"
That this famous description of the effects of music which I have borrowed
from Mr. Dyer Ball's "Things Chinese" is not exaggerated,
anyone who knows China may confirm by personal observation
of the keen enjoyment an unlearned, common day laborer will find
in playing a single lute all by himself for hours beneath the moon
on a warm summer evening, with no one listening but the trees
and the flitting insects; but it requires a practised ear
to appreciate singing and a good voice. On one occasion
I went to an opera house in London to hear the world-renowned Madame Patti.
The place was so crowded, and the atmosphere so close,
that I felt very uncomfortable and I am ashamed to acknowledge
that I had to leave before she had finished. If I had been educated
to appreciate that sort of music no doubt I would have comprehended
her singing better, and, however uncomfortable, I should no doubt
have remained to the end of the entertainment.
While writing this chapter it happened that the following news from New York
was published in the local papers in Shanghai. It should be interesting
to my readers, especially to those who are lovers of music.
"`Yellow music' will be the next novelty to startle and lure
this blase town; amusement forecasters already see in the offing
a Fall invasion of the mysterious Chinese airs which are now having
such a vogue in London under the general term of `yellow music'.
"The time was when Americans and occidentals in general
laughed at Chinese music, but this was due to their own ignorance
of its full import and to the fact that they heard only
the dirges of a Chinese funeral procession or the brassy noises
that feature a celestial festival.
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