so　briefly　the　proof　of　my　belief—can　be　a　great　art。　But　is　anyone　ever　deterred　from　taking　part　in　amateur　theatricals　by　the　consideration　that　he　cannot　act　well？　Not　a　bit　of　it！　And　quite　rightly　not；　for　acting　is　one　of　the　things　about　which　I　am　writing　this　essay—the　things　that　are　worth　doing　badly。

Another　such　thing　is　music；　but　here　the　proverbial　fallacy　again　exerts　its　power；　as　it　does　not；　for　some　obscure　and　unreasoning　discrimination；　in　acting。　Most　people　seem　to　think　that　if　they　cannot　sing；　or　play　the　piano；　fiddle；　or　sackbut；　admirably　well；　they　must　not　do　any　of　these　things　at　all。　That　they　should　not　indiscriminately　force　their　inferior　performances　upon　the　public；　or　even　upon　their　acquaintances；　I　admit。　But　that　there　is　no　place　“in　the　home”　for　inferior　musical　performances；　is　an　untruth　that　I　flatly　deny。

How　many　sons　and　daughters　have　not；　with　a　very　small　talent；　given　their　parents—and　even　the　less　fondly　prejudiced　ears　of　their　friends—great　pleasure　with　the　singing　of　simple　songs？　Then　one　day　there　es　to　the　singer　the　serpent　of　dissatisfaction；　singing　lessons　are　taken；　and—if　the　pupil　is　of　moderate　talent　and　modest　disposition—limitations　are　discovered。　And　then；　in　nine　cases　out　of　ten；　the　singing　is　dropped；　like　a　hot　penny。　How　many　fathers　have　not　banished　music　from　their　homes　by　encouraging　their　daughters　to　take　singing　lessons？　Yet　a　home　may　be　the　fresher　for　singing　that　would　deserve　brickbats　at　a　parish　concert。

I　may　pause　here　to　notice　the　curious　exception　that　people　who　cannot　on　any　account　be　persuaded　to　sing　in　the　drawing…room；　or　even　in　the　bath；　will　without　hesitation　uplift　their　tuneless　voices　at　religious　meetings　or　in　church。　There　is