The Sunday Oregonian., July 01, 1917, SECTION FIVE, Page 2, Image 62

WHAT
NG IN
FROM "YANKEE DOODLE" OF REVOLUTION TO
jnT TrrTfrnrr
BY JOSEPH JACKSON.
T R.ENCH warfare, which Is charac
W teriBtlo of the present conflict In
Europe, has changed the whole
course ' of the soldiers' daily life. In
stead of 'singing: around, the campflre
at night they are snugrly gathered In
their dugouts, comparatively safe from
the constantly exploding:, shells, which
Khriek and howl and burst with great
noise throughout the night. Instead
of long: marches, soldiers are quickly
carried to the front by means of trains
or motors.
All of wlilch has changed the recrea
tions of the man in khacki. He needs
amusement, so it is furnished him in
Improvised theaters close behind the
trenches. There the soldiers amuse
themselves because there usually Is a
large timount of professional talent In
the ranl'ts, and the soldier nowadays, in
stead oi' singing to himself around a
campflrtt, sits in the trench theater and
listens to a concert, a play or even
looks on a motion picture.
Despite this, however, the soldier has
his songs, just as the soldiers of other
wars had their favorite musical com
positions. In the early days of the
war, when the British troops were
mobilized and moved to the front, they
discovered that the practice marches
were a little more easy to the man car
rying a Complete equipment if he kept
time witit the tune of "It's a Long,
Long "Way to Tipperary." The song
had Just that element that made it a
good marching tune, and its words also
had In them something that mirrored
the soldier's feelings. He felt that it
was a long, long way from home and
from those he loved. The sentiment
appealed, and the tune was a lively
one that made the feet fall lighter' on
the road.
Many songs have been written for
the soldier, and, indeed, are being writ
ten, but all of thvese do not reach their
target equally. It is more likely that
a song that was written without the
soldier in view, but revealing some
thing of the human element la it, will
be the one selected.
"Yankee Doodle."
It was the case In the Civfl War, It
was the rule in the Revolution and In
the "War of 1812, to say. nothing of the
Mexican War. The, American soldier
always has been abaundantly supplied
with musical numbers for all his needs,
and those he adopted usually touched
the mark where his bump of senti
ment was strongest.
The collections of songs which have
been published in every war are not to
be taken as a criterion of the songs
that the soldier found best adapted to
his purpose. Of the numerous ballads
that were published in the newspapers
and magazines during the Revolution,
scarcely 3 per cent actually were
known to the soldiers who fought In
that struggle from having heard them
sung. The Revolution was by no means
a musical war. . It was a grim, hard
business, without any surplus food and
without the necessary clothing. With
the British troops life was a little
more pleasant.
Several songs, however, were known
and sung by the Continental soldiers in
the Revolution. The best-known song
was "Yankee Doodle." The air was old
when the war for independence began,
and was known everywhere in the Col
onies. There is evidence that it was
known at least as early as 1767, for
there Is a song written in that year
that is directed to be sung to the air
of "Yankee Doodle.
The New England troops particularly
were partial to this song, but that wafc '
before 1778, when Hopkinson wrote his
"Battle of the Kegs." That song, a
satire on the King's troops, was writ
ten to the same meter as the older
song, and had a great deal of humorous
satire in its words. It soon became a
favorite. Surgeon Thatcher, of the
Contiental army, wrote of it:
"Our drums and fifes afford us a fa
vorite music till evening, when we
were delighted with the song composed
by Mr. Hopkinson, The Battle of the
Kegs,' sung in the best style by a num
ber of gentlemen
There is something so very simple
both in the words and In the range of
the notes in "Yankee Doodle" that one
need not be a musician to be able to
sing It agreeably.
The New Kngland soldiers sang many
of the hymns and songs of William
Billings, whose hymn entitled "Ches
ter" was a favorite with the troops
stationed In the Southern states in
1778.
Philip Kreneau was the song writer
of the Revolution, but it does not ap
pear that many of his songs were sung
by to aoldiera. They really were
S-V.Vt P W V .
