The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1888-03-03
THE OOUL OF vALOR.


QUO ar sohss.
Some n has termed music the soul
OF 'alor. and certainly history is rich
in the record of battles won through
its inspiration of energy. What is
more familiar in anecdote than the
change from rout to victorious as
sault when the young French soldier
dashed to the head of his regiment
and began singing the Marsellaise'
In a moment the stirring song was be.
ing sung by the chorus of a thousand
voices. and the French soldicry swept
forward like the wave of an angry
sea. beating down and overwhelming
all before 1t. In our own land and
times the war songs of the Republic
have converted defeat into triumph
when the word of command fell upon
nnheeding ears. "hen a grim old
warrior. who had learned the trick OF
thrilling the human heart. heard that
his weary and dispirited soldiers in
advance were rcbelious against the
impending fight, he rode along the
line ordering the bands to strike up
their liyeliest airs. Presently the in
spring strains of Well Rally Round
the Flag were ringing from a dozen
bands, the hearts of the soldiers
throbbed to the patriotic measure. their
voices caught up the words and flung
them out with the will of courage and
defiance, the ranks surged into the
battle with the headlong tumult of
enthusiasm. and the flag was borne
on, on. until the dews of night fell
upon it. when it waved over the ADAM
doned field of the foe.
The songs that have become known
as war songs of a country have grown
up out of the necessities of the soul.
The mind needs cheering on to its
duty with most of us. Work for the
mere love of work comes only with
habit and rarely springs from native
impulse. Toll is lightened with a song
hummed to the time of the busy hands.
The toll of the march is eased BY the
joyous blasts of the bugle or the in
spiriting strains of the band, not only
because members are a akened or un.
happy thoughts soothed, but because
the music seems to have an actual in.
upon the physical organism.
thrilling along the nerve and quick.
ening the blood to action.
1t is not merely n sentimental in.
.'piration. it is a positive physical in
~iuence, as any medical scientist may
attest. 1t was not the words of the
Did songs half as much as it was the
music associated with the words that
luickenel weak spirits into the hardi.
lnnd of ~fearlessness There is not a
great deal in the words of Rally
Round the Flag Just Before the
''Tenling on the Cd Camp
.ironnd,' John Browns B dy."
Marching Through Georgia." but ut
he right time, sung by a hundred
Toices or played by a full band, any ,
me of them has as much potency te
the soul of man as a gloria from
he trumpet OF Gabriel. ,
The war song and the war musi, :
half the battles of the Union. '
The mite of a drummer boy, march. :
ng doughtily ahead. rafting his =,
ticks to a quick-step or a charge. ,
more vital force speeding along =.
he line than the stentorian For ,
of the General. and the COM .
,any that could send into the smoke =.
# battle the merry wave of the song
hat touched heart with valor was as
'erviccable TO the cause as the can.
Ionade Of the battery roaring in the I
ear. The war songs have not been
ung of late, but they have become
memories that would sweep over an q
.udience like the voice of old recall.
ng life. were they to be sung by !
trong voices with some OF the old
re in them. A people with vigor- Il
us war songs fondly cherished is :,
rmed for defense. A nation so '
Drtressed at heart need fear no foe +
Without. - Chicago Inter- Ocean. ?