o_ signs each; if the halves or thirds have been divided by
_three_, then each principal bar covers two or three little groups of
_three_ signs each.

Nothing could be more simple than this. The eye has always before
it, separate and distinct, the unit of time or beat; and the mind
apprehends instantly the number of articulated sounds, prolongations
or silences (rests) that must be sung or played during that beat.
The eye has no hesitation, the mind no calculation, as to what note
commences or ends a beat. Even the most modest student of music will
see the immense advantage of this. Nor is there any need for the
multiplicity of fractions to express different kinds of time. The
moment the eye rests upon the score the student knows the measure as
definitely and certainly as he knows the letters of the alphabet.

"And is this all there is in this system of notation?" some one will
ask. Practically, Yes. There are the symbols of intonation, the
numerals and the dot--the dot below or above the notes showing the
octave ([5.] [.5]); the two diagonal lines indicating flats or sharps
(\3 /3); the horizontal bar indicating the time (123 123[*]); and the
vertical line or bar dividing the measures (123 | 432 |).

___ ___
[*: 123 123]

The following is the air "God Save the Queen!" or, as we call it,
"America," written in this method. The lower line, of course, is the
alto:

KEY OF G.

_____ ____
1 1 2 | 7 . 1 2 | 3 3 4 | 3 . 2 1 | 2 1 7 |
[5.] [5.] [6.] | [5.] . [6.] [7.] | 1 1 1 | 1 [7.] 1 | [6.] [5.] [5.] |

___ ___
1 . 0 | 5 5 5 | 5 . 4 3 | 4 4 4 | 4 . 3 2 |
5 . 0 | 3 3 3 | 3 . 2 1 |[7.] [7.] [7.] | 2 . 1 [7.] |

______ ______ ___ ___
3 4 3 2 1 | 3 . 4 5 | 6 4 3 2 | 1 . . ||
1 [6.] [5.] [4.] [3.] | 1 . 1 1 | 1 1 [7.] | 5 . . ||

It will be noticed that the dot in the second measure which prolongs
the note _si_ (7) is not placed against it, as we are accustomed to
see it. It is carried forward into the second beat, where it belongs.
There it is grouped with the note _do_ (1), and occupies one half of
that unit of time; for all the signs grouped under a line or under the
same number of lines are equal in time to each other, the same as
all isolated signs are. In the sixth measure the dot is isolated;
therefore it fills the whole beat, while t