ished already; particularly in instruments of the pianoforte
genus. But it would be the task of a really advanced system of the
'mechanics of music' to closely observe, minutely study, and carefully
discover that class of sounds which belong, most purely and strictly,
to Nature herself, to obtain a knowledge of the tones which dwell in
substances of every description, and then to take this mysterious music
and enclose it in some description of instrument, where it should be
subject to man's will, and give itself forth at his touch. All the
attempts to bring music out of metal or glass cylinders, glass threads,
slips of glass, or pieces of marble; or to cause strings to vibrate or
sound, in ways unlike the ordinary ways, seem to me to be interesting
in the highest degree: and what stands in the way of our real progress
in the discovery of the marvellous acoustical secrets which lie hidden
all around us in nature is, that every imperfect attempt at an
experiment is at once held up to laudation as being a new and utterly
perfect invention, either for vanity's sake, or for money's. This is
why so many new instruments have started into existence--most of them
with grand or ridiculous names--and have disappeared and been forgotten
just as quickly."

"'"Your 'higher mechanics of music' seems to be a most interesting
subject," said Ferdinand, "although, for my part, I do not as yet quite
perceive the object at which it aims."

"'"The object at which it aims," said Lewis, "is the discovery of the
most absolutely perfect kind of musical sound; and according to my
theory, musical sound would be the nearer to perfection the more
closely it approximated to such of the mysterious tones of nature as
are not wholly dissociated from this earth."

"'"I presume," said Ferdinand, "that it is because I have not
penetrated so deeply into this subject as you have, but you must allow
me to say that I do not quite understand you."

"'"Then," said Lewis, "let me give you some sort of an idea how it is
that all this question exhibits itself to my mind.

"'"In the primeval condition of the human race, while (to make use of
almost the very words of a talented writer--Schubert--in his 'Glimpses
at the Night Side of Natural Science') mankind as yet was dwelling in
its pristine holy harmony with nature, richly endowed with a heavenly
instinct of prophecy and poetry; while, as yet, Mother Nature continued
to nourish from the fount of her own life,