Scan 4
Musical Courier 1895-07-17: Vol 31 Iss 802, 1895
70 lines. Read by computer on 20 September 2026. Printed page 5. See the scan on archive.org.
1Music Life.
3A ROMANCE.
5H. SHERWOOD VINING.
7PROLOGUE.
9To all lovers of music and art, to all those who commend both fact and fancy, who find happiness in the "Dream Life," and those to whom hopes and aspirations are the real life and all other the dream, this little story is submitted.
11PART I.—ORGAN AND ORGANIST.
13CHAPTER I.
15E is a genius, I am convinced of it, and not only musical, but his very nature is music itself.
17These were the thoughts of Lilian Dayton, as she sat in the corner of a pew in the great stone church, pen- sive and lonely, listening to the organ strains, as the organist poured out his soul in sweet tones; realizing how wonderful was the skill of the organist who produced them, she thought, "He is a genius, and compels the soul of the organ to respond to his own."
19The rich many colored rays of light from the handsome stained glass windows glorified the solemn interior, while the life embued musical voices of the organ, glorying in their freedom, swelled sweet and full through the church, filling her soul with that peace which is not of this world, but which passeth all understanding, and bringing to the saddened heart a feeling of resignation and content, while her spirit waxed stronger. All her young life she had almost worshipped art and artists, and the conclusion to which she had just come gave her great satisfaction, for she had become an inmate of the organist's home; he was the son of her late guardian. Upon the recent death of Lilian's father he assumed the responsibility, which he was well aware his father, had he lived, would have gladly fulfilled to the utmost of his ability, for the daughter of his most esteemed friend. Lilian lost her mother when quite young, and a few scarcely known relatives in a distant city were all upon whom she had any claim.
21Mr. Dayton was a fine painter and deeply absorbed in his art, and his little daughter Lilian had been his constant companion and a partaker in his every artistic experience in the striving for the highest ideals and an artistic development; through that characteristic womanly sympathy and love which alone makes the earthly life endurable, and through a delicate, sensitive and susceptible nature, Lilian was able to comprehend his every phase of artistic being, and she devoted her life to him in that whole souled manner which was characteristic of her in everything that she did; always cheerful and contented, she was ever a brightening presence, being his "Sunshine," as he loved to call her, until he was summoned to the fulfillment of all earthly promise in that world where possibilities become realities. It was then that Lilian, who had lived in almost absolute seclusion with her father, neither knowing nor desiring any other companionship, suddenly found herself in new scenes among comparative strangers.
23Winfred Haskell had lived alone with his widowed mother, devoting himself entirely to music, which so completely absorbed him that he had made few acquaintances; his artist's soul was sensitive and shrinking, consequently he was reserved and even diffident, so that it cost him an effort to seek his young charge in her now desolate home, in order to escort her to his mother. "As he greeted her with the gently spoken words, 'I am your guardian,' all his manliness and quiet force of character were manifested in his bearing, for he evidently exerted much power of will to overcome natural diffidence, while his native kindliness was the more evident in his deep expressive eyes and the low tones of his voice, from his very powerlessness to give expression in words to all that moved him; withal there was great magnetism in his presence, and all this was quickly perceived by the usually shy Lilian who felt herself strangely drawn toward him; with that perfect confidence which is rarely given, her whole heart went out to him, and with a strange feeling that he possessed what was essential to her very being she instinctively followed him into the parlor, instead of withdrawing immediately upon greeting him, as she had intended, excused by the newness of her sorrow; as she offered her hand he frankly pressed it, but as if startled he quickly let it fall with that kindly but reserved, deep, inward look in his eyes so common to him.
25As he asked a few constrained but kindly meant questions he discovered an open piano, and with a feeling of relief he seated himself before it as the most natural thing to do, and with an absent minded air he struck a few full, sweet chords, which served as a flowing accompaniment to his speech, which became most sympathetic and friendly; Lilian in perfect appreciation of the sensitive musical nature, which could only perfectly express itself through musical tones, felt her own mind and soul expand, as she listened, while soul met soul in a strong undercurrent of feeling; Lilian's intuitive conception of and sympathy with the artist's soul prevented any consciousness of anything unusual.
