FOURTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VITI. 581 



MUSIC IN THE HOME. 



Mr.'i. L. B. Kinsey, before G-reetie County Farmers' Institute. 



When the all-wise Creator formed this earth and set it in motion, 

 when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted 

 for joy, the earth was filled with music. Thus it has been ever since. 

 If we fail to hear it, it is because of our dull ears and minds absorbed 

 with other things. Ruskin says, "All one's life is music if one touches 

 the notes rightly and in time." 



Alas! I am afraid some of us are but making discords, with voice 

 and hearts out of tune. Surely no one can deny the matchless music of 

 nature. The rustling leaves, the sighing wind, the laughing water and 

 the deep tones of the mighty ocean. 



If God has so bountifully supplied us with harmony in nature, 

 should we not try to have harmony in our lives and music in our homes? 

 A home without music is incomplete. 



Music is the natural language of the human race, understood and 

 appreciated by all. 



Music reaches the hearts and sways the masses as no other art. 

 Music is ennobling, elevating and inspiring. 



Ask the minister how he could preach without the inspiration of the 

 sacred hymns. Ask the teacher what is the effect of music in the 

 schools. 



Then how much more we need music in the home, for cheer and com- 

 fort, for leading our thoughts from care and trouble to those things 

 that will influence us for good and awaken within us the highest quali- 

 ties of our nature. 



I sincerely believe the time will come when a knowledge of music will 

 be as essential as reading and writing. When it will be as much of a 

 disgrace to say, "I can not play or sing," as it is now to say, "I can not 

 read and write." 



It is the ambition of the average parent of today that the daughter 

 in the family should study music, and the boy can get along very well 

 without any such culture. I think if there is anything ennobling in a 

 musical education, let the boy have it. Surely he needs it as much as the 

 girl, and I wager that he will do better work on the farm, in the shop, in 

 the school, yea, even in the church, for knowing something of this di- 

 vine art. 



I wish I might persuade you to look upon music as something more 

 than an accomplishment. Music is an education in itself. Then let lis 

 have more and better music in the home and it will be better in our 

 churches and schools. 



It is the greatest folly to suppose that our school teachers, who are 

 doing for us such a grand work, should also teach music as a study. U 

 is but the beginning of a movement for a thorough teaching in the home. 

 Keep the music in the schools by all means, but the teaching to but a 

 supplement to that taught in the home. 



