Regards to Leicester Square, which is undistinguishable save by three notes and a modulation (I speak as one of the musically untutored) from thirty other tunes of its class. And if they would take the trouble to master this simple little French air and attack it boldly one after the other they would be amply rewarded. They would discover that after a period of bawling, with ears shut as far as possible to everybody else's efforts, their own voice would be heard blending deliciously with the voices of other people, and, what is more remarkable, they would be able to maintain their striking performance indefinitely. They would catch themselves harmonising, and would step instantly from the ranks of sheer noise into the ordered realm of Art. And they would be purified and give their regards to Leicester Square no more. Therefore the People's Palace Musical Festival is a thing to send guineas to, though I do not myself do this.
We did not attain our present degree of perfection in catch-singing without a good deal of toil. Nothing really worth doing, except eating and drinking and sleep, can be learned easily. You will remember that I had to teach two of our numbers to my wife. This was a terrible business. It is one thing to sing a tune so that one recognises it oneself; it is another to give it out
