Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 139, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 June 1917 — Page 2

Origin of Our Old Patriotic Songs.

“Star Spangled Banner” once an old English club song, according to re* search of Music Division chief in Library of Con-gress-The “New Federal Song”and the“Presidenf s March”--The tune of “America” is Germanic

T A T no time so much as upon Independence day tire the patriotic songs of this country sung, and upon the coining Fourth of July, T|n |-M which finds the United 'll J States at war. the words and the tunes of the national songs will mean more to every American than ever before. Realizing that as time goes on, history, which may be probed for truth i»ow, in another generation would be too far removed from the links of living memory to certify accuracy, many men are giving time and effort to extracting the real historic facts from the maze of fiction surrounding the origin of many of this country’s naitlonal songs, which have become an important part of her integraLlife. No man has given more time and .more effort, nor sifted facts more thoroughly to get at the true history of our national songs, than has Mr. O. G, T. 'Sonneck, chief of the division of music iof the library of congress, an<X he has embodied these facts in reports published by the government in book form, which save them for all time. Unless he has traced a matter to the bedrock of Certainty, a report with Mr. Sonneck is never complete, and a call at his office in the music division of the library found him with his latest (Published reports on the national songs on the bookcase at his side, and all heavily interleaved with penned and penciled annotations which bring evlidence down to the very minute. Mr.

Sonneck permitted a recent caller to glean from these documental data regarding this country’s national songs and supplemented them with some additional verbal information. Almost everyone knows how the stirring words rushed from- the heart and hand of Francis Scott Key on the early morning of September 14. 1814, when the English were bombarding Fort McHenry. Fewer, perhaps, know that he jotted down the first rough draft of the song on the back of a letter as he sailed up the Fatapsco on one of the enemy’s vessels that early morning, when he saw “through the dawn’s earfly light that our flag was still there.” He completed this draft upon the American boat which brought him to ■Baltimore that evening, and later that night, in his /hotel in Baltimore, he made a clean copy of those jottings, and this first fair copy of the words Is still in existence and may yet be seen at the Walters gallery in Baltimore. On the morning after his arrival In Baltimore Key took his. poem to his friend and relative, Judge Joseph Hopper Nicholson, for his critical opinion upon It. This was evidently favorable, for it was immediately printed and Its [first appearance in public was in the •form of a sheet, or broadside, which whs distributed through the streets on the day after it was written. Its first dated appearance was in the Baltimore Patriot of September 20, 1814. Next day it appeared in exactly the tsame form in the Baltimore American, land then, in single sheets and In newspapers, It spread from Baltimore to

SOME POSTSCRIPTS

By means of a secret process a french scientist converts flowers, fruit and even animal tissues Into metal. A Minneapolis inventor’s adjustable road scraper has been designed to serve equally well as a snow plow. An entire notebook or a single sheet of paper is held equally well in a new copyholder -for typewriters in which the copy 18 advanced as desired by •fessing a lever.

other cities, until It hnd become a popular patriotic song throughout the country. * In its original printed form if bore the title, “Defense of t ? ort McHenry,” with the following introductory remarks, written by Judge Nicholson: The annexed gong was composed under the following circumstances: A gentleman had left Baltimore in a flag of truce for the purpose of getting released from the -British fleet a friend of his who had been captured at Marlborough. He went as far as the mouth of the Patuxent and was-not permitted to return lest the intended attack on Baltimore should be disclosed. He was therefore brought up the bay to th? mouth of the Patapsco, wherethe flag vessel was kept under the guns of a frigate, and he was compelled, to witness the bombardment of Fort McHenry, which the, admiral had boasted that he could carry in a few hours and that the city must fall. He watched- the flag of the fort through the whole day with an anxiety that can better be felt than described, until the night prevented him from seeing it. In the night he watched the bomb shells and at early dawn his eye was again greeted by the proudly waving flag of his country. The tune is that of “Anacreon of Heaven,” originally an English club song, popular among the younger set of Baltimore at the time Key wrote the stanzas. ■ - : * » ♦ “Hail Columbia” is a pure product of American soil in regard to both words anti music, and was written In 1798 by Joseph Hopkins, a prominent jurist, who lived from 1770 to 1842. The poet himself explains the circumstances which led to the writing of the words as folio wiG “Hall Columbia” was written in the summer of 1798, when war w’ith France was thought to he inevitable. Congress was then In session in Philadelphia, debating upon that important subject, and acts o£ hostility had actually taken place. The contest between England and France was raging, and the people of the United States were divided into parties for one side or the other, some thipking that policy and duty required us to espouse the cause of republican France, as_ she was J called, while others were for connecting themselves with England. . . . The theater was then open in our cjtx__.A..3mung man belonging to it, whose talent was high as a singer, was about to take a benefit. I had known him when he was at school. On this acquaintance he called on me one Saturday afternoon, his benefit being announced for the following Monday. Hfs prospects were very disheartening, but he

