At the risk of writing myself down a hopeless old fogy, I venture the opinion that we were more nearly upon this track when the much-ridiculed singing-school was in full swing and every child was taught the intervals and variations of the gamut, and ballads were popular and part-songs by amateurs a favorite entertainment for evenings at home, than we are in this year of our Lord.

The pews in that age united with a volunteer choir in singing with the spirit and with the understanding.

The few may not have played their part as well as now, but the many did their part better.

In the family, Jane may have surpassed her sisters in musical talent and proficiency, but one and all knew something of that in which she excelled, enjoying her music the more for that degree of knowledge.

This brings forward another argument for the musical education of the masses, large and small.