The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-07-02
W. L. TOMLlNS ON LIFE i'm MUSIC

results are inadequate Is only natural:
as we'll may we expect bird to fly
with only ono wing. and We all know
that In point or efficiency two wings are
not twice but many times one. s3
What 1 have to offer, then through
music and song is another side (really
the lnside> OF life, which. added to the
ordinary school studies, would magnify,
perhaps multiply, the present results.
There Is something In life which, seem
ing to elude. is ali pervadlng seeking.
as it were, our recognition. 1t Is seen 4
In the loving smile. felt In the friendly
hand grasp and heard In the laugh of I
child. A power pressing the harder for
attention. because 1t concerns our inome- 4
.diate welfare, because fact, It represents
the next step in the path pf our life
embodiment.
This somethlpg-spirlt the basis Of 4
tone individuality. the essence Of all
creative power. It channels itself In In
Vulnerable forms OF expression-throug
the chisel, the brush or pencil. In de-
sign. invention, literature. With IT the
mechanic Is more than man; he cannot
remain mere machine.
It Is the spirit which gives all Its worth
to song. Without this. music performs
lances, however elaborate and correctly
rendered, are valueless. It adapts itself
to- countless forms OF manifestation
rhythmic, harmonic, rneodic-but with all
these 1t e expresses unity, at once the
deepest life OF the song, the singer and
the listener.
The realization of this truth OF the
unity OF life comes very slowly to the
race and the Individual. The reason is
that In order to know life we have TO
live 1t.
There Is no companionabllity In fist;
Fit Is a thing apart. knowing only sepa-
rateness AS the first symptom of corn-
panionability the fist encloses TO the
open palm; and so on, successlve!y
through mind and heart to spirit.
In this connection It Is interesting 70
note the order In which the arts rlpened;
to trace not only their succession. but
also their sequentIal development.
First, sculpture, dealing with chiseled
stone and restricted to the portrayal OF
tho physical body.
Next. painting. using pigments, and
through perspective relating US to na-
.ture, But whoever heard OF a
sculptured landscapeO
+ Lastly, music, in vibrating sunbeams-
the breath OF the soul-relating US to,
the divine. 81
Nv Tko attitude Of these Chicago teachers
| reflects my experience with large classes
lin New York. washington, Philadelphia,
Baltimore, San Francisco and other large
cites in all parts of the limited States,
Repeatedly teachers and parents have
come to me at the close Of a Lecture de-
| nonstration saying: MI. Tomlins, we
have never before listened to what you
| tell u.s. but It all seems strangely tn
\ miliar; we feel that we have always
known 1t; that IN some Way 1t Is part
ol u.s."
This is simply evidence that, while the
matter was intellectually new to them,
spiritually 1t was bringing forth a re-
Spouse from tho deeper nature which
1 dwellsSin all of us.
The feeling thus expressed Is, OF co1fs
emphasized by these teachers, because
they have more than talked about the
work. Theorlzing rs all very we'll. but
| its value is that 1t leads to knowledge;
4 and knowledge Is of greater value as "
leads on to life. But this road to life
/ il long aud tollsome; there is shorter
4 and a better way, which these teachers
Z. have taken; 1t is to reach life by living
II. They came at first with a marrow
4 view of the work; but they We're earnest
4 enough to be willing to do this work az
i ter school hours; they were child loving,
4 as shown by their eagerness to get some
thing to help their pupils, In passing "
l on to their scholars ,tney fCdusHl lls W.
4 fictitious life themselves, and, as It Ws.c,
4 played the gamc we'll long before they
A knew tho rules AS one teacher wrote;
n leave each lesson with Mr.. Tomlins,
4 feeling that own the whole world and
want to share itWith everyone meet
so II lis with the deeper things IN life.
:. re best way and sometimes the only
4 way to get is By giving, To aiyc n dol
4 laI or any other material thing one must
A first have 1t, but to- have love one must
j first give IL, AS Edwin Markham says;
n For all we can take IN the cold, dead
a hand
4 is what wc have given away.
Thomas CARLYLE, | think II Was, who
said IN effect; go deep enough into
amy good thing. and you will find mll-
4 sic." Music voices the deeps of orr ma
ture, II is not given the village pump,
Z spallow-rooted in. foot or so of soil,
no tap the lowest springs, but to the arte-
|, sian well, which bores through strata at
tcr strata thousands of feet until there
bubbles mp n stream translucent, mex
Ihaustible, joy forNer,
In such respect music and song att
IN Grf ]