Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-04-27
W ar Songs

Thomas II. Mckee, assistant librarian
Of the United States senate, and late lieu
tenant lst w. Va, writes in the National
Tribune as follows:
Songs antedate creation. One of the
most ancient portions of the holy scriptures
declare that when the Almighty laid the
foundat' ons OF the earth, the morning
stars sang together and all the Sons Of
God shouted for joy. -
The Hebrews were people who under
stood the use and power OF song. Moses
and Israel sang song of deliverance upon
the shores of the Red sea when their en-
emies were oyerthrown; this was a song
OF triumph.
While the children Of Israel wept at the
waters of Babylon, and hanged their
harps upon the willows, those that carried
them captive desired them 10 ''sing one OF
the songs of Zion. The Babylonians had
heard these beautiful songs no doubt be-
fore. am sorry that we have not both
words and music.
But in this short paper we must pass
over all periods and all lands, and spend
the few moments we have with songs and
singers of more recent periods OF English
history; for song is history in all its COM
pleteness. How beautiful is the sentiment
of those lines by Moore:
'You may forget the singer,
But not forget the song"
illustrated in the touching incident OF
some white children who, on the western
frontier, were taken in captivity by some
wild band of Indians and kept for several
years. The release ami restoration of
these children was published, and many
anxious mothers who had lost children
fastened to the place of their reception,
expecting Ia find their lost ones. But the
years of captivity had so changed them in
appearan that recognition was impos-
sible in some cases. One fond mother.
after vainly trying every art and method
known to arous' some recollection or
remembrance of her Eaby child, sank
down upon the earth In her despair and
began singing one of her baby lullabys,
when quick as thought one child of this
number quickly ran To her and casped its
arms about her neck in recognition of the
song. With these Introductory thoughts
we now come TO notice
"wAR SONGS"
War songs, like national songs, are
seldom written to order. Some writer
has said: They are expressions Of
national spirit the product Of some
occasion full of inspiration, when the
composer Is moved by impulses peculiar
to the great events which are Transporting"
We must pass by the song OF the revolu
ticn and introduce an ode OF the war with
Mexico. Little did Theodore O'Hara
dream when at Frankfort, KY, in 1s4P,
while unwilling the monument erected TO
the memory OF kentucky's sons who fell
in Mexico. that he was speaking in song
words that would be nodded In iron and
chiseled in granite In every part of this
broad land. Millions have and will read
In our national cemeteries from tablets OF
iron, as long as the republic lives:
On Fame's eternal campin ground
Their silent tents are spread,
And glory guards with solemn round
Tho bivouac oil the dead.
Who Of this company can read "Ali
Quiet Along the Potomac Tonight" with
out looking out and wondering what the
events must have been to suggest the
theme.
All quiet along the Potomac TO night,
Where the soldiers lie peacefully dream.
ing;
Their tents in the rays Of the Gear Autumn
moon