ILL THE t IGHTING
W
TH
usa td urm-r sztda tat utt mat? had
"1
poetical verses, descriptive of events
rather than songs in the popular mean
ing of the word. Many of them were
avowedly satires, ana few of them had
that popular touch that makes a song
of the people.
Ballad sheets were frequently pub
lished, and they contained new words
to well-known tunes, but there is no
way of learning just how large a hold
they obtained on the troops during the
war. "Sergeant Champe," to the air
of "Barbara Allen," described humor
ously the treason of Arnold, and toward
the close of the war was sung every
where by the American soldiers.
The French War of 1798 and the
troubles that followed during the en
suing years drew attention to popular
songs. Joseph Hopkinson, the son of
the author of the "Battle of the Kegs."
wrote "Hail, Columbia," in that year.
adapted to the "President's March," and
the song, owing to Its moderately
phrased verses, made an instant hit.
It might be said to have been the first
really popular patriotic song written in
America, for its life was a very long
one, and it was for many years used
In lieu of a National anthem on every
patriotic occasion.
About this time another popular song
was "Adams and Liberty," the work of
Robert Treat Paine, of Boston, whose
real name was Thomas, but whose
aversion for the religious opinions of
the author of "Common Sense" caused
him to have his name changed by the
courts of his city. The historical In
terest in Paine's song lies in the fact
that it was the first of the numerous
songs written in this country that was
adapted to the music of the convivial
drinking song, "To Anacreon in Heav
en," which had been popular in dining
clubs and glees in London from the
time of the Revolution.
"Adams and Liberty" was very popu
lar, being sung by soldiers and, sailors,
as well as in the theaters by the pop
ular actors. But its sway was curtailed
by "Hail Columbia, which had a more
reverent stride, and, if a little lugu'bri-
ous in measure, was singable for every
voice, which "Adams and Liberty" was
not.
The air, however, remained a popular
one with the bravura singers for many
years, and it was owing to this fact
that Francis Scott Key wrote his verses
to the "Star-Spangled Banner" to the
music It is at least probable that Key
never had heard the original "To Ana
creon in Heaven" sung, but it is equally
certain that he had heard "Adams and
Liberty" and "Freedom," which was
written to the same music, sung many
times.
When the War of 1812 opened the
Bailors ofthe fleet had no end of songs
to sing, but the one that moved them
best was "Hail Columbia," although
few of them were written to native
music. Nearly all of them were in
tended to be sung to British music.
This was not true of all, for the song,
"When Will Thy Dawn, Sweet "Peace,
Return?" was a popular native compo
sition, but now Is forgotten.
While the war on the Algerian
pirates inspired several martial or pa
triotic songs, few of these obtained
longevity. But the War of 1812, in
wnicn our ships gave such a good ac
count or tnemseives. Inspired many
songs or a descriptive character that
were sung for many years after that
war.
Many of these songs were of the old
come-all-ye character. Of this kind
was "The Battle of Baltimore." the
chorus of which was "Yankee Doodle."
"John Bull and Brother Jonathan, or
the Seven Naval victories." was an
other, the burden to which was "Derry
Down." etc The battle of the Peacock
and Hornet was the subject of a song
and chorus, which wished success to
brave Lawrence. Perry's victory fig
ured in more than one song that was
sung in theaters and in the camDa.
The war was nearly ended when Key
wrote "The Defense of Fort McHenry,
subsequently known as "The Star-
Spangled Banner." However this song
was sung by American soldiers en
camped near Baltimore, for the tune
was instantly recognized, being the
then familiar one. "To Anacreon in
Heaven." This song was first pub
llshed In a Baltimore newspaper, and
from that found its way to the pages
of the Analectic Magazine and into the
Hagerstown Old. ) National Songster.
