FRIEND.  But how do you find parents who sympathize with your ideas and with your lofty views?

DOMINIE.  I have found that almost all the parents of my pupils have entered into my views, if not immediately, at least after they had been present at a few lessons.  In the case of those few who would not enter into them, I have abandoned the lessons; but, nevertheless, I have found that my time has been fully occupied.  My friend, do you not think that views like these will assist in the training of young and inexperienced teachers, who are striving for improvement? and do you not think they will be useful even to those who already possess general mental culture, and who are animated by an ardent love for their calling?  I especially avoid giving here any exclusive method, a servile following of which would be entirely contrary to my intentions, and, in fact, contrary to my method.

But as for the rest!  Alas, all those who do not understand me, or who choose to misunderstand me, those are the worst!—­especially the ill-natured people, the classical people who bray about music, stride straight to the notes, and have no patience till they come to Beethoven; who foolishly prate and fume about my unclassical management, but at bottom only wish to conceal their own unskilfulness, their want of culture and of disinterestedness, or to excuse their habitual drudgery.  Lazy people without talent I cannot undertake to inspirit, to teach, and to cultivate.

This chapter will, almost by itself, point out to unprejudiced minds my method of giving more advanced instruction, and will show in what spirit I have educated my own daughters, even to the highest point of musical culture, without using the slightest severity.  It will, indeed, cause great vexation to the ill-minded and even to the polite world, who attribute the musical position of my daughters in the artistic world to a tyranny used by me, to immoderate and unheard-of “practising,” and to tortures of every kind; and who do not hesitate to invent and industriously to circulate the most absurd reports about it, instead of inquiring into what I have already published about teaching, and comparing it with the management which, with their own children, has led only to senseless thrumming.

CHAPTER II.

AN EVENING ENTERTAINMENT AT HERR ZACH’S.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE.

HERR ZACH, formerly a flute-player, not very wealthy.
HIS WIFE, of the family of Tz. (rather sharp-tempered).
STOCK, her son, 17 years old (is studying the piano thoroughly).
MR. BUFFALO, music-master of the family.
DOMINIE, piano-teacher (rather gruff).
CECILIA, his daughter, 13 years old (shy).

ZACH (to Dominie).  I regret that I was unable to attend the concert yesterday.  I was formerly musical myself and played on the flute.  Your daughter, I believe, plays pretty well.