The Red Cloud chief., 1901-04-26
A Plea for Home Music.

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plano In a month"
But any little simple thing will
your father, child. He likes to
hear his old favorites. the tunes and
variations you knew before you went
away to study. Often since we've been
alone he's looked at the plano. shut up
there cold and dumb, and said, 1t
won't be like that when Maude
home.'"
The young girl shrugged her shout
ders i%rritably. a trick she had learned
from her music master, and answered,
positively: II have forgotten those silly
jingling things, mother, and wouldn't
play them II | could. AS soon as I've
gathered myself together and feel
that l can do myself justice. I'll play.
but not just yet"
The mother sighed. She and her
husband had made many sacrifices
that Maude's musical education should
be complete. The cost Of her lessons.
of keeping her In town. OF buying her
the new instrument and furnishing her
not only with music but opportunities
to hear great performances had been
q severe tax on their resources and
on their strength. Now she was &C.
knowledged to be an accomplished mu-
sician, wonderful for an amateur, as
piring to be a professional. yet Mr..
Burrows shook his gray head sorrow
fully as he conided to his wife: I'VE
never get any good from It all. Seems
as II Maude doesn't get any good from
1t herself"
At prayer meeting. tho week after
her return from q years absence. 1t
had happened that the pastors wife,
who usually played the hymns, was alb
sent. The minister asked whether
some one Of the young ladies would
not take her place for the evening,
and had pointedly addressed Maude,
after a pause Of silence and waiting;
will you not help US. Miss Burrows?'
Maude declined, to the deep disap-
pointment Of the old people. to whom
1t appeared incomprehensible that at
ter all her study she should not be
able to render so very small a service.
Fortunately the pastor played a little
himself, and was not, therefore, en-
tirely dependent upon others, but he
said to his wife later, and she agreed
with him, that he thought any young
woman who played at all might earn
to play simple sacred melodies SO that
at a moments notice, II the occasion
arose, she could be of use in a gospel
meeting. In this opinion the minister
does not stand alone. There are many
who share 1t with him.
A thorough musical training, with its
discipline Of ear and hand, its mar
veious technique and its intellectual
breadth need not wholly exclude the
less while 1t gives the freedom OF the
large. The girl whose refinement OF
taste is satisfied only with classical
music may still, IL she choose, give
rare pleasure to q h0mely audience OF
her own people and her neighbOrs to
whom the harmonies she prefers are
an enigma to which they have no clue
thought Of this one evening lately
as l sat on a veranda. where the moths
fitted about the fragrant vines, and
listened to Chopin and Schumann de.
liciously played by a young woman
from whose slender fingers the music
rippled and dipped in a golden shower
Her repertoire was wide, her attain
ments catholic and her memory phe-
nomenal. And when there was a mod
est request from a timid, old-fashionet
acquaintance for a former favorite Il
was not preferred In vain to Dorothy
who could dash into college songs
glide into dreamy nocturnes, play tn,
sentimental pieces no longer In vogue
and accompany a quartet or q SOLOS
with equal facility and willingness
Such ease and grace were not uncom
mon at an earlier period, but as on
ideals have become higher, our stand
ards more exacting, young womer
have overlooked the fact that q littl,
, home music to give enjoyment to tn,
domestic circle and to chance visitor
is a charming contribution to the sat
isfaction of life.
, why should we not carefully cul
: tivate the memory for music. so tina
3 we may not be obliged always to de
, pend upon the score" 10 a question 70
the consideration OF amateurs who ar
not willing to carry their notes wher
Z ever they go. The musical memory 1
as susceptible OF cultivation as tn
{ memory of history. arithmetic O
r spelling. And a question for parent
is, why should not the boy, as wei
a as the girl, be taught the piano. tn
g violin or some musical instrument?
= To a youth at the period when child
Y hood passes into adolescence music |
a resource; it provides agreeable oc
cupation for leisure and is a partia
n defense against temptation. Then, toe
Q the responsibility for making an
keeping home the dearest and happies
t place on earth is as much laid upoI
= sons as upon daughters. The boys a
well as girls should join In making tn