Page:Sarah Sheppard - L. E. L.pdf/17

 noble is its origin! While, as a science, it is founded on that part of natural philosophy which, by mathematical deductions from constant phenomena, elucidates the properties of sounds, those sounds, which its philosophy distinguishes, music, as an art, combines in such a manner as to gratify our senses while it captivates our imagination. And then, how numberless are the technicalities of this art! what endless combinations of notes, what adjustment of tones, what adaptation of concords and discords, what varied modulations of harmony, enter into every noble composition! We have adduced these two illustrations to show, that if, for the arts which appeal so directly to the senses as music and painting, there is so little general appreciation of what goes to make up the productions of those arts, we must not be surprised if a yet more disparaging feeling be manifested towards the purely intellectual sources of enjoyment which it is the poet's especial province to create.

people have expressed surprise that a gifted mind like Miss Landon's should not have taken more pleasure in the Fine Arts; and have been at a loss to reconcile her love of poetry with her apparent indifference to music and painting. That she did not care for scientific music nor for elaborate pictures, merely as music and as paintings, was certainly true; but that she was utterly indifferent to the effects produced by music and painting, was not correct. Those who knew her were often witnesses of the influence of music on her mind; for in the midst, perhaps, of an interesting conversation, a few notes of melody floating to her ear from an