The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1857-08-13
The Way Yankee Doodle got TO
80 Europe.

Mr. Winthrop, in his beautiful and elS-
quent address, delivered recently in Boston
at the opening of the grand musical festival,
gave the following account of the manner in
which " Yankee Doodle"was first brought out
in Europe: > -
81 have heard the late John Quincy Adams
an intense lover of music himself, and
whose comprehensive requirements embrace
ed knowledge of this subject which would
have been extraordinary in anybody else
tell a story which may serve as an illustra.
ton of the state of American music at that
precise period. During the negotiation at
Client OF that treaty of peace to which just
alluded, a festival or banquet, or it may have
been bail, was about to take place, at which
it was proposed to pay the customary musi-
were either present CT represented on the
occasion. The sovereign people of the Uni.
ted States-rcpresented there, as you re-
member, by Mr.. Adams himself, Mr.. Bayard,
Mr.. Clay, Mr.. Jonathan Russell, and Mr.. Gal.
lutin-were of course not to be overlooked
and the musical conductor, or band master,
called upon these commissioners to furnish
him with our national air. Our national air, >
said they, lis Yankee Doodle. Yankee
Doodle,' said the conductor, 'what is that!
Where shall find it! BY whom was it
composed! Can you supply me with the
score! The perplexty of the commission.
ers may be better conceived than described. .
They were at their wits ends. They he'd
never imagined that they should have scores
Of this sort to settle, and each turned to the
other in despair. At last they bethought
them, in happy moment, that there was a
coored servant of Mr.. Clay, who, like so
many of his race, was 6rst.rate whistler,
and who was certain to know Yankee Doc
die by heart. He was forthwith sent for ac-
cordingly, and the problem was solved with
out further delay. The band master jotted
down the air as the colored boy whistled it,
and before night (Said Mr.. Adams) Yankee
Doodle was set to SO many parts that you
would hardly have Known it; and it came
out the next Gay in all the pride, pomp and cir
cumstance of viol and hautboy, of drum,
trumpet and cymbal, to the edNsai 2 of the
allied soveregns of Europe and to W glori-
'leaton of the united sovf9FoiGnsof bh"'ri-
ca.''
ITr. Winthrop continued
II would not di.puruge Yunkee Doodle
my friends. 1t has associations which must
always render its simple and homeIy melody
dearer to the hearts of the American people
than the most elaborate composition Of an
cient or modern science. Should our free
institutions ever again be in danger, whether
from domestic malice or foreign levy " that
will stil, be the tune to which American pa.
lriotism will keep step. We must always
preserve it and never be ashamed of it; tho
/ do venture 10 hope that day may come
when, like England and Austria and Russia
to name no other lnnds-we may have
something lit to be entitled national An.
item, winch shall combine an acknowledge
mcnt of God with the glorious memories of
wise and brave men; which shall blend the
emotions of piety and patriotism, uniting in
sweet accord the praises Of the Divine Au-
thor of our freedom and independence with
those of his chosen and commissioned hu
memorate the progress Of our cogntry."