The Portland daily press., 1866-02-05
Fifty Years Ago.

A correspondent of California paper, writ.
: ing at Christmas time, recalls the fact that il
was on Christmas Eve of the year 1914 that
the treaty of peace between England and the
s United States was signed at Client; and takes
Il occasion to point out some notable differences
in the condition of affairs then and now. For
instance, in the matter of rapid communities
ton: ~ tt,...if, gog
iesiI This treaty was not known on this side OF
the ocean for several weeks after its date The
great battle of New Orleans was fought al
least two weeks after that treaty of peace was
signed. Our modern system of railroads,
steamers and telegraphs might have saved that
efusion of blood-might have deprived our
country and its history Of all the glory which
l belonged to that really great victory. : If that
q gigantic ocean harp, which is at this moment
%, in process OF being strung-whose deep diapa-
son is destined to produce a more magical mrl-
10 sic on the sea than mythology or modern fable
ever 'ascribed to syren, mermaid or iaron il
b the mysterious gamut of that proud subfna-
rine chord had been in operation then, as we
hope it soon will be, those cotton-b bag ram
; parts at New Orleans might never have been
known in history, while of those who SO
-, calamity defended them, many would not have
been laid SO low, and some, perhaps, would
hardly have risen SO high. 4iln'
In looking back over the half century which
has elapsed since then, we find it difficult to
realize the immensely of the changes which
have taken place. A single point may serve as
an Illustration. The above extract is made, as
we have said, from California paper. Yet
California itself, with its splendid cities, its
wide-spreading commerce, its rich and varied
interests, and the noble civilization develop
ing in its midst, was thing utterly undream-
ed of until more than half that period had
passed. Decidedly as we would deprecate the
habit into which our people are apt to fall OF
building too extravagantly on the promise Of
the future, we are free to admit that such as
tonishing changes in the past give some war
rant for these brilliant auguries. In another
M part of the same article we have this anecdote
ofthe earliest appearance of %Yankee Doodle
in Europe: 4f iilh4 a9gI -.il sr. ~
81 During the negotiation at Client of the
treaty OF peace, festival, banquet or ball was
= about to take place, at which ii was proposed
m to pay the customary musical Compliment to
all the sovereigns who were either present or
/ represented On the occasion. The sovereign
people OF the United States were representeJ
by Adams, Bayard, Clay, Russell and Gala
TN, ana tney were not to be overlooked and
the musical conductor or bandnaster Of the
place called upon these Commissioners to fi,r-
nish him with our national air. "Our nation.
81 air." said they, "is Yankee Doodle -
aYankee DOODLE" said the conductor. swbat
is that? Where shall l find it By wbon
was it composed? Can you furnish me with with
the score"? The perplexity of the Commits.
sioners may be better conceived than describ-
ed. They were fairly at their wits end. They
had never imagined that they should have
scores of this sort to settle, and each turned
to the other in despair. At the last they be-
thought them, in a happy moment, that there
was colored servant of Mr.. Clay, who, like
many of his race, was a first rate whistler, and
who was certain to know Yankee Doodle by
heart. He was sent for, accordingly, and the
problem was solved without further delay.
The bandmaster jotted down the air as the
colored boy whistled it, and before hight, said
Mr., Adams, Yankee Doodle was set to so
many parts that you would hardly have
known it, and it came out next dav in all the
pride. pomp and circumstance of yiol and
haut-boy, OF drum, trumpet and cvmbaI to
the edifcation of the allied soyere;Srs of H.,
rope, and to the Qualification Of The Ifni.e I'D
States sovereigns OF America @ >n-''o"