
ing thereon with his onward eye," an in
trospectiv cyclops, has described this game
its setting for the delectation Of pos
terity.
Whether he could have made such good
copy" from game Of basket ball in q
modern gymnaeium is q debatable ques-
tion. Some OF the same successful elements
are present; that is, youth and its grace and
color, its energy and alertness, dressed ep-
| propriately in a costume that allows free
dom Of movement. But it is to be feared that
the exceedi < energy with which they re-
sponded to the call to "Play |" would sur
prise him unpleasantlv, and that the stage
setting afforded by the furnishings OF the
gymnasium grotesque, contorted objects,
seeming to belong TO the later era Of the
Inquisition, would offend his artistic judg-
ment.
But moderns can enjoy the thought Of
that genter, grac ful game in the sunny
afternoon OF Greek day, and the sight Of
the up-to.date rush and pummel IN crowd
Ell hall and il there are occasional inward
protests, they must be stifled lest they
bring down upon one the disgrace Cf be-
longing to the INITIATED.
-.
Everyone acknowledges the praiseworthy
enterprise which procured for Montpelier
the musical treat of last Wednesday even
ing, and everybody-to the extent OF the
seating capacity Of Blanchard g opera house,
attested the same by his presence at the
concert. The audience, unusually large,
was also unusually appreciative and dis
eliminating, and 1t Is TO be hoped that the
enjoym Mt was mutual with performers and
listeners, as it should be,
-.
The effect OF music upon the savage
breast is undoubtedly soothing. But there
are those who contend that this desirable
result isn't permanent, and that after re-
turning home, after listening all the after
noon to the strains Of Thomas orchestra,
| and feeling bathed and purified thereby,
one finds himself even more than usually
irritated by the eccentricities OF the various
arcs In the family circle lot which he is
supposedly the point within, called the CEN
ter) and more than usually inclined to ex-
hort and recriminate in voice that betrays
tone-color not known to composers.
So, may be music is only skin deep, but
we are told of Israfel with whom it went 80
far that he was actually qualified TO play
his own accompaniment
There lives spirit in Heaven
None sings wildly we'll
AS the angel lsrafel,
And the listening stars, so legends tell,
OF his song, all mute"
-.
| II it were possible to imagine person
| who had never seen musical instrument
nor heard it's possibilities, it would be inter-
estng to picture the effect upon him OF the
| first sight and sound OF an orchestra. What
would he think of the oddly shaped things
held by the musicians in various attitudes
of apparent affection? Would he consider
| it the time to laugh when the perform
| er upon the horn placed his hat over that
| loud-mouthed object2 What would he
/ think Of the mere pantomine OF q sympho-
ny, Of the antics of the conductor, of the
soiemnity of the bass viol? Would ne want
to free the wailing dryad that pleads for
| pity from within the wooden box of the
violin2 To destroy with a great blow the
| the secret thoughts OF his inmost soul? To
find the hypothenuse of the triangle, the
ear Of the drum?
All these things made dance music for the
members of the Amusemenl club last night,
| but this imaginary person is not member
OF that organization and 80 was not present.
| The others are 80 pleasantly familiar with
the orchestra that they are content to sim
ply sigh with satisfaction when the lifting
measure of the waltz begins, or to remark
that they've played it even better than be-
| fore.
-"
Spring comes slowly up this way, owing
perhaps to the fact that it's difficult to OBJ
tain rapid transit by way of the Central
| Vermont. There may have been the usual
delay at the junction. Once here, however,
we hope to entertain her pleasantly, so that
she'll remain among US for awhile. Many
| housekeepers have set their domiciles IN or
der, and the streets and lawns have like