THE POWER OF MUSIC.

Thames Star, Volume XVII, Issue 5277, 16 December 1885, Page 2

THE POWER OF MUSIC.

Votaries of music are apt to boast about its power. They say that it soothes the savage breast. They say that it quickens the home affections, They say that it excites the love of country, derates the social sentiment, and awakens religions emotion. They even do not hesitate to add that it exercises a regenerating influence over the whole moral nature. Now, if this last were pat to the prodfr the crucial test should be the Italian organ-grinder. His whole day is devoted absolutely to music. It is his life and bis daily breed. True, it is the same with the teacher of music, but the process of instilling the art is attended with so much * inward profanity that the moral influence is altogether neutralised. The Italian organ-grinder has noauehharrassment.He has not even the bewildering distraction that might be caused by a large rariety of tunes. He produces the same tunes over and over again till the moral effect of each has abundant time to soak in and leaven his whole being. Moreover, the production of his music is attended with no effort, so that Bothing stands between the moral influence and the purely receptive tablets of the soul. Lastly, he is an Italian, so that, by construction, as Euclid says, the very fibres of his being are delicately responsive to the touch of melody. Could there be a more crucial test than this? And yet an Italian organ-grinder has just been arrested at Melbourne for larceny. Nay, more; be even hid his thievings in his organ, turning the very shrine of his art into a receptacle for stolen goods. Of course, the devotee of Euterpe who reads this will say that it doesn't prove anything. Bat neither dot* music,

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