Albuquerque morning journal., 1921-12-29

Phi. d.
cient literature refers to the mysterious
effect of music upon the people, Hindoo
legend, Greek mythology, Biblical lore all
recite stories of great changes wrought or
great deeds inspired by the use Of partic-
ular kinds of music
However, many Of these stories are fable
For example, many Of you have heard the
stories of the famous Roman pageant, in
which children with their bodies gilded
represented angels. One Of these angels
is supposed to have died as a result Of
certain music that was played The truth
was that the child died as the result OF
the gold paint, which stopped the pores
and thus prevented the air from reaching
his body.
Many years ago historical reference was
made to the use of music in the treatment
of certain nervous disorders During the
last few decades experiments have been
perf6rmed both in America and In Europe.
1t has not yet reached stage of uniform
usefulness, although some doctors have
obtained consistently beneficial results.
Especially in the cases of melancholia and
slight mental disorders has the use OF
music proved of benefit. BY far the ma.
jority still consider music and its use with
a humorous attitude Many interesting
stories are told. A well known surgeon
tells how one Sunday morning Just as he
was placing a woman on the operating
table the congregation of nearby church
began singing Nearer My God, to Thee"
The woman looked up pitifully at the sur.
geon and said, Doctor, is that me?" An
other doctor tells how he once offered
patient the alternative Of taking gas OF
of being sung to Sleep The patient replied
that he would take the gas.
In more serious vein, however, there Is
much interesting discussion of the prob
lem. Interesting and convincing success
with music as an aid in the treatment Of
certain types of cases. in keeping the pa
tients happy, making them forget them
selves and in offering them way in which
to entertain themselves and each other are
reported In one hospital where nervous
diseases are treated report shows that
a large percentage of the cases were helped,
and only per cent of the entire number
objected to music or found 1t distastefuL
The rather extensive interest that has re-
Gently been manifested in the uses Of music
must bring to the public something new
and reliable in the way of results.
Introspection and Self-KnowIedge
May Brighten Our Lives
Introspection has been looked upon as
something rare and only for the inspired.
True, introspection is an art in which
but few indulge, and one which can we'll
be cultivated. Know thyself is wise adj
monition. Most people know less about
themselves than about anybody else in
the world. Many of us 60 to doctor to
find out how we feel. When he asks US
we answer ooh, doctor. / feel awful" After
q period of careful questioning and exam
ination the patient and the doctor between
them may discover the nature of the pain
and perhaps its location.
And SO 1t is ofttimes in analyzing our
various feelings. We rarely stop and ask
ourselves how do we feel. Has 1t made
life easier or more serious7 Just to get
people to thinking about music and about
themselves has in itself been no small task.
We know that we are pleased or displeased.
Rarely do we even ask ourselves how the
selection affected us, whether we feel gay
or sad, whether weary or rested. whether
calmed or quieted or excited. Many are
even wont to look upon those who do ask
such questions as sentimental dreamers
with so-called Temperament"
The symptoms and the cure for tempo.
rafy weariness, indisposition and mental
unrest are not unlike the symptoms and
cures for some of the more common dis.
eases. The causes are less severe, the re-
suits less disturbing and the treatment less
stringent. But would you not like to be
able to determine what music will best re.
store your happiness when you have just
had quarrel with your neighbor or have
been irrltated by the office boy? Would
you not like to be able to select that music
which will bring to you happy memories or
flights Of fancy? Or that music which.
when you are unduly weary, will bring to
you rest and pleasant dreams?
You need not be trained musician to
appreciate the difference between the
''Berceuse" from "Joce1yn" and the "Tann.
haueser March" Nor do you need any one
to tell you that you do not feel the same
Wh0H yOu ASdE LHdt tcSoutly pUpuldT uuHI.
ber "Yoo.Hoo," as you do when you hear
Massenet's "Elegy." 1t is no deep, dark
secret that you are differently affected by
various kinds of music.
The prime question is "Are different
people affected alike by the same musical
selections?" II so, group In Oregon must
get the same effect from given piece of
music as a group in Maine. and group
in Michigan the same as group in Louisi-
ana. A classification into groups on the
basis of musical training educational
differences, perhaps occupational differ.
ences, such as are found between the rural
districts and cities. may show somewhat
different results.
1t has been definitely shown by careful
experiments that certain kind Of music
has its own particular effect 1t has been