Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1912-06-12

be cold, dreary world IL there were
no music. We believe that If all, the
music were taken out Of the world
people would SO retrograde that it {
would be only few years till bar
barism would prevail. 1t is not to
be expected that all should study
music as science or as an art, but
1t Is expected that people of culture
should know something about 1t.
The Germans say that where people
sing there you may safely rest, for
bad people have no songs. OF course
bad people sing, but they sing not
with the spirit Of love, which Is the
one power that must underlie all
musical practice. Music Is the COM
panion Of man; it follows him
through Joy and sorrow; it is with
him In sickness and health. Music
develops character. deepens beauty
and quickens life. 1t does not give,
but 1T develops. 1t will arouse the
deepest passions Of nature presented
to 1T; even the vilest criminals
have been touched by music. Pope
said, "Man loves music when he Is
sad, for it makes sweet his very sad
ness; and he loves music when he
is glad, for 1t Is the echo Of his
gladness." What would this meet.
ing here tonight be If it were not
for the music? dare say it would
not be half so enjoyable.
Go with mo to home where
the parents and children are
gathered around the piano or organ,
playing and singing the beautiful
songs. What can De more pleasant
than this? Next go to the home
where there Is no music Of any kind.
How drear and lonesome things
seem; the children's voices are
rough and harsh. Musical tones
would help the voice to become
smooth and clear. Now which Of
these homes is the happier? Why,
the home with the music, of course.
Music was not created as an art,
to arouse and tickle the fancy, but
1t Is God-given gift, to act as a
purifier and gladdener Of hearts. If
you have no piano. or organ in your
home to comfort and strengthen you,
then go out and sit In the thicket or
wood, and let the musical murmur
Of the bees and the harmonious
twitter Of the birds come into your
heart, and listen to the rustic of the
leaves and to the song the little
brook plays. You will return home
better and stronger Every man
and woman seeks for enjoyment Of
some kind. How may they find it?
By studying music. Through the in
fiuence Of music our minds and
hearts are raised above the cares and
anxieties Of life to thoughts that, are
sweetest and best, and our strength
will be renewed by visions OF a bet
ter land.
Music has decided influence
upon the blood pressure in the ar
teries and upon the respiration.
Many nervous diseases have been
cured by music, while others have
been greatly retarded In their devel-
opment. Anything which keeps the
mind off our troubles tends to re-
store harmony throughout the body.
One Of the greatest mistakes of par
ents is that they are not interested
enough In their children to teach
fbnn, hnontifrl
ers to teach them, You should
teach them songs they will never for
get. 1t may be that long, long af-
terwards the strains Of one of
the songs learned in their youth will
come to them as wandering prodi-
gals and cause them to return to
their fathers homes. Why is it that
the ministers wish for good songs
to be used during a revival? 1t Is
because the songs help to touch the
feeling and heart Of man.
Music Is said to be the language
OF the soul. Why may we not ap-
propriate this language and use 1t to
the best Of our ability? Surely
every one wishes to develop his mind
or body to the greatest extent. The
heathen snake-charmer, with his
crude reed instrument, plays to the
most venomous serpents and they
become perfectly harmless under the
spell Of his music. Birds have been
known to yield completely to the
sweet tones Of his violin. What