27All arrangements for renting the house furnished for a term of years had been satisfactorily completed, and Lilian had gathered together all her personal effects, so that she was soon ready for her departure; the distance from Yorktown to Cathedral City was short and the journey uneventful; Winfred was very thoughtfully attentive, and on arriving she was met with a warm and affectionate welcome by Mrs. Haskell, who was kind hearted and motherly. Lilian was glad to retire to her room, as the evening was already spent, and she was affected by the novelty of her position in a strange household. Her room was a perfect dream in blue and gold, and she felt at home in it at once. The next morning Winfred accompanied her to church, where an impressive service was held, and in listening to the music of the organ she had come to the conclusion with which this chapter of her life in the home of a musician opens.
29In the afternoon of her first day in her new home Lilian was seated in the spacious drawing room with Mrs. Haskell, when a flood of organ music from the music room filled the house, and Lilian, listening, could not give her mind to anything that Mrs. Haskell was saying to her, while as response to some general remark she broke out with: "Oh, how beautiful!"
31Mrs. Haskell, smiling kindly as she noted her abstraction and listening attitude, said, "You enjoy music, do you?" "Oh! I love it!" Lilian said impetuously. "Then would not you like to go to the music room?" Mrs. Haskell asked, rising; "come, my dear."
33Glancing around as they softly entered, Lilian found an ideal artist's realm; the room was large and well lighted by windows on two sides, which opened upon piazzas; the walls were frescoed in deep rich red; the floor was of hard wood highly polished; richly colored Turkish rugs were scattered about; the sides of the room were lined with book cases, which Lilian later discovered were filled with music and works upon music; tables were covered with music journals, scrap books of musical extracts and of programs of concerts and operas. Busts of the great masters were scattered about on brackets, and portraits and medallions of well known celebrities, a St. Cecilia and the "Masters of Music" adorned the walls. The end of the room was entirely filled with a large pipe organ, a concert grand piano stood near, a desk stood near one window and comfortable chairs were scattered about in abundance. During the playing Mrs. Haskell was called away, and Lilian sat listening with heart, mind and soul, completely absorbed. As the last lingering chord died away Winfred turned toward Lilian, saying in a quiet way, "I felt your presence, although I did not hear you enter; you are a good listener, which always increases the enthusiasm."
35"I enjoy music, and I am glad if I did not disturb you; how finely that andante from the fifth symphony sounded on the organ, and Mozart's third symphony, the one in E flat, it is also one of my favorites. You were playing Mendelssohn's Consolation when I came in. I always wonder what the sorrow was that gave birth in the soul of the artist to that exquisite song of such sweet resignation and promise that 'sorrow is for the night, but joy cometh in the morning.' What a divine gift the power of musical creation is, enabling the artist to give voice to suffering humanity for all that stirs his inmost soul, echoes of that voice Divine only heard from within!"
37"'Only the musician,'" says the philosopher Schopenhauer, 'listens to the voice of the Spirit of the Universe;' so you are familiar with music; do you play?"
39"No, I have never been able to do more than learn the scales and the rudiments, which my mother taught me. After she died all my time was devoted to studying with papa the history of painting, sculpture and architecture, and reading biographies of artists; but I love music, and papa"—with lowered voice and drooping eyelids—"never omitted an opportunity of hearing fine music, and"—brightening—"I always accompanied him to Symphony concerts and operas; he said that he derived much inspiration from fine music, which might be called formal beauty animated with a spiritual life, just as architecture was aptly called 'frozen music.'"
41"Yes, the beautiful symmetrical form in musical composition embodies that ethereal intangible something we call the essence or spirit of music, that mystery which can never be solved in this world."
43As he spoke in an absent minded manner, as if thinking aloud, which was common with him, especially when speaking of music; Lilian drew near to the organ, observing the stops, keys and pedals with genuine interest and an absorbed air which at once put Winfred at his ease, and he very naturally began to explain many things about that most noble and wonderfully complicated instrument.
