Russia in 1839 -Empire of the Czar: A Journey Through Eternal Russia

8MUSIC A MEANS OF EDUCATION.

of Divinity is not necessary to the wellbeing of a nation.*

Nevertheless, the wisdom and economy which direct the administration of affairs in this country, are, to the Prussians, just subjects of pride. Their rural schools arc conscientiously conducted, and rigidly inspected. In every village, music is employed as a means of amusing, and, at the same time, of civilising the people. There is no church without an organ, and in every parish, the school-master possesses a knowledge of music. On Sundays he instructs the peasants in singing, accompanying them upon the organ. They are thus, in the smallest villages, able to perform the chefs-d`œuvre of the old Italian and German school of religious music. Pieces of this ancient and severe school are not written for more than four voices. Where is there the country school-master who cannot find among those around liim a bass, a tenor, and two children, first and second soprano, to sing these pieces ? Every school-master in Prussia is a village Hullah.† These rural concerts preserve a taste for music, form a counter-attraction to that of the tavern, and prepare the minds of the people for religious instruction. ‡ This latter has degenerated among the Protestants into a course of practical morals ; but the time is not far distant when religion will resume her rights: the being endowed with im-

* The flight of three years, and a new reign, have already deprived this remark of a great part of its point.

† In the original, a "Wilhem Champêtre."—Trans.

I Could there not be found in France men who would devote themselves to establishing among us a system so excellent, and which has so long existed in Prussia ?