At the time it was recognized more as
a brilliant poetical effort of a strong
patriotic character rather than as
popular song. Its favor grew as its
age Increased anil being recognized as
an admirable flag song, was adopted
by the Army and Navy for use on occa
slona when something spirited and of
a National character was desired. From
its usis in those services its favor has
x.tend.ed to other fields, but as a song
TITE STTXDAY OKEGOXIAX, PORTLAND, JULT 1. 1917.
it always has been a tug-bear to "un
trained singers, its range be in jar almost
impossible for the majority of those
who attempt to sing1 it.
Mexico and Minstrelsy.
The songs written during the War
of 1812 kept their place for many years
In patriotic assemblages, and they rep
resent our first collection of modern
and spiritedly moving compositions.
There was much in that naval war to
inspire the native poet, especially as
he could write about victories with a
clear conscience, for the American
Navy was a dashing force in those
days, when conditions made for the
picturesque in war, and when warfare
was not so much reduced to a cold
science as it is today.
But It was not always the so-called
patriotic songs which found greatest
favor with soldiers in the field. As a
matter of fact, they wanted relaxation
and recreation, and were accustomed to
sing the songs they had heard in the
theaters and at jovial assemblages. The
Mexican War almost coincides with the
introduction of minstrelsy, and the
minstrel stage, or the Serenaders, as
the first of the black-face artists called
themselves, made popular an entirely
new kind of song.
"Old Zip Coon" most probably was
heard in the camp before Buena Vista,
and it is not unlikely that "Woodman.
Spare the Tree," another favorite of
the time, was sung by the boys in blue
during their moments of relaxation on
their way to Mexico City. It was at
this time that Henry Russell, the most
prolific of the song composers, thrived.
He set to music "The Ivy Green,
I'm Afloat, I'm Afloat,' and many
other beautiful sentimental and sea
songs. Many of these antedated the
Mexican War.
But quite as popular as any of these
were the political songs. The Henry
Clay Bongster was published about this
time, and the great statesman had nu
merous friends, both in the Army and
in civil life, although at the time Clay
was politically dead, and the war sealed
his fate, for, as was to be expected,
the military hero of that war. General
Taylor, was elected President at the
next election.
There were Whig Songsters and the
Songs of the Native Americans, all of
which had their followers in the Army,
and contained songs which found favor
with one element or another.
By the time the Civil War broke up
the country for four years, there was
a host of song writers, and their songs
were sung everywhere. At that time
the most patriotic songs were "Amer
ica," "Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean,'
or the "Red, White and Blue," and the
"Flag of the Free, all of which were
heard in theater, camp and bivouac In
those days the fine sentimental South- '
em ballads oftephen C. Foster were
the most popular of the lighter kind of
song, and Emmett'a "Dixie" had great
popularity. This song was the special
favorite of President Lincoln, and the
band played it whenever he was pres
ent.
The typical war songs which the
conflict inspired were even more nu
merous. They seem to have fit almost
every occasion that could very well be
Imagined. There were the penny bal
lad sheets which contained the dog
gerel descriptive of incidents and
events as they occurred, but none of
them survived, and, indeed, few of them
had any significance.
Some half a dozen of the songs that
were written in those stormy days
have survived to the present day, at
least in name, and they may be said to
have been the ones that the soldier
knew best. "Just Before the Battle,
Mother," was one that contained that
human element which' makes a song's
mark. It was often sung, but, as a
rule, the soldiers, who for the great
part were little more than boys, de
sired something more lively.
Civil War IMttles.
They delighted in "We Are Coming,
Father Abraham," which was a good
tune to sing when on the march. They
liked the lilt of "Tenting on the Old
Campground," and they were inspired
by the strains of "The Battlecry of
Freedom," which was regarded so
highly as an inspirational song that
on one occasion the troops were or
dered to Bing it when entering upon a
battle.
Julia Ward Howe's "Battle Hymn of
the Republic" was another favorite, al
though its original, "John Brown's
Body," was better known and more
often sung by the troops. "Tramp,
Tramp, Tramp, the Boys Are March
ing," was a song that was sung quite
as often as any written during the
Civil War period, and later in the war
"Marching Through Georgia" was sung
everywhere by troops and on the stage.
