Most persons have remarked the superior affability, the polish of manners, that distinguishes the people of France. It is also observable that this nation is much devoted to music; that which is produced by their own composers, and most in use by the people, being usually of the graceful, brilliant style. An eminent French writer states, that, for the possession of these pleasing characteristics, this nation is indebted to that ancient order of musicians, the troubadours, whose musical qualities, politeness, and other winning graces, laid the foundation of the same. It is said that the ancient Egyptians held music in such high esteem that they employed it as a remedial agent, believing it a sure cure for certain kinds of disease. While such a belief--that is, in its entirety--may not be held in modern times, yet this notion of the curative qualities of music does not seem so very fanciful or mysterious after a little reflection. We know that nothing so generally conduces to recovery from sickness as those influences that inspire feelings of cheerfulness, and that serve to divert the mind of the patient from a contemplation of his bodily sufferings,--it being almost a proverb, that "a pain forgot is a pain cured,"--and that one of the chief of such agencies is the soothing, inspiriting charm of music. It is not meant by this, of course, that music is of itself and specifically a cure, but that it may be often employed as a powerful aid in effecting the same. We know, moreover, that this delight-affording art may be profitably used to "minister to a mind diseased," and that its aid is often invoked by those physicians who are most skilful, if not in curing, at least in ameliorating the condition of, persons afflicted with that terrible malady, insanity. Perhaps Saul of olden times, who is said to have been once possessed with an "evil spirit," was then simply insane; and, taking this view of his condition,--which is, after all, the one that seems the more correct,--the statement in the Bible, that David drove away this evil spirit by his skilful playing upon the harp, becomes easy to understand, since the occurrence is thus divested of its miraculous character.