Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-01-31
Songs and Song- -Writers.--1.

sc t""t "ae sihNS uSSVHe q PFoNNLp, AZ
most, Let me make the songs of ma
ton, and / care not who makes its laws"
What SONG is, and by what rules it
should be constructed, remains an unsolved
and inscrutable problem Horace, with all
his art poetical would have been puzzled 10
say by what method he composed Nuac
est 0ibsndtan,' the most joyous and fasci-
mating Of Latin melodies. The song floats
into existence priceless wait, most opu-
lent estray, an anonymous donation, love-
gift of the modest and kindly, to the kind
and retiring. The masses take up the
cheerful carol or the minor plant, and sel-
dom inquire whose master-hand struck the
\ kes@nete- of theirAaunfathemed erudiiion.--
The song becomes especially the property
of the people, who, by adopting it, show
their gratitude towards those who have
cheered their loneliness, elevated .heir hopes
or assuaged their grief It is pleasant and
encouraging TO find that the taste of the
American people, generally, inclines to the
decorous, the chaste and the aHectionate,
and to believe that our people eschew the
coarse, the ribald and the heartless.
Songs, before the invention of printing
were cultivated and written mainly by the
sheperjs, and by the minstrels who were
also singers. 1t might well be said that
Prince James Stuart, son of Robert ILL.,,
was the person who caused a revival in
songs, and to whom they can be traced
He was sent by his father to Paris to re-
ceiye an education, the countries Of Scot
land and England being at that time in a
state of ill-will and war towards one anoth-
er; but the vessel in which he sailed en-.
countercd an English squadron, who broke
truce which then existed between the two
countries, and captured the vessel, OBTAINING
Prince James as prisoner, whom they
conducted to London and placed in the
Tower, where he remained long time, but
was at length set at liberty, when be OBJ
tanned instruction. He became celebra-
ted poet and musician, and at last fell in
love with an English lady, Jane Beaufort,
the love for whom he made the subject ol
many pleasing ditties. HIS love made him
poet, as did also the love of Robert Burns
Literature owes much TO this amiable
Prince, whose SORROWS at last broke him
down, and history now records the fact
James the first also endured crown and
misery AT the same time, and he thought
that the happiest hours of his life were
those he spent in prison, where he compos-
ed a vast amount of songs and little ditties
which spread even to Italy, and called fortl
the praise Of the inhabitants. He compos
ed at the same time number Of sacred
songs, and introduced many new feature:
into music; and tradition attributes severa
remarkable adventures TO him, which were
connected with the career of James tho
Fifth, the father of Mary, Queen of Scots
who lived a century later. The lot of thi:
accomplished prince was cast in an evi
day, and after a most miserable reign b,
was killed. Several conspirators came t.
his room and knocked for admittance, ant
his wife, to keep them out, placed her owl
arm through the staple of the door, anC
when the door was burst open it shattered
her arm terribly the conspirators rushed
in and stabbed her husband upwards 0
twenty times, and he fell dead at her feet.
: James V. did something to advance songs
as did also his contemporary, King Henry
VIII, who wrote large amount of poetry
: and songs. Queen Mary was not poetes,
/. herself, but she inspired more music ant
e song in her reign than any person had fo
n a long time. Chattelar, her secretary, be
} ing poet and author of songs, compose,
f many and sang them to Mary, with guitar
e accompaniments. Before Burns appeared
t there was vast quantity of poetry and al
b endless number of songs floating among th
!, people; but when he came on the stage h,
!, touched many of these with his poetic wand
y and made them celebrated throughout the
: world.
e A song expresses more sentiment than ;
f sermon. 1t is in its nature, lyrical, sponta
n neous, and infinite. II is the language o
e the heart. II is especially suited TO ex
d press the vast, the high, the immortal sen
e timents of religion. Words are tame ant
f precise creeds are rigid and the won
: drous magic of song must be invoked tc
: raise the highest feelings of devotion. Oh
e all singers, it may best be said of the song
? singer that he is born, and not made. These
e harmonists of the heart are always bursting
! upon US like angels, without the drill oi
: colleges, or drum Of dicipline. From the
Ayershire cottage of Burns, from the gar
ret of Carey, from the printing office oI
r Beranger, from shrinking women and from
: unleitered men, come the melodies which
! fasten themselves upon the life of the world
l The song is written, nobody knows how, OF
e when, or where. Often it is the accident
: of an accident. Often, like little found
I ling. it ventures into the earth without pa