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\ 54 THE COLLEGE QUARTERLY. DOMESTIC ECONOMY. BY MRS. WELCH. SL.ANG. Slang is one of the habits formed almost unconsciously, and a refined looking girl will sometimes shock her friends by the cool utterance of a bit of vulgarity whose coarseness she does not appreciate. Surely, our noble language, rich in synonyms and full of vigor, has resources equal to every requirement of speech. It has strength and fire enough for the passionate utterance of the strongest emotions. It has melody and sweetness sufficient to express the softest and tenderest feelings. Burning indignation, hot wrath, intense devotion, sublimP feeling, dearest friendship, truest piety, can each, in turn, kindle the emotions or soften the heart in appropriate diction. It is not, therefore, because of the poverty of our language that slang has come into such extensive use. It is rather, in the first place, because of ignorance of its marvelous wealth, and, in the second place, because "evil communications corrupt good manners." A profusion of slang from a seemingly refined and otherwise pleasing young person, has somewhat the effect of ugly and decayed teeth in a beautiful mouth. While shut, we admire its symmetry. When open, its beauty is destroyed and a painful sense of incongruity spoils the whole face. Slang is inevitably coarsening. If habitually indulged in, it blunts the sensitiveness both to essential vulgarity and to delicate propriety of speech. While not as wicked, it is certainly as useless as profanity. It is only a milder sort of billingsgate, which, from being tolerated in good society, has, with the innate vigor which all bad things seem to possess, forced itself iuto prominence. It is like the shoddy, would-be aristocrat whose wealth gives him a place among decent people, but who constantly offends every sense of propriety and outrages every delicate sensibility. There is no accomplishment more to be desired than the power to talk easily, gracefuily, vigorously, and with propriety. With a mind properly cultivated, good taste, and a comprehensive knowledge of one's mother tongue, the open sesame to the most delightful social discourse is discovered. Pleasure to others and improvement to one's self is the sure result. This accomplishment is almost certainly placed beyond reach by the habit of slang. The very power to enjoy it in others is dulled and the hope of attaining it is destroyed by the fact that the first step towards purity of speech is the entire abandonment of slang. It destroys one's taste for retined conversation as too free use of strong drink spoils water for the drunkard. If any group of young people, talking after the common fashion of today, could, with unvitiated taste, hear the same conversation from others, they would surely forever after desist from the use of slang. MUSIC IN .A GIRL'S EDUCATION. To the symmetrical completion of a young girl's education, music is a necessary adjunct. To be thoroughly educated she need not be a gre:~t musician, but she shoulc\ have some knowledge of Ute art. A musical education does not consist merely i-n the ability to play the scales and I\ ve-finger exercises, or to rattle off a few pleasant melodies, or even to understand the rudiments of thorough bass or harmony. There is a vast realm of musical literatnre with which every young girl should be familiar. Think of the lives of Beethoven and Handel, and the beautiful lessons tang ht by Mozart's devotion to his art. To know something of these masters is surely as essential to a rounded culture as to be familiar with Shalrnpere or Milton, or to be acquainted with the immortRl concepts of Michael Angelo. It is granted that the best music cannot be fully appreciated except by t.hose who are themselves musicians. To understand and enjoy classic music one must have 'l trained ear and cultivatecl taste, and these are to be obtainecl only through personal study. Even if one is unable to play herself the works of the great masters, every hour spent in practice and study, aids in appreciating the performances of others more giftecl. Aside from these means of refinement that are missecl by her whose mnsical taste has be(•n neglectecl, there is the loss of many hours of pure enjoyment to herself and friencls. How many homes are macle bright ancl cheerful by the musical skill of one who can play only the simplest airs. How often father is rested, mother's cares forgotten, ancl the boys kept at home and away from mischief by an evening of music Contrast, too, the difliculty of entertaming a room-full of company without an instmment, and the ease wit.h which every body is kepl in good humor and macle happy when a piano ancl a performer are at hancl, ancl the expense of the one and the skill of the other seem well worth while. In return for the drndgery of the tirst year's practice there comes the pleasure that is always derived from playing correctly even the simplest piece. The feelings brought into play when we give ourselves up to the spirit of the music, and attempt faithfully to reproduce the thought of the composer, arc among the highest and purest of our nature. No mother need fear that her daughter will receive i1nything but good from the hours spent at the piano. The patience ancl perseverence which will necessarily be cultivated by earnest practice, will aicl to success in other studies, ancl the beautiful thoughts that will invariably till the mind of a lover of music when trying to ph1y that which has ll son! in it, cannot fail to help her to see new loveliness in nature and her surroundings. There is that in a simple ballad well sung, or a familiar air rightly executed, which awakens thoughts ancl emotions that arc chaste and elevating. Even