The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1901-08-29
Paper Read Before the ChIutauQua Circle.
w THILE we are permitted to
\N/ assemble here to join in our
Y Y fortnightly debate, and

NN/ assemble here to join in our
fortnightly debate, and
listen to the musical rem
ditions of some of our members, I
believe am safe in making the state
ment that very few of us have ever
thought of the great influence music
has on mans life and character. In
some form, either vocal or instrumental,
music has it's part in nearly every
stage of our existence from the cradle
to the grave. Unfortunate indeed is
the man or woman who has missed a
mothers loving voice, lulling him or
her softly to sleep in infancy. If you
will follow me for short time, 1 will
endeavor to show the effect of music
upon us at the different periods of our
existence.
The baby in its mothers arms will
almost instantly relax it's tender muscles
and drop into peaceful slumber upon
hearing her sing one of those sweet
lullabies. On the other hand, if she
will change to tune of merriment,
the face of the child will brighten, the
eye will sparkle, and the whole body
will show the inspiring effect of the
song. A piano or some other musical
instrument in the house will aid a
great deal to the comfort and pleasure
of the family circle. Its music will
relieve the troubled and busy mind of
the husband, and he will look forward
with pleasure to the time he can spend
with his loved ones at home. He will
not be trying to invent new excuse
every night, so that he may make his
wife believe he has business down
town, while in reality he is going to
his club or elsewhere to seek that
recreation which he cannot find at
home, unless that home is based upon
the foundation of mutual love and a
desire to make home life what it ought
to be. The child whose good fortune
it is to enjoy the pleasures of such a
hcme, will remember those happy days
in years to come, and will endeavor to
impIant the same spirit in his own
household.
There is no doubt but that nearly all
of you have experienced the peculiar,
electrifying sensation which the notes
of a popular waltz or two-step produce
on young man of about the age of
twenty. They will at once dispel that
tired feeling, the results of a hard
days labor, and create new life and
energy. If you noticed the tired
and worn-out expression on his face
few hours previous, ard now as you
meet him at the ball room, his eyes
sparkling, his face shining with pleas.
ure and his step just as elastic as ever,
you would be astonished at the power
full influence of music.
Music also creates a feeling of
sociability and equality. The barriers
raised by conventionality between the
exclusive aristOcrat and his more
humble neighbor, are lowered for the
time being while they are both listening
to the oul-stirring melody of some
great singer. OF course in order to
appreciate the true value of music, one
should be able to distinguish the good
from the bad. Low, coarse and vulgar
music is just as demoralizing as dime
novels and vulgar literature. You can
Judge the refinement of home just as
much by the music you find on the
piano as by the books in the library.
There is nothing to equal the power
that music exercises over a mans mind
in recalling past events. The recollec-
tion of half forgotten song has often
been the means of uniting those who
had drifted apart on the stormy sea of