FOR THE GIRLS

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 261, 4 November 1933, Page 2 (Supplement)

FOR THE GIRLS

MUSICAL EXPERIMENTS. SYMPHONIES IN THE FARMYARD

My Dear Girls, — Of course you rememberW*g-' YcXT simply no idea how exciting it ~ having a special . competition all to oneself. p The question as to whether or not animals are capable of »u»ical appreciation apparently appealed to club members, who forthwith set out to dtcoverTor themselves the effect music had on then- own P«*«J»r pets. The results were so diverse and entertaining that Peter Pan, ha. promised to devote a whole column to-day exclusively to our animal letters. In the first place it is an amazing fact that, except in one or two rare instances, Budgetites found their animal audiences amazingly appreciative. Cases of cats and dogs being sung to sleep were quite frequent. This I have often witnessed myself, although I have never yet seen a cat curl up inside a gramophone, as related by Florence and, Joan. But, dear me, how Peter Pan and I did chuckle when we read Noelle s account of her pet lamb prancing about the drawing room whilst the piano was being played. Mention of Peter Pan reminds me that you are doubtless eager to know if his own little experiment proved successful. I must confess I am utterly in the dark regarding this, as the most patient and persistent questioning on my part has failed to reveal either the subject of Peter Pan's experiment or the effect produced. He maintains a strange silence whenever the topic is introduced, and, whilst I wish to be quite fair, this seems to me to point definitely to the fact that Peter Pan's musical efforts were not appreciated. So far we have had instances of cats, dogs, horses, cows, pigs, chickens, lambs, moreporks. pigeons, canaries, bantam roosters and fowls showing a decided appreciation of music in various forms. There has, however, been no mention of rabbits or geese, or frogs or fish. Nor has anyone thought to try the effect of music on the "mousy minds" of pet mice. Besides, I am most anxious to hear the other side of the question. Music would appear to have a most soothing, and, in some instances (I have in mind snakes), fascinating effect on animals. But there must be certain animals not so affected. Similarly, whilst vocal music might be appreciated by an animal'audience, instrumental music may produce just the opposite effect. Thus, although, as several of you have discovered, a cow may be in a state of undoubted bliss whilst listening to you singing, would it, I wonder, register the same emotions were you to take your violin or ukulele to the fields and there serenade it? I must really bring this letter to a close now, girls, but first of all in answer to a query, whistling, for the purpose we have in view, may be considered as music. By the way, an animal expert advises me that one must go about one's experimenting in a gentle manner. Take care not to startle your pet by bursting suddenly into . song or crashing out "Rule Brittania" on the piano. OJkX -^ The animal is so surprised, and in some cases . \- alarmed, that the true .effect of your experiment ikj'^y^^