Of the songs which were not partic
ularly connected with the war, but
which had a hold on the soldiers" taste
for musical amusement, must be men
tioned "Captain Jinks of the Horse
Marines." This was a lively, ridiculous
song, but it held on by its mere hu
morous conception and its com it words.
"Drinking From the Fame Canteen,1
, "Suwanee River" and "My Old Ken-
SGm? orZ Witt "Close
tucky Home, Good Night," were other
popular ballads which the soldier
learned as soon as they were intro
duced. "The Old Oaken Bucket" and
"Malta's in the Cold, Cold Ground"
were others that every soldier, knew
and liked.
Spanish War Songs.
The Spanish War found two songs
already popular when it was declared,
and they were immediately adopted by
every band in the service. One of these
was "There'll Be a Hot Time in the
Old Town Tonight," and the other was
On the Banks of the Wabash. "Lin
ger Longer, j-,ucie, ana "iouisiana
Lou' were others that were favorites
with the troops and in the Navy, and
the "Whistling Coon" was played by
every band. Souaa marches added to
the musical equipment of the armed
forces In that war, which was too sort
to inspire any song that lived.
It is Impossible to predict the career
of a song, and no one can sit down and
write a song for the soldier with the
certainty that he will like it well
enough to sing it. It is more than
probable that a song which did not
have him In mind at all will be seized
as just the piece of music to delight
his ears. This has been the story of
all songs that have been popular In
the American Army or Navy, and prob
ably Is just as true of the armies of
any other nation.
FOOD SUBSTITUTES VARIED
(Continued From Flrat Page.)
iug a night nurse's point of view, so
X will quote it:
The NUfht Korse.
By Oni of Them.
Huah-a-bye, n urate.
On the hostel top floor;
That's not a bombardment;
It's Just the front door.
Huah-a-bye. nurate.
In aplt of the clatter;
'Midst aplasbea and knocking
And day nurses chatter.
Huh-a-bye, nnralo;
Eat breakfast for dlnnax.
Get gradually paler
And visibly thinner.
XIuah-abye, nuraJa,
.You're blamed for a lot
oY5 of American
"vip-'ilii
77dSij77on y "offze Bsrb&iSiop CfioroC Vari'efy
Blackd pans and lost saucers
Ends of night lights still hot.
Hush-a-bye. nuraie;
When you cut bread and butter
That hour In the nlffht time.
Don't talk; only mutter.
Nvr mind, nuraie;
What would the staff do
When everything went wrong
If they couldn't blame you 7
In explanation I may say that In all 1
hospitals there is an undying feud be- j
tween the day nurses and night nurses.
If anything goes wrong in the daytime
it is always supposed to be the fault of
the night nurses. At our particular
hospital the day nurses used to slam
the doors all day long and keep us
awake. The one unforgivable sin was
for a poor, sleepy night nurse to leave
an end of a night light on view. "When
we were cutting bread and butter for
breakfast the house surgeon com
plained that we kept him awake, talk
ing so loud to each other.
Remarkable to say, just as soon as a
night nurse becomes a day nurse she
forgets all the woes of the night nurse
and blames her, just as she has been
blamed herself.
The . frontispiece of this magazine
was a drawing of a sailor on leave who
has sat down very suddenly in the
street after stepping on a banana skin
"Torpedoed, by gum" he ejaculates.
The magazine was carefully censored
by the house surgeon, otherwise it
would have been much more thrilling.
I got 'him in an expansive moment to
tell me lust what he censored out. so
I know. Ieft intact, it would have made
a sensation, and no mistake.
WIT AND BEAUTY COMBINE
Ennt Wentwortli, Now at Fort Sher
idan, Honored by Harvard Seniors.
CHICAGO. June 21 A Chicago young
man bears the double distinction of be
ing considered Harvard's most hand
some and funniest senior, according to
press dispatches from Cambridge. Mass.