the most sinful and degrndccl of mortals feel this power. I shall never forget a scene once witnessed in the penitentiary at Fort Madison. A party of us were visiting the place and had spent several hours looking about the work-slJ01is ancl prison rooms. '.Ve were all heart-sick at the sight of so many faces stamped with the mark of wicked passions, and, more than all, the terrible despair almost always seen in the expression of ll human being who is cagecl like a wild beast. As the last sight we were ushered into the dining room to see the prisoners all together at dinner. ·when they had linishecl the meal, the "\Varden requestecl one of the ladies to sing something for them. The briglit, sunshiny beauty of her face hacl been shaclowecl all day by a tencler, womanly sympathy, ancl now her voice tremblecl a little on the first strains of" Om l'ather, who ru't in Heaven." It rose clear and pure, however, a£ the petition, "l<'orgive us om trespasses," ancl when the last "Amen " clied away, there was not a dry eye in the room. Ifardened criminals, wh11se minds hacl contained for years but the vilest am\ wickedest thoughts, were silently crying ; and one handsome-faced lJoy was sobbing bitterly, with ·his face hiclclen in his hands. The words of the song had, no cloubt, often been listened to .~collingly, but the influence of the music ancl the beautiful, hircllikc voice of the sweet singer, lll'ought them home to their sinhardencd hearts with power indescribable. I am sme from personal experience tlu1t an hour a clay of practice is a help rather than a hindrance to study, and lam equally sure tlrnt there is no time in a girl's life when she is so certain to t:ikc an interest in her music as when her mincl is kept bright, and all her powers on the alert, by the intellectual exercise furnished by constant study. W.M.D. --
Object Description
Title | Writings in the College Quarterly (Iowa Agricultural College) |
Subject |
Welch, Mary B. (Mary Beaumont), 1840-1923 Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm Iowa State College Department of Domestic Economy Home economics Women -- Education Technical education |
Description | Topics include subjects taught in domestic economy courses, measuring the work of women in the home, plea for the higher education of cooks, and the legitimacy of teaching domestic economy. |
Geographic Subject |
Story County (Iowa) Iowa (state) |
Creator | Welch, Mary B. (Mary Beaumont), 1840-1923 |
Date | 1878-1889 |
Type [DCMIType] | Text |
Type [IMT] | |
Collection | Mary B. (Mary Beaumont) Welch Papers, 1858-2007, undated; http://findingaids.lib.iastate.edu/spcl/arch/rgrp/12-3-11.html |
Location | Iowa State University Library Special Collections and University Archives; http://archives.lib.iastate.edu/ |
Call Number | RS 12/03/11 |
Format | 27 x 20 cm |
Identifier | 12-03-11.Welch.001-007-004 |
Rights | This work has been identified as being free of known restrictions under U.S. copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights. The organization that has made this item available believes that the item is in the Public Domain under the laws of the United States, but a determination was not made as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. (CC Public Domain 1.0 and RightsStatements.org NoC-US 1.0). The original object is available at the Iowa State University Library Special Collections and University Archives (archives@iastate.edu). To request higher resolution reproductions of the original see http://archives.lib.iastate.edu/using-our-materials/making-copies/photographs-and-documents |
Hardware/Software | Dell OptiPlex 755; Windows 7 Enterprise; Epson GT-2500; Epson Scan ver. 3.49A |
Image Manipulation | none |
Date-Created | 2012-12-18 |
Format-Type | |
File Size | 2633826 Bytes |
Description
Title | Page 1 |
Collection | Mary B. (Mary Beaumont) Welch Papers, 1858-2007, undated; http://findingaids.lib.iastate.edu/spcl/arch/rgrp/12-3-11.html |
Transcription | \ 54 THE COLLEGE QUARTERLY. DOMESTIC ECONOMY. BY MRS. WELCH. SL.ANG. Slang is one of the habits formed almost unconsciously, and a refined looking girl will sometimes shock her friends by the cool utterance of a bit of vulgarity whose coarseness she does not appreciate. Surely, our noble language, rich in synonyms and full of vigor, has resources equal to every requirement of speech. It has strength and fire enough for the passionate utterance of the strongest emotions. It has melody and sweetness sufficient to express the softest and tenderest feelings. Burning indignation, hot wrath, intense devotion, sublimP feeling, dearest friendship, truest piety, can each, in turn, kindle the emotions or soften the heart in appropriate diction. It is not, therefore, because of the poverty of our language that slang has come into such extensive use. It is rather, in the first place, because of ignorance of its marvelous wealth, and, in the second place, because "evil communications corrupt good manners." A profusion of slang from a seemingly refined and otherwise pleasing young person, has somewhat the effect of ugly and decayed teeth in a beautiful mouth. While shut, we admire its symmetry. When open, its beauty is destroyed and a painful sense of incongruity spoils the whole face. Slang is inevitably coarsening. If habitually indulged in, it blunts the sensitiveness both to essential vulgarity and to delicate propriety of speech. While not as wicked, it is certainly as useless as profanity. It is only a milder sort of billingsgate, which, from being tolerated in good society, has, with the innate vigor which all bad things seem to possess, forced itself iuto prominence. It is like the shoddy, would-be aristocrat whose wealth gives him a place among decent people, but who