The National Music Of The World

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	Music from the South. 113

	The above, which is from M. Auber's ' Lac des Fees/ is a veritable type of French taste in melody, and affords a peep into such French fairyland as Watteau might have painted. It is worth comparing with the fairy music written by Mendelssohn for our ' Midsummer Night's Dream.' Once more—to be montonous, in reverting to French monotony—this characteristic may have been to some degree as much encouraged by the instrumental predilections of the French, as by the peculiarity of their voices. The national instrument has a drone, whether it be the vielle, or hurdy-gurdy, or the bagpipe—that primitive walking-organ, for which I have confessed a secret affection, utterly heterodox though it be. Madame George Sand, who has a keen musical sense and some understanding, assures us that in the central provinces of France many brave pipers are to be found, taught by ear and I