He is Hunt Wentworth. 22 years old.
son of Mr. and Mrs. Moses J. Went
V
worth, 1240 Lake Shore drive. His
father is a capitalist:
Young Wentworth has lived in Chi
cago since he was 7 years old. -He re
ceived his preparatory schooling at
Exeter, in New. Hampshire, and four
years ago entered the university at
Cambridge.
His keen wit soon became recog
nised and he was made editor of the
Harvard Lampoon and this year was
elected president of the paper.
Scholastically he received high rat
ing, and the honor of being the Ivy
orator was conferred upon him on
graduation. He was captain of the
university swimming team. He was
a member of the Delta Kappa Epsi
lon fraternity, and the Institute of
1770, Signet, Fox, Hasty Pudding and
O. K. clubs.
Harvard gave early examinations to
those who Intended entering military
service and Wentworth, who had been
a member of the Harvard regiment.
was graduated early enough to enter
the reserve officers' training camp at
Fort Sheridan when It opened a month
ago.
SILKS WILL HOLD MARKET
Japanese Investigators Confident Ex-
port Trade Will Continue.
TOKIO. June 16. The result of In
vestigations which the government has
conducted during the last rew weeic
shows that Japanese silk goods have
a very bright future as exports to
Europe and America, in spite of com
petition from foreign products or
similar nature.
Habutai has been hit hard by trade
bans proclaimed by European coun
tries. The total volume of habutai ex
ported witnessed a decrease last year.
but increased in total value. It Is hoped
that an after-war revival of luxuries
or the relaxation after the war of th
economical habits of the people in
Europe will increase the demand. When
the war is brought to an end. the de
mand for habutai Is expected to in
crease along with that of raw silk.
The volume of shipments should be re
stored to the pre-war figure.
The official investigations show that
Arounzh& 07tf
Gain p -fr?j ZJz&
Soys' now $?r7gr
in 1914, when the war opened, tha
trade was reduced markedly, but in the
following year the lower prices proved
temptation to countries other than
France or Great Britain, and ship
ments to those new destinations were
much larger. In 1916 the total volume
was 2.730.S42 kin. valued at 41.276.216
yen. British India and France remained
the most important buyers, but Amer
ica, Australia and Canada also were
heavy buyers.
Silk crepes have also bright pros
pects. Their principal destinations are
Indian ports; but in New Zealand.
America, Canada. Great Britain. Aus
tralia and other countries a good mar
ket has been newly obtained. France
was an important producer of crepe be
fore the war, but her products have
been reduced since the war. Former
buyers of French goods are now taking
Japanese articles. In 1916 the total
value of exports reached 2.844.973 yen.
an astonishing increase of 600 per cent,
as compared with two years ago. As to
the after-war prospects the govern
ment seems to be confident that unless
Japanese producers fail to pay atten-
ion to the change of tastes in the pur-
haslng countries the market won will
i retained.
Silk satin also has gained a firm
footing in Europe and America. Be
fore the war the export of this article
reached only 7S3.7S4 yen a year, but
last year saw the total exports coming
n to 2.844.9 3 yen. an increase of near
ly SvO per cent.
OWN POOH-BAH DONS 0. D.
Carl J. Sandberg Relinquishes Many
Positions to Enlist.
BANGOR. June 16. When Carl J.
Sandberg. of The Folks, enlisted the
other day with Company E. of Skow
hegan. which is now doing guard duty.
he upset the entire officialdom or the
town. He was principal of the high
school, sssistant postmaster, chairman
of the Board of Selectmen, Superin
tendent of Schools, notary public tax
collector and game warden.
But patriotism overcame all these
honors and ha walked out of all these
official robes help Uncle Sam in his
scrap with the Kaiser.
The Folks is not a large place, hav
ing about 200 residents and a valua
tion of about $300,000. It is largely a
lumbering community and is 50 miles
northwest of Showhegan. in Somerset
County. Sandberg was not the whole
town, but as shown by the honors con
ferred upon him, he was a real some
body in the community.
Don't think that because yon
your doctor for saving your life he will
take it in settlement for the bill.
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