constantly offends every sense of propriety and outrages every delicate sensibility. There is no accomplishment more to be desired than the power to talk easily, gracefuily, vigorously, and with propriety. With a mind properly cultivated, good taste, and a comprehensive knowledge of one's mother tongue, the open sesame to the most delightful social discourse is discovered. Pleasure to others and improvement to one's self is the sure result. This accomplishment is almost certainly placed beyond reach by the habit of slang. The very power to enjoy it in others is dulled and the hope of attaining it is destroyed by the fact that the first step towards purity of speech is the entire abandonment of slang. It destroys one's taste for retined conversation as too free use of strong drink spoils water for the drunkard. If any group of young people, talking after the common fashion of today, could, with unvitiated taste, hear the same conversation from others, they would surely forever after desist from the use of slang. MUSIC IN .A GIRL'S EDUCATION. To the symmetrical completion of a young girl's education, music is a necessary adjunct. To be thoroughly educated she need not be a gre:~t musician, but she shoulc\ have some knowledge of Ute art. A musical education does not consist merely i-n the ability to play the scales and I\ ve-finger exercises, or to rattle off a few pleasant melodies, or even to understand the rudiments of thorough bass or harmony. There is a vast realm of musical literatnre with which every young girl should be familiar. Think of the lives of Beethoven and Handel, and the beautiful lessons tang ht by Mozart's devotion to his art. To know something of these masters is surely as essential to a rounded culture as to be familiar with Shalrnpere or Milton, or to be acquainted with the immortRl concepts of Michael Angelo. It is granted that the best music cannot be fully appreciated except by t.hose who are themselves musicians. To understand and enjoy classic music one must have 'l trained ear and cultivatecl taste, and these are to be obtainecl only through personal study. Even if one is unable to play herself the works of the great masters, every hour spent in practice and study, aids in appreciating the performances of others more giftecl. Aside from these means of refinement that are missecl by her whose mnsical taste has be(•n neglectecl, there is the loss of many hours of pure enjoyment to herself and friencls. How many homes are macle bright ancl cheerful by the musical skill of one who can play only the simplest airs. How often father is rested, mother's cares forgotten, ancl the boys kept at home and away from mischief by an evening of music Contrast, too, the difliculty of entertaming a room-full of company without an instmment, and the ease wit.h which every body is kepl in good humor and macle happy when a piano ancl a performer are at hancl, ancl the expense of the one and the skill of the other seem well worth while. In return for the drndgery of the tirst year's practice there comes the pleasure that is always derived from playing correctly even the simplest piece. The feelings brought into play when we give ourselves up to the spirit of the music, and attempt faithfully to reproduce the thought of the composer, arc among the highest and purest of our nature. No mother need fear that her daughter will receive i1nything but good from the hours spent at the piano. The patience ancl perseverence which will necessarily be cultivated by earnest practice, will aicl to success in other studies, ancl the beautiful thoughts that will invariably till the mind of a lover of music when trying to ph1y that which has ll son! in it, cannot fail to help her to see new loveliness in nature and her surroundings. There is that in a simple ballad well sung, or a familiar air rightly executed, which awakens thoughts ancl emotions that arc chaste and elevating. Even the most sinful and degrndccl of mortals feel this power. I shall never forget a scene once witnessed in the penitentiary at Fort Madison. A party of us were visiting the place and had spent several hours looking about the work-slJ01is ancl prison rooms. '.Ve were all heart-sick at the sight of so many faces stamped with the mark of wicked passions, and, more than all, the terrible despair almost always seen in the expression of ll human being who is cagecl like a wild beast. As the last sight we were ushered into the dining room to see the prisoners all together at dinner. ·when they had linishecl the meal, the "\Varden requestecl one of the ladies to sing something for them. The briglit, sunshiny beauty of her face hacl been shaclowecl all day by a tencler, womanly sympathy, ancl now her voice tremblecl a little on the first strains of" Om l'ather, who ru't in Heaven." It rose clear and pure, however, a£ the petition, "l<'orgive us om trespasses," ancl when the last "Amen " clied away, there was not a dry eye in the room. Ifardened criminals, wh11se minds hacl contained for years but the vilest am\ wickedest thoughts, were silently crying ; and one handsome-faced lJoy was sobbing bitterly, with ·his face hiclclen in his hands. The words of the song had, no cloubt, often been listened to .~collingly, but the influence of the music ancl the beautiful, hircllikc voice of the sweet singer, lll'ought them home to their sinhardencd hearts with power indescribable. I am sme from personal experience tlu1t an hour a clay of practice is a help rather than a hindrance to study, and lam equally sure tlrnt there is no time in a girl's life when she is so certain to t:ikc an interest in her music as when her mincl is kept bright, and all her powers on the alert, by the intellectual exercise furnished by constant study. W.M.D. -- |