Music has gone thru exactly this same transformation. The tunes of Haydn, Mozart, and even Beethoven, are satisfied to be tunes and nothing more. They say what, and all that, they mean. The music of Brahms is full of a significance beyond the outer shell of it; it stands for something more than that; it is symbolic. Its style is the style of today; involved as compared with Beethoven's; as free rhythmically as Whitman's poetry; imaginative to a degree, and satisfying the demand, which we now make, that art shall cease to deal with forgotten ideals and turn itself to life as it is. "To paint man, man;" to beautify and enrich life as it is here now, rather than to sing the praises of deeds long since done; to find the heaven that lies within us, rather than to look longingly toward one beyond our vision. So that, when we look at music from this standpoint alone and understand its structure and the various stages of its development, we see in it a kind of deeper history; a relating of inward facts, "a real epic made of history; that is to say, a perfected melodious truth, the essence of it fairly evolved from all the chaff, the portrait of it actually given, and its real harmonies with the laws of this universe brought out." Granting all this, allowing that music is all I have said, the final question must be: What is its purpose in the scheme of life? Are the great masterpieces of music anything more than a series of historical tone-pictures? Let me begin answering these questions by clearing the ground of some débris which we have inherited from the old style of criticism. In the first place, then, music means nothing; teaches no code of morals; lays down no line of conduct; to a much less extent than painting or sculpture is it a guide to life. Secondly, it is no more divine than the other arts (as has often been claimed in the past), nor can it be said to be divine at all except in the sense that a great piece of engineering is divine. Looking at the art dispassionately, we must at least grant this much. There are, however, many significant facts on the other side. I will begin with the simplest and most important. Here is a faculty - we will call it that which is shared by vast numbers of peoples of different tongues; millions on millions of them, with different customs, habits, and sympathies, find in it a common bond of union. Not only that, but, in a certain sense, it speaks to each individual of that vast number in his own language. This is in itself a sufficiently significant fact. Anything which transcends great differences between such vast bodies of people is in itself a force to be reckoned with. Perhaps you remember that splendid passage in Carlyle's Frederick the Great, where he describes the famous march before the battle of Leuthen. Frederick was going out against vastly superior numbers. Thru the long, silent night his men tramped on, with what thoughts we may imagine. Many of them were to die, as they knew full well. Dumb, patient creatures they were, without any of our modern speculation and inward As they questionings, bent only on doing their duty by their king. tramped on thru the stilly night there burst from them a song: a hymn of praise, an old, old prayer for help in time of need. Inarticulate creatures, these, save in this one faculty shared in common, irrespective of tongues or conditions. What does that song mean? Isn't there something in it beyond the words? Doesn't the blood flow quicker, the heart grow warmer, as each feels the strength of a common sympathy and a common purpose as they sing the old, old tunes? Is there not something in their hearts beyond what words can teach? Could they would they expressed it, but for the music? have We are reminded of Voltaire's famous gibe: "What is too silly to be said is sung." Shall we not rather say: What is beyond the reach of words may find expression in music? Darwin's pathetic statement that he had become, thru his entire devotion to scientific pursuits, a mere machine for cataloging the habits of earthworms, and that poetry and music were no longer a pleasure to him; the testimony of our own experience, if we have ever come under the influence of Beethoven or Brahms, or of our own observation of those hard-headed people who have never felt the softening and ennobling influence of music, and who look on the world of the imagination as an entire unreality; Ruskin's saying that the love of beauty is a natural instinct in every healthy human soul; Emerson's famous lines from "The Rhodora": If eyes were made for seeing, Carlyle's "See deeply enough and you see musically"-these and a hundred other significant facts testify to the value of music as a factor in life. The old poets who sang of the music of the spheres and of celestial harmonies, who tell us that all things pulsate with a divine rhythm, and that life is everywhere and always a harmony, were not merely euphonistic. May it not be that, after we have resolved the many dissonances of which life is now so full, but which are lessening year by year, we shall at last come to a perfect harmony and live in that world of music of which the old prophets sang? DEPARTMENT OF SUPERINTENDENCE CHICAGO MEETING, 1901 SECRETARY'S MINUTES FIRST DAY MORNING SESSION.-TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1901 The Department of Superintendence was called to order in University Hall of the Fine Arts Building, Chicago, Ill., at 10 A. M., President L. D. Harvey in the chair. Prayer was offered by Dr. E. E. White, Columbus, O. After a few announcements by the president, Mr. E. G. Cooley, superintendent of the Chicago schools, was introduced and presented the first paper of the meeting, upon "The Gospel of Work." The paper was discussed by Superintendent E. H. Mark, Louisville, Ky. Mr. Howard J. Rogers, director of education and social economy, United States exhibit at the Paris Exposition, gave an address upon "Education at the Paris Exposi tion." The following question had been assigned a place upon the program by vote of the department at the meeting in 1900: Should the Department of Superintendence memorialize the Board of Directors of the National Educational Association to appropriate the sum of $1,000 for each of the next five years, to be expended in promoting the cause of simplifying our English spelling, under the direction of a commission to be named by this body? The discussion of the question was opened by Mr. E. O. Vaile, editor of the Intelligence, Oak Park, Ill. Others participating in the discussion were: John MacDonald, editor of the Western School Journal, Topeka, Kan.; Principal E. B. Prettyman, Maryland; Colonel F. W. Parker, Chicago; Mr. Slosson Thompson, of the Times-Herald, Chicago; and Superintendent Joseph Carter, Champaign, Ill. The time for the discussion having expired, and announcement to that effect being made by the president, Mr. Soldan, St. Louis, moved that the time be extended thirty minutes. Carried. The discussion was continued by Dr. E. E. White, Columbus, O.; Superintendent L. H. Jones, Cleveland, O.; Dr. W. T. Harris, United States Commissioner of Education; and was closed by Mr. Vaile, who offered the following resolution: Resolved, That this department respectfully presents the following petition to the Board of Directors of the National Educational Association, and asks for its favorable action thereon. [For full text of the petition see Mr. Vaile's address, p. 209.] Superintendent C. G. Pearse, Omaha, Neb., moved that the resolution be indefinitely postponed. Superintendent Joseph H. Carter, Champaign, Ill., moved to lay the motion to postpone upon the table. Vote upon motion to table: yeas, 74; nays, 104. Motion declared lost. Vote upon indefinite postponement: yeas, 105; nays, 77. The motion to indefinitely postpone was declared carried. Motion to adjourn to 2: 30 P. M. carried. AFTERNOON SESSION The department was called to order by President Harvey at 2:40 P. M. Superintendent J. M. Greenwood presented a paper upon "The Past and Future Work of the Department of Superintendence." Superintendent F. B. Cooper, Salt Lake City, Utah, opened the discussion. Dr. E. E. White moved that the paper of Superintendent Greenwood be published by the Board of Directors in form for general distribution. The motion was amended to include Dr. White's Historical Sketch of the Department." Carried. 46 Dr. W. S. Christopher, Chicago, gave an address upon "Medical Inspection in Schools." The following discussion was participated in by Superintendent Aaron Gove, Denver; Superintendent E. P. Seaver, Boston; Superintendent W. H. Maxwell, New York city; and Dr. W. O. Krohn, Chicago. After various announcements the meeting adjourned to meet at 8:15 P. M. EVENING SESSION The meeting was called to order at 8:15 P. M. by President Harvey. The president announced that President Arthur T. Hadley of Yale University, who was to have delivered the address of the evening, had been called home by the dangerous illness of his daughter. He then introduced President James H. Baker of the University of Colorado, who by invitation read President Hadley's address upon "The Use and Control of Examinations." The meeting adjourned to 9: 30 Wednesday morning. SECOND DAY MORNING SESSION.-WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27 The meeting was called to order by President Harvey at 9:50 A. M. The following committees were announced: COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS Superintendent L. H. Jones, Cleveland, O. Superintendent C. E. Chadsey, North Denver, Colo. State Superintendent C. J. Baxter, New Jersey. COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS Principal E. O. Lyte, Millersville, Pa. Papers were presented by J. H. Trybom, supervisor of manual training, Detroit, Mich., on "Manual Training in the Elementary Schools of Detroit;" by Principal Henry S. Tibbits, Chicago, Ill., on "The Progress and Aims of Domestic Science in Chicago;" by Superintendent Judson E. Hoyt, Menomonie, Wis., on "Work in Manual Training in the Public Schools of Menomonie, Wis." Dr. A. E. Winship, Boston, was recognized at this point, and in a brief speech presented President Harvey with a gavel with which to regulate discussion. The papers presented were discussed by Colonel F. W. Parker, Mr. J. H. Stout, Menomonie, Wis.; Mr. Bevans, Aurora, Ill.; Superintendent Joseph Carter, Champaign, Ill.; Professor C. M. Woodward. St. Louis; Superintendent George Griffith, Utica, N. Y.; and Mr. Trybom, Detroit. Professor R. Charles Bates, supervisor of manual training, Tome Institute, Port Deposit, Md., read a paper on the "Possibilities of Manual Training for Moral Ends." After various announcements the meeting adjourned. AFTERNOON SESSION Round-table meetings were held during the afternoon as follows, convening at 2 P. M.: I. "City Superintendents in Large Cities." Leader, Superintendent F. Louis Soldan, St. Louis. The topic discussed was “Organization of the Work of Inspection and Supervision thru Assistant Teachers and Principals, so as to Reach the Grade Teacher." The discussion was participated in by Superintendent L. H. Jones, Cleveland, O.; Superintendent William F. Slayton, Atlanta, Ga.; Superintendent H. O. R. Siefert, Milwau kee, Wis.; District Superintendent Leslie Lewis, Chicago; Superintendent William N. Hailmann, Dayton, O.; Mr. Anderson, Milwaukee, Wis.; Superintendent Soldan, St. Louis; Superintendent Z. H. Brown, Nashville, Tenn.; Superintendent William J. M. Cox, Moline, Ill.; District Superintendent Miss M. Elizabeth Farson, Chicago; Superintendent Thomas M. Balliet, Springfield, Mass.; Superintendent E. H. Mark, Louisville, Ky.; District Superintendent A. G. Lane, Chicago; Superintendent C. G. Pearse, Omaha; District Superintendent Charles D. Lowry, Chicago. II. "City Superintendents in Small Cities." Section A.— Leader, Superintendent L. E. Wolfe, Kansas City, Kan. The questions discussed were: "The Work of the Superintendent in Small Cities in Developing Greater Efficiency in the Teaching Force;" "The Advancement of Pupils thru the Grades along a Straight, Rather than a Broken, Line of Progress;" "How Shall We Secure Better Teaching from Those under Our Supervision?" The discussion of the first question was participated in by Superintendent A. K. Whitcomb, Lowell, Mass.; Superintendent J. H. Glotfelter, Atchison, Kan.; Superintendent W. F. F. Selleck, Austin, Minn.; Superintendent Joseph Carter, Champaign, Ill.; Superintendent Darius Steward, Stillwater, Minn. President I. C. McNeill of the West Superior Normal School, Wisconsin, opened the discussion of the second question named, and it was continued by Superintendent Arthur Powell, Marion, O.; Superintendent R. A. Ogg, Kokomo, Ind.; Superintendent F. Treudley, Youngstown, O.; President John R. Kirk, State Normal School, Kirksville, Mo.; Superintendent M. A. Whitney, Elgin, Ill.; Superintendent F. V. Hubbard, Red Wing, Minn.; Superintendent John Richeson, East St. Louis, Ill.; Superintendent George V. Buchanan, Sedalia, Mo.; Superintendent McDonald, Henderson, Ky.; Professor C. M. Woodward, St. Louis; Superintendent Aaron Gove, Denver; Superintendent P. R. Walker, Rockford, Ill. Superintendent George Griffith, Utica, N. Y., discussed the question: "How Shall We Secure Better Teaching from Those under Our Supervision ?" Section B.- Leader, Superintendent William J. Shearer, Elizabeth, N. J. The topic discussed was: "Grading for Efficient Organization in the Interest of Pupils." Those participating in the discussion were: Superintendent Shearer; Superintendent E. N. Coleman, Fort Dodge, Ia.; Superintendent Charles W. Deane, Bridgeport, Conn. Section C.-Leader, Superintendent T. A. Mott, Richmond, Ind. The subject discussed was: "Correlation of High-School and Grammar-Grade Work." The discussion was opened by Superintendent F. D. Boynton, Ithaca, N. Y., and continued by Superintendent C. M. Bardwell, Aurora, Ill.; Professor A. F. Smith, Kansas City, Mo.; Professor Daniel E. Phillips, Denver University; Principal George H. Rockwood, Chicago; Superintendent C. S. Marsh, North Tonawanda, N. Y.; Superintendent T. A. Mott, Richmond, Ind.; Superintendent Smith, Danville, Ill.; Dr. A. E. Winship, Boston; Superintendent J. F. Keating, Pueblo, Colo.; Superintendent J. N. Study, Fort Wayne, Ind.; Principal Samuel B. Hursh, Streator, Ill.; Superintendent Edward Ayres, La Fayette, Ind.; Superintendent Barto, Princeton, Ill.; Superintendent J. W. Carr, Anderson, Ind.; Superintendent B. F. Moore, Marion, Ind. The discussion was concluded by Superintendent Boynton, Ithaca, who summed up the points made in the discussion. Section D.-Leader, Augustus S. Downing, principal of Teachers' Training School, New York, N. Y. The question under discussion was "Literature in Grades below the High School." |