MUSIC.
Dinah begs us to give her “a great ‘hunch’ of advice” as to the kind of instrument she may purchase for ten shillings, because, having rather limited means, amounting to “tenpence per week,” she “could not give a high price.” She thinks “a bango would suit her, because much like a nigger,” etc. We advise her to go to a musical instrument shop and see what she can get for the price she names.
Rob Roy.—One of the largest organs in the world is, we believe, that which you may see in the Royal Albert Hall, South Kensington. It is by Willis. It contains 111 sounding stops, and nearly 8,000 pipes. Next to it is the organ in St. George’s Hall, Liverpool, which has 5,739 pipes; and the Crystal Palace organ has 4,568 pipes. The organ may be splendidly played by a woman, but, on account of the foot pedals, it is by no means suitable for her. The strain upon the back and lower part of the frame is very apt to result in physical injury.
Mary Bird.—There is no reason why you should not play the flute, if you have one, excepting that it distorts the shape of the mouth—at least, for the time—and it is, we suppose, on this account unusual as an instrument for female culture. The clarionette would be equally objectionable for some faces, yet it is not unfrequently adopted by women. The oldest tune or piece of music in existence is of Hebrew origin—i.e., the “Blessing of the Priests,” which is used in the Spanish and Portuguese synagogues, and was sung in the Temple at Jerusalem from very remote times.