45"I always wonder," said Lilian, "why the organ has three rows of keys."
47"Because the organ is a union of several complete instruments. Each manual has its own soundboard, wind chest and stops. The middle manual or keyboard is for the great organ, the lower for the choir organ and the highest manual for the swell organ. Some large organs have two more manuals, one for the solo organ and another for the echo organ. The pedal keys also have a separate wind chest, soundboard and pipes."
49"Are the stops the means of producing the effect of orchestral instruments?" Lilian asked.
51"Yes, such stops as the flute and oboe, for example. The foundation stops or diapasons, however, produce the normal tones of the keyboard and extend through the entire compass; while the two diapason stops represent the whole organ, the others serve to give variety. Each stop is in effect an independent instrument; the complete stops have one or more pipes for each key on one of the manuals; the incomplete stops do not extend through the entire compass. The pipes of one stop differ in pitch only; those of different stops differing in tone quality."
53"I am so glad to have the explanation. I often hear the expression draw stop, and wonder just what is meant by it."
55"The handle is called the draw stop; it is the means of supplying the wind to a series of pipes, or cutting it off, as it is drawn in or out."
57Just then Mrs. Haskell entered, saying, "Are you two so interested in the organ that you pay no heed to the flight of time? the twilight is fast deepening and supper awaits us." She spoke very cheerfully, for in her kind heart she rejoiced to see that her son was being helped out of his natural reserve, and that their demure little charge was fast losing her bashfulness.
59"They will do each other good," she thought, "for Winfred is thrown in upon himself too much, and Lilian is altogether too quiet and serious for so young a girl; her father kept her too confined and too closely at study; her forehead, which is almost as prominent as Winfred's, and deep set eyes show unusual mental development. I know she can be as gay as other girls if she is brought out; when she is amused and pleased at anything her eyes sparkle like diamonds, and her low, rippling laugh is very sweet and pleasing to hear."
61While she made this mental criticism they all three passed into the pleasant dining room across the hall and seated themselves at the table. The bay windows on two sides of the room were filled with potted plants in profuse bloom, and fruit and flower pieces done in oil and water colors hung on the frescoed walls; the perfume of the flowers and the song of the birds which hung in the windows made the room very cheerful. "How charming this room is," said Lilian, "how lovely the garden looks through the windows, like perfect pictures in their frames!"
63"I am glad it pleases you; and as for the garden, it is looking its best just now; the rain has made everything so fresh," said Mrs. Haskell, while Winfred gave Lilian a gratified look.
65"Winfred, pass Lilian some preserves; we prefer to dispense with the maid at supper and breakfast and have a cosy time to ourselves," said Mrs. Haskell, and while they are having a little talk and disposing of the good things which are provided in abundance, we will take a look at them.
67Mrs. Haskell is a noble looking lady with broad forehead, over which silvery hair ripples, tempering its height and softening her intellectual face, which is very comely, and a mild, motherly look wins to her all hearts; her eyes are a soft brown, and her complexion is fair; she is altogether a very lovable lady, with a heart and soul brim full of poetry. Her son has her high, broad forehead and intellectual air, but there the resemblance ceases; he is dark, with dark brown hair and deep set brown eyes, which can be very penetrating; he is very dignified and manly for twenty-eight years, and though good looking is too manly to be called handsome; a face that impresses strongly, and an expression that appeals with all its manliness and quiet force; he is an artist through and through, with all that accompanies the artist's temperament. Lilian is just sixteen, of medium height, flexible and graceful, and very sweet and winning; a serious and dignified air makes her seem more reserved than need be, for on overcoming her natural bashful she becomes confidential and very charming. She is fair, with light golden brown hair, very curly and abundant, and deep violet eyes, dark eyebrows, well rounded pink and white cheeks, and small, regular features; she is very pretty, and her constantly changing expression makes her fascinating and bewitching. She has a warm, affectionate nature and a strong character to do and to bear.
69Supper over they adjourned to the drawing room, and while Lilian was making ready to attend services in the
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.