192.—MUSIC VS. COMMERCE.
We seldom hear of professional musicians leaving the field of music for that of commerce; or, in this country, of combining commercial business with the profession of music. There can be no serious objection urged to such a combination, however. When one is used to seeing the sign, "John Smith, Teacher of Music and Mender of Kettles," it loses its oddity, and surely no one can object if John teaches his music properly and does not punch another hole in his kettles for each one he mends.
The commercial and the professional instincts are not necessarily opposed to each other, but frequently where one is well developed the other lies dormant. The reason is that it takes years of apprenticeship to develop either, and that which is first developed generally remains the ruling passion.
Mozart had a pupil who, in spite of the greatness of the teacher, could only be brought to a fair standing as a vocalist and a third or fourth-rate position as a composer. Now, as a general thing a man most admires in himself those abilities which he is least successful in handling. And so it was that Michael Kelly thought more of his abilities as a composer than as a singer.
But after some years of professional life, Kelly found that his income was not satisfactory, and went into the wine business. As a wine importer he prospered. His friends joked him about the change of occupation, and Sheridan, the wit, declared his sign should read: "Michael Kelly, Composer of Wine and Importer of Music."