Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-19

then one caught glimpse OF woman
visitor, but from such opportunities
there was really little to be gained as
to the changes in the world of fashion,
inasmuch as almost everyone, and par
ticularly if of the fashionable world, would
naturally attire herself for such an occa-
sion in her plainest and most antiquated
suit.
But how 1 have enjoyed once again the
delights of musicl In my time, except at
chapel service, nothing was permitted
that in anyway served as a means to
musical expression. There were among
the inmates professional musicians, and
it was for these in the atmosphere so
I deadly in its repressive effect on the
artistic temperament that one could not
but feel particularly sorry 1t was pathet-
ically amusing, therefore, to observe
under what extraordinary difficulties
the passion for music sometimes sought
to express itself The cells in their
barrenness naturally contained no article
in likeness of a musical instrument, yet
hands that had been wont to fly deity
over the keyboard of a piano might
not always be controlled. There was
one unfortunate in the Star Class, with
an uncommon musical gift, who, relying
on my sympathy, again and again made
ruefu1 complaint because her small table
as an imaginary keyboard heartlessly
failed her at both ends.
IF only l could have one the right
| length, she exclaimed, 80 as to get in
all the bass and treble notes, | should
| be content!"
| Another was a professional violinist,
and her case was much worse. 1t was
common to see her fiddle away, one arm
across the other, and on occasion, to
'heighten the effect y. on her imagination,
she would tuck the leg of a stool under
her chin and saw across it with an inagin-
airy bow. Access to a cane or umbrella
for such a purpose would undoubtedly
have fairly transported her. The ghost
music thus evoked was no doubt heard by
an inward ear, for the exercise seemed
to afford the denonstrator no little
comfort; but on me, a lover of music,
these sorry limitations of the 1onged-for
reality always produced a saddening
effect. | am happy to add that in several
American prisons | have recently visited,
varied forms of musical expression, in
stead of being suppressed, are distinctly
encouraged To all who can play upon
them, portable instruments are permitted,
and in more than one institution found
organized bands, either string or brass.
! Unless Englishmen and women have
changed much since l was at liberty
to mingle with them socially, the con-
/ trast between them and what l find in
America in approximately the same
spheres of life is great. Everybody, here
seems to be more individualized-to have
distinct identity--and it is through
this marked individuality, l imagine,
that success is achieved. In England
people are largely born into their social
as well as political places, and their per-
sonalities are the result of fixed molds.
In America, on the other hand, the term
sef-nade" characterizes everything,
and likewise explains most things Every
where in the Old World you can tell
persons calling by his dress and de-
meanor. There IS the servant class, the
costermonger, the small tradesman, and
all are fixed types. | have lately been
seeing something of what is known as