said that if he could get a patriotic song adapted to “The President’s March" he did not doubt of a full house; that the poets of the theatrical corps had been trying to accomplish it, but had not succeeded. I told him that I would tpy what I could do for him. He came the next afternoon, and the song, such as it is. was ready for him. Such is the history of the song, which has endured Infinitely beyond the expectation of the author. The song met with immediate success and was repeated again ami again, being named “New Federal Song,” and no entertainment of the day was considered complete without it. To run down the history of the music of “Hail Columbia,” written originally as the “President’s March,” Mr. Sonneck found a much more task titan giving the plain narrative of the applied words. Wading through an immense amount of historical data and some controversy upon the subject, he has brought out facts which he would only put forth after the most careful process of sifting ami deduction. “Until recently.” he said, “the musical origin of ‘Hail Columbia’ was as obscure as its literary history was dear.” But, weighing till the evidence In the ease, lie carefully sets down the•"fact~Thnt-1 he “President's MarcltT’which supplied the music for “Hail Columbia," was composed by Philip Plule. a resident of Philadelphia, of perhaps German or Swiss origin. and musician and instructor of note. (His name is usually spelled incorrectly; the above is the correct spelling.) * • • “America,” the national hymn, contains no mysterious history. It was

One end of a tool invented bv a Frenchman for smoothing rough edges of collars and cuffs serves as a buttonho'e opener. An English inventor’s safety suit for aviators is covered with parachutelike pockets and the entire garment can be inflated to help break the force of a wearer’s fall> An Inventor in Nebraska has patented wire netting covered frames to cover open automobiles to catch hats, veils, or other articles that otherwise might be blown away.

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

written by Rev. Samuel F.'Snflth, who lived until 1895, and has himself written luminously upon the subject. From Boston 'he wrote to Admiral Preble September 12, 1872: The origin of my hymn, "My Country, 'Tis of Thee,” Is briefly told, In the_yeat 1831 Mr. William Woodbridge returned from Europe, bringing a quantity of German music books, which he passed over to Txtwell Mason. Mr. Mason, with whom I was on terms of friendship, one day turned them over to me, knowing that I was in the habit of reading German works, saying, “Here, I can't read these, but they contain good music, which I should be glad to use. Turn Over the leaves and if you find anything particularly good, give me a translation or Imitation of it. or write a wholly original song— anything, so I can use It." Accordingly, one leisure afternoon, I was looking over the books Ami fell in with the tune of "God Save the King.” and at once took up my pen and wrote the piece in question. It was struck out at a sitting without the slightest idea that itwould ever attain the popularity It has since enjoyed. The first time it was publicly sung was at a children’s celebration of American Independence at the Park Street church. Boston. I think. July 4, 1832. If I had anticipated the future of it. doubtless I would have taken more pains with it. Such as it is, I am glad to have contributed this mite to the. cause of American freedom.—-t-t— ——— Mr. Sonneck hnd this to say regarding the nsn of an English tune to the words of “America “The main objection raised against ‘America’ has been the union of the words with that foreign air of cosmopolitan usage. ‘God Save the King? there is this difference, which should never be overlooked: If the Danes or the Prussians use ‘God Save the King' they have deliberately borrowed it from the British. Not so with us. ‘God Save the King’ was. before 1776, as much our national anthem as that of the motherland. Being a British air. it belonged to the British colonists just as much as it did to the Britons at home. ~~ : * * * •- '— : “ ‘Yankee Doodle’ is sometimes called a national song—incorrectly so, because, with a practically now obsolete text, or texts, it is hardly ever sung, but merely played as an instrumental

