nd 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 that, confined
almost exclusively as they have hitherto been to their national airs,
which have a marked family likeness, and therefore accustomed to but a
limited range of musical expression, the Scotch are unusually monotonous
in the intervals and modulations of their speech? And again, do we not
find among different classes of the same nation, differences that have
like implications? The gentleman and the clown stand in a very decided
contrast with respect to variety of intonation. Listen to the
conversation of a servant-girl, and then to that of a refined,
accomplished lady, and the more delicate and complex changes of voice
used by the latter will be conspicuous. Now, without going so far as to
say that out of all the differences of culture to which the upper and
lower classes are subjected, difference of musical culture is that to
which alone this difference of speech is ascribable, yet we may fairly
say that there seems a much more obvious connection of cause and effect
between these than between any others. Thus, while the inductive
evidence to which we can appeal is but scanty and vague, yet what there
is favours our position.

* * * * *

Probably most will think that the function here assigned to music is one
of very little moment. But further reflection may lead them to a
contrary conviction. In its bearings upon human happiness, we believe
that this emotional language which musical culture develops and refines
is only second in importance to the language of the intellect; perhaps
not even second to it. For these modifications of voice produced by
feelings are the means of exciting like feelings in others. Joined with
gestures and expressions of face, they give life to the otherwise dead
words in which the intellect utters its ideas; and so enable the hearer
not only to _understand_ the state of mind they accompany, but to
_partake_ of that state. In short, they are the chief media of
_sympathy_. And if we consider how much both our general welfare and our
immediate pleasures depend upon sympathy, we shall recognise the
importance of whatever makes this sympathy greater. If we bear in mind
that by