Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 170, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 July 1920 — Good Causes and Poor Tunes. [ARTICLE]

Good Causes and Poor Tunes.

Mr. Bernard Shaw, who has fallen foul of “The Red Flag,” which he regards as an air that would ruin any movement, seems to forget that many a good cause has been supported by a poor tune. The Belgian national anthem is a remarkably inane melody but that did not impair the resistance of Liege. And neither the words nor music of “God Save the King,” are particularly uplifting. The air of “Lillibullero,” that is said to have whistled James II off the throne of England, cannot have been a very distinguished one, for nowadays no one seems to know what it was. On the other hand the Russtannational anthem was easily one of the most stirring examples of its kind In Europe, but it did not save Russia from collapse. If the soviets have provided a substitute for it the result would probably please Mr. Shaw as little as “The Red Flag,” which he considers should be rechristened "The Eternal March of a Fried Eel.”—Manchester Guardian.