234 THE OEIGIN AND FUNCTION OF MTJSIC. 



have iufluenced 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 effect 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 jDhenomena 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 coming 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, will 

 find 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 facts 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 whom modern music was earliest cultivated, and 

 who have more especially practised and excelled in melody 

 (the division of music ^vith which our argument is chiefly 

 concerned) — may we not say that these Italians speak in 

 more varied and exj^ressive inflections and cadences than 

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