piece. Though no longer a national song, it is still a national air and second only to ‘Dixie’ in patriotic, popularity. Fpr 150 years ‘Yankee Doodle' has appealed to our people, and the tune shows* no sign of passing into oblivion. Many words have been spent in discussing the origin of the title of this song, and at least sixteen separate apd distinct derivations of the words have been seriously set before the public. r The earliest dated reference to the tune appears in the first American ballad opera, “The Disappointment,” Philadelphia, 1767. It was played in America as early as 1768, for in the Journal of Transactions in BostonrSeptembei‘2B.l7T®,we read: “The fleet was brought to anchor near Castle William; that evening there was throwing of skyrockets, and those passing in boats observed great 'rejoicing and that the Yankee Doodle song was the capital piece in the band of music.” . The earliest appearance in print of “Yankee Doodle” in Europe has been traced to James Aird’s “A Selection of Scotch, English, Irish and Foreign Airs.” published in Glasgow about 1780. Mr. Sonneck asserts that “Yankee Doodle" did not appear in print in America untn Benjamin Carr s “Federal Overture,” a medley of patriotic sotigs. Including “Yankee Doodle, and composed in 1704, was published, “Adapted for the pianoforte,” by B. Carr, New York, in January, 1795. Since then some interesting and now rare renderings of the piece have been Issued.

Youth.

'There is God’s gift of youth, inexpressible, beautiful, glorious, divine. It is for youth that the rest of us live; it is on their motions that we hang; it is for them that we labor, suffer, and endure; it Is for thetn that we flout the ills of life; it is for them that we are blind to death. Youth, — wonderful youth,—so great a gift to possess, so infinitely greater a gift to perceive in boys and girls about yon! —H. D. Sedgwick, in the Atlantic Magazine.

Trouser Skirts Gaining Ground

N'ew York. —It Is an oft repeated assertion that the French never give up the idea of trousers for women, and the world that is opposed to such an idea always comes back with the statement that France, who adores the feminine in woman more than any other nation in the, world, insists upon her wearing a costume that is entirely mannish. It was France who opposed the An-glo-Saxon coat and skirt of worsted material on the ground that it took away from women that alluring semi- f ninity which is their chief charm. It was the Paris designers who said that they never pared to perfect themselves In the making of costumery that was pot befitting to the soft curves and coquetry of a woman’s figure and face. And yet, it is Paris who, for at least six years, has insistently struck the note of trousers for women throughout the seasons. She points to the trousers of the Orient, however, as the ones to 'be imitated. The bifurcated garments that she Resigns are full of feminine touches. They are not ‘the square, rigorous “pants” of the male attire of this generation. And yet, one of the most coquettish things the little girls of Montmartre do in Parisris to swagger about the restaurants in boyish attire —the large trousers of the quarter, the short jacket, the soft shirt with its rolling collar and the flowing student’s tie. It was these little French girls who first bobbed the hair off a la Buster Brown and wore the slouch hat pulled [ down over the forehead. When this coiffure —or lack of coiffure —was introduced here by Mrs. Vernon Castle and taken up by a thousand and one other women in and out of society, it was thought to be something quite outrageous. France had accepted it for ten years without a quiver. Her pe<> pie asserted that the bobbed hair of a boy was excessively coquettish against the allurement of a young girl’s face. However, in tl}is country, especially in New York, there are now women of fifty with gray hair who have it bobbed to the ears and freshly curled every day; so the antagonism has evidently died down. Coquettish Ways With America does not seem to be averse to trousers; now that the first shock is over, she looks upon them with calm acceptance, provided they are cut according to the coquettish manner which France insists upon. They are usually part of a skirt, they do not Indicate the shape of the leg above

