Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-02-16

SOME one has termed music the soul of
valor, and certainly history is rich in the
record of battles won through its inspir
alton of energy What is more familiar
in aneCdote than the change from rOut
to victorious assault when the young
French soldier dashed to the head of his
regiment and began singing the Marsel-
laise2 asks the Chicago Inter- OceaH. In
a moment the stirring song was sung by
the chorus OF a thousand voices, and the
French soldiery swept forward like the
wave of an angry sea, beating down and
overwhelming all before it. In our own
land and tim es the war songs of the re-
public have converted defeat into tri
umph when the word of command fell
upon unheeding ears. When grim old
warrior, who had learned the trick of
weary and dispirited soldiers in advance
were rebelhous against the impending
fight, he rode along the line ordering the
bands to strike up their llveliest airs.
Presently the inspiring strains of "Well
Rally Round the Flag" were ringing
from dozen bands, the hearts of the
soldiers throbbed to the patriotic meas
ure. 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 abandoned field of the foe. The
songs that have become known as the
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 song hummcd to the
time of the busy hands, The toll of the
march is eased by the joyous blasts of
the bugle or the inspiriting
strains of the band. not only because
memories are awakened or unhappy
thoughts soothed. but because the music
seems to have an actual influence upon
the physical organism, thrilling along the
nerves and quