234: THE OEIGIN AND FUNCTION OF MUSIC. 



have influenced us in making those involved cadences of 

 conversation by which we convey our subtler thoughts and 

 feelings. 



That the cultivation of music has no effect on the mind, 

 few will be absurd enough to contend. And if it has an 

 effect, what more natural eflect is there than this of devel 

 oping our perception of the meanings of inflections, quali 

 ties, and modulations of voice ; and giving us a corres 

 pondingly increased power of using them ? Just as mathe 

 matics, taking its start from the phenomena of physics 

 and astronomy, and presently coming to be a separate sci 

 ence, has since reacted on physics and astronomy to their 

 immense advancement just as chemistry, first arising out, 

 of the processes of metallurgy and the industrial arts, and 

 gradually growing into an independent study, has now be 

 come an aid to all kinds of production just as physiology, 

 originating out of medicine and once subordinate to it, but 

 latterly pursued for its own sake, is in our day coining to 

 be the science on which the progress of medicine depends ; 

 so, music, having its root in emotional language, and 

 gradually evolved from it, has ever been reacting upon and 

 further advancing it. Whoever will examine the facts, Avill 

 iind this hypothesis to be in harmony with the method of 

 civilization everywhere displayed. 



It will scarcely be expected that much direct evidence 

 in support of this conclusion can be given. The iacts are 

 of a kind which it is difficult to measure, and of which we 

 have no records. Some suggestive traits, however, may 

 be noted. May we not say, for instance, that the Italians, 

 among Avhom modern music was earliest cultivated, and 

 who have more especially practised and excelled in melody 

 (the division of music with which our argument is chiefly 

 concerned) may we not say that these Italians speak in 

 more varied and expressive inflections and cadences than 

 any other nation ? On the other hand, may we not say 