This summer suit of velour is light green striped with a double black line, the coat and skirt fastened with black bone buttons. There are a directoire collar and revere with Japanese sleeves.

the knee and they are managed in some fashion that gives attractiveness to the entire garment. Erte, the young French designer who was with Paul Poiret, invented the wlrffeVcloth sklrt that itself at the\Mem into tight-fitting gaiters with a strap under the shoe. This was the very first indication of the now famous zouave skirt. —. There are already several patterns of .walking skirts, and also those used for sports in the open country, which are made of shadow plaid or vaguestriped worsteds that resolve themselves into a kind of puttee from knee to ankle. On the stage, and in the restaurants where women dance, there are more extravagant trousered effects in skirts, such as full garments of crepe de chine or satin which drop from a high waistline and end in .tight-fitting leggings -of jet, crystal beading or gold and silver lace. These leggings inclose only the calf of the leg, the knees being covered by full zouave drapery of the skirt, and the qnkles by silk stockings, with high-heeled, brooded slippers as a finish. . n ’ •« xT... . < - -v. .

Everyone knows that the new. evening slippers designed after the French pattern, are often carried to the calf of the leg by means of wide straps of jeweled leather or gold or silver lace. These strings are folded and interlaced about the ankles and finished at the top without a bow. . Some of the smart women who wear the zouave skirt with the short, jeweled leggings that stop four inches above the ankles, add a jeweled bracelet or a ribbon of black velvet at each ankle, in the Oriental manner. The fashionable demand for gold and silver lace done in the pattern known as lame, which means that the bullion threads are flattened out by a

This Outdoor smock is made of gray Jersey with yoke of worsted embroidery. The front, back of sleeves and pockets are laced with , colored cord finished with wooden balls.

heavy roller to give the effect of being Ironed into the cloth, gives rise to short, tight leggings made of either lace. The metal tissues are not revived for summer, and only chiffons, crepes de chine and thin satins are used for evening gowns; therefore one does not get the impressive Oriental effect from the jeweled leggings that one would receive If. the gown itself were full of bullion threads, as it was last winter. The Zouve Uniform Skirt. None of these trousered skirts is narrow. Every one that France has sent over and that America has adopted has its trousered effect arranged in the Slavic or Oriental manner. The insistence upon the silhouette of the zouave uniform is conspicuous everywhere. This uniform is used by the Algerian troops fighting for France, and it is most picturesque, with the full trousers like skirts, the colored sash, the short, tight jacket and the wrapped leggings from knee to ankle. This idea of inclosing the leg with wrappings of any kind goes back to the earliest history of the race. It may be prehistoric, but we know that the earliest garments of men were wrapped about the legs with strings or vines, to keep the material compact, against the flesh. Therefore, when we revive this ancient and honorable custom we are going back to the cradle of civilization, and it is only natural that the Oriental races, where civilization began, should have retained this idea in the dress for both man and woman.

France sends us many afternoon gowns as well as walking skirts which hang full from a high waistline in either plaits or fine gathers and are tucked in around the legs in some fashion, to suggest trousers. The bifurcation is often in front, not in back, and some of the great dressmakers in France drop plaited panels of ornate needlework in the Slavic fashion down the front of the garment from bust to hem of skirt, in order to hide the bifurcation ; but it is there just the same. This silhouette, which, keep in mind, is patterned after the Oriental idea of trousers, and not the Anglo-Saxon one, gives rise to an artistic variety of skirts-that for the present seem to attract several classes of women. Possibly, in peace times or in an era of ceremonial social dignity, this idea would not advance so rapidly among the women of two continents, but with millions of women called to take the places of men, with ceremonial society simply gone by the board and with efficiency, utility and the greater degree of comfort being the things that women worship today, tlie trousered skirt is gaining headway every week. (Copyright, 1917. by the McClure Newspaper Syndicate.)

Sewing Room Improvement.

The sewing room Improvement which has been the most help to me is a small basket which hangs against the end of the sewing machine, its top about on a level with the table top of the machine, says a writer In the Woman’s Home Companion. It is just as easy to brush ends of thread and clippings from the goods, with one motion of the hand into this basket, as to brush them to the floor—resulting in a much cleaner floor. The basket hangs over two small hooks which were screwed into the end of the machine and is ea» ily removed to be emptied.

BUSINESS GOOD IN CANADA

110 Financial Depression, and None Since the War Began. A well-known correspondent of aa important Western daily paper recently made an extended visit to Western Canada, and in summing up the results, after going thoroughly into conditions there, -says there is no financial depression in Canada, nor has there been anything of the sort since the war began. Anyone who has watched tho barometer of trade, and seen the bank clearings of the different' cities* grow and continue to have arrived at the same conclusion. The trade statistics reveal a like situation. The progress that the farmers are making is highly satisfactory. As this correspondent says: “It is true there have been adaptations to meet new conditions, and taxes have been revised, and that a very large burden of added expense in many lines has been ■ assumed, but it has all been done methodically, carefully and with full regard for the resources to be called on. “That this has been done fairly and wisely is proved by the present comfortable financial position. “With the exception of a restricted area in the east, Canada is not an industrial country. The greater portion of the Dominion must be classed aa agricultural area, with only an infinitesimal part of it fully developed. “Lacking complete development, th© agricultural portion of Canada has naturally placed its main dependence upon fewdb resources than would b© the case in the States. Even in peace times, business would be subject to more frequent and wider fluctuations, due to the narrower foundation upon which it rests. “Thus, Canada has been able to come up to the war with efficiency and sufficiency and to qiaintain and even advance its civilian activities.

“Canada’s first element of financial strength lay in Its branch bank system. This system has two great advantages : it makes the financial resources of the Dominion fluid so that supplies of capital can run quickly from the high spots to the low spots; also, it places at the command of each individual branch the combined resources of the whole institution so that there is an efficient safeguard against severe strain at any on© point. “Here in Winnipeg, the all-Canada banking houses maintain big, strong branches and, as elsewhere in the Dominion, these held to an attitude of saneness and solidity that prevented even the start of: any financial disturbance. That business generally is now coming strong on an even keel is largely due to the absolute refusal of the banks, both branch and independent, to exhibit the slightest signs of excitement or apprehensiveness. “For all Canada the savings bank figures are astonishing. Beginning with 1913, they are, for the fiscal year ending March 31: . 1913 $622,928,968 1914 ' 663,650,230 1915 683,761,432 1916 738,169,212 1917 , 888,765,698 “These figures represent what Canadians have put away after paying th© Increased living cost, which is about the same as in the States, all increases in taxes and imports of all kinds made necessary by the war and generous subscriptions to war bond issues.

“Prohibition has helped greatly in keeping the money supplies circulating in the normal," necessary channels. Tradesmen generally attribute a large part of the good financial condition to the fact that the booze bill has been eliminated. Canada takes law enforcement with true British seriousness. ** “Financially, as In every other respect, Canada has developed sufficiency. She has done it in spite 01 teltlai conditions which would not look promising in thb States and she has done it in a big, strong way. “One of the best things we did,” said one of the leading Winnipeg bankers to me, “was to decide early in the game that ike simply would not borrow trouble. “We started in ignorance of how the war would develop and without knowing exactly what our resources were, and had tcrfind the way. “And yet Canadians are not overburdened with taxes nor are they complaining of them. For the common people there has been but a slight tax increase, if any, in a direct way. Indirect payments, of course, are made in the shape of higher prices for living commodities, but the price advance on such items is no heavier than in the States in the same period.”-—Advertise-ment.

Soldiers of One Army.

"Are not. ail true men that live, or that ever lived, soldiers of the same army, enlisted under heaven's captaincy, to do battle against the same enemy, the empire of darkness and wrong? Why should we mlsknow one another, fight not against the enemy; but against ourselves, from mere difference of uniform? All uniforms shall be good, so they hold in them true, valiant men.”— Carlyle. f

Long Enough and Cold Enough.

The winter that has just closed was the longest and coldest winter in 840 years, so it is announced by the “oldest Inhabitant In England.” Well, we can easily believe him, but isn’t he an old. fellow and hasn’t he a wonderful memory?—Providence Bulletin.