The Evening critic., 1881-09-24
YORKTOWN CENTENNIAL.
Interest I'm IL Rcncwed-Tbc Pro-
grnmme Of Proceedings - Odes,
Hymns and Religious Exercises.

| Now that the late President has been re-
moved to Ohio, interest centres once more
on the Yorktown Centennial and the pro-
grcss of preparations for that event. Just
now the prominent feature promises to be
the musical display Mr. Charles l.. Scigcl,
of Richmond, Virginia, has that matter in
charge. An effective chorus of three hun.
drcd male voices is rchcarsing daily The
| instrumental accompaniment for the
chorus will be rendered by the Marine
band, of this city. The programme is
popular music, embracing Hail Columbia"
Star-spanglcd Banner" "My country tits
of thee" Marsclaisc Hymn" and other
pieces. 1.-THE Centennial Ode" written by
Paul II. Hayne, of Georgia, and set to music
by j. Moscnthal, of New York, will be rem
dcrcd with grand effect. The words of this
composition are as follows:
The Ode.
IIark, bark down the ccntury's long-reach'
Ing slope
The voices OF main and mountain COM
bincd
In glad resonance born on the wing of the
wind,
The bass OF the drum aud tho trumpet that
thrills
Through the multiplied echoes ofjubllant
hills,
And mark how the years, melting upward
like mist
Which the breath of some splendid cnchnn-
trcss has kissed,
Reveal on the ocean. reveal on the shore
The proud pageant of conquest that griccd
When blended forever In love as In lame
See, the standard which stole from the star
light its fame,
And type Of all chivulry. glory, romance,
The fdir lilies, the luminous lilies of France.
oh stubborn the strife ere the conflict was
And the wild whirling war wrack half
The thunders OF cannon that doomed on
the lea
But re- echoed far thundcrs pealed up from
Where guarding his sea lists, a knight on
the waves, - .
Bold De Grasse kept at bay the BLUM bull
| dogs of Graves.
The day turned to darkness the night
turned to fire.
still more herccr waxcd the combat, more
Undimmcd by the gloom, in majestic ad-
oh behold where they ride DER the red bat
Those banners united in love as in fame,
The brave standard which drew from the
star beams their flame,
And type of all chtvolry, glory, romance,
The fair lilies, the luminous lilies of France.
No respite 1 no pause' by the York's t T.
The f SISysd dion Of England is writing in
CORVALLIS may chafc and coarse Tarlcton
| aver
As he sharpcns his broadsword and buckles
"This blade, which so often has reaped
rebels like grain,
Shall now harvest for death the rude yco-
| men again."
Vain boast for ere sunset he's flying in
| fear,
with the rebels lie secuted close, close in
his rear,
The French on his flank hurl such volleys
OF shot
That cen GIoucester's rcdoubt must be
| growing too hot.
Thus welded in love as united I'm fame,
Lo the standard which stole from the
starlight its fame,
And type q al chyalE gsory romance
France.
o morning superb! when the siege reached
See the sundawn outblown like the nlche-
miSt's rose
The last wreath of smoke from dim trenches
Are transformed TO n glory that smiles on
JOY, joy save the wan, wasted front of the
| foe,
With his battle flags furled and his arms
trailing low.
Respect for the brave In grim silence they
yield
And IN silence they pass with bowed heads
from the field.
Then triumph tlansccndant! so Titan OF
That some vowed It must startle King
George Oh his throne,
When Peace to her own time the pulse OF
And the war weapon sank from the war
wearicd hand,
Young Freedom upbornc to the height OF
She had yearned for so long with the decl
travail of soul,
A song of the future raised, thrilling ant
b., clear.
: TIL the woods leaned to harkcn, the hill
slopes to hear,
Yet fraught with all magical grandeurs tina
On the hero's high hope, or the patriots
: What future, tho bright, in cold shadow
shall cast
The stern beauty that halos the brow of Thu
Oh welded in love, as united in fame,
SEQ the standard which stole from the star
: light its fame,
, And type of all chvalry. glory, romance,
The fairlilles, the luminous lilies OF France
: The words of the hymn to be sung on tn
occasion were composed by Mr.. Charlie
Poindexter, of Richmond. The music sc
lccted for the hymn is an Gave Maria,
7 opus 200, No 2, by J. Il. Schneider, an emf
5 nent German composer. The words are n
follows
The Hymn.
: Our fathers God, who on these plains
, ! OF old gave victory to our land,
This day In gracious favor deigns
To bless the labor of our hand.
To Him let tfs' our voices raise,
c III lofty hymns and notes OF praise,
D Our grcatfui homage pay.
: His was the strength that nerved thci
heart,
} In faith to battle for the right,
As did the wisdom high impart,
, That baflied all the foeman's might;
, And gave our land in days of yore,
Delivrunce strong from trouble sore,
1 or war and bitter strife.
: Built on foundation strong and deep,
Z | The ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS shaft We rear
The forms of mighty deeds to keep,
And tell to every coming year.
SO let us I'm our hearts upraise
A monument of those brave days
: or faith and victory.
The Religious Exercises.
In response to letter inquiring wit
whom rests the responsibility for arrangin
: tha raIigious exercises for the OCCASION th