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26 National Music of the World. |
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dancing); preferring a home performance on a wretched little dulcimer by one of their own suite —as Mr. Fraser commemorated in his lively narrative—and only really captivated by the lights and the tinsel of Vauxhall, where, they said, 'true joys abounded.' I shall never forget the stolid, turmeric-coloured countenances, without a glimmer of curiosity or intelligence to light them up, with which the Japanese ambassadors witnessed one of the performances of the Sacred Harmonic Society. It might have been thought that the mass of violent sounds in the forte passages must have impressed them with wonderment, at least; but no, they endured the infliction in the fulness of stolidity. That was all. This insensibility to vocal charms is not necessarily a case of inexperience. It has been proved, past doubt, that a people ranking far lower in the scale of civilisation and culture than any Orientals,5—the North American Indians—have repeatedly expressed a passionate, ignorant delight
5 While tracing out this incoherence, which must so perplex every one who desires to force a theory as to the connection of the fine arts, the admirable instinct (if so it be) of the Hindoos in the harmony of colours must not be overlooked. Then, *part from their mechanical perfection as specimens of inlaid metal work, the Japanese bronze vases have often a grace of form not to be exceeded by the most exquisite examples of Etruscan earthenware. |
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