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Facsimile PDF - Online Library of Liberty

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20 JfETHODS OF SOCIAL REFORM.<br />

tnsto in Ettgland during thirty ycnrs past, in 8 p:tpsr rend to<br />

the Social Science Association in 1879, Report, p. 'itis. But<br />

cvcn 3f.r. Iia116's admirable concerts are not popular in tho<br />

sense in which I should wish to see musical entertainments<br />

popular. Only about twenty such concerts are given in Nanchwter<br />

in tho year,* and the espenses are such that the<br />

average cl1ar.p <strong>of</strong> admission is decidedly high. But if a hall<br />

nt lcrtst equal in size and acoustic excellence to the Free Trade<br />

II:III Wrro erected in the centre <strong>of</strong> London, with its enormous<br />

resident popultbtion, and its ever-increasing streams <strong>of</strong> tourists<br />

tmtl provincial visitors, it might be possible to maintain n<br />

varied but unceasing series <strong>of</strong> musical entertainments fronl<br />

one end <strong>of</strong> the yrar to tho other. Why this should be imposriblo<br />

I am unable to understand, seeing that, in the very<br />

dullest season, the Mcssrs. G-ntti are able, night after night,,<br />

to givo adrnirallo Promenade Concerts at Covent Garden.<br />

These concerts, as they arc so wisely collduct.ed by Mr. Sullivan<br />

and Nr. Alfred Cellier, fulfil in all respects (except one or<br />

two) my iden <strong>of</strong> what ovory great town should have nightly in<br />

the wny <strong>of</strong> musical rccreation. Those who have noticed the<br />

manucr in mllich a confessedly popular and casual audience<br />

wccivc tllo Symphonies <strong>of</strong> Beethoven, and the remarkable im-<br />

prcssion produced by the truly pathetic siuging <strong>of</strong> Madame<br />

Antoinette Sterling, will not despair <strong>of</strong> musical taste in<br />

England.<br />

I wish that those mho mauago our English pleasure-places<br />

codd bc induced to take a trip to Copenhagen, and Iertrn how<br />

n~uch better they manage things there. The Tivoli pleasuregnrdons<br />

there form the best possible model <strong>of</strong> popular recreation.<br />

Englishmen thiuk <strong>of</strong> Denmark only as a very lit&<br />

nation, which they patronised, and advised, and lectured, and<br />

then coolly deserted in tho hour <strong>of</strong> need. But though small<br />

in quantity, Denmark shames us in quality. We ape not<br />

surprised when a Frenchman surpasses us in politeness, and B<br />

* In addition to Mr. Halle's more classical series should be mentioned<br />

a series <strong>of</strong> ten concerts given yearly by Mr. De Jong, in the<br />

asme hall. I do not happen to hnve attended them, but believe that<br />

they fulfil, to a certsin extent, the need <strong>of</strong> popular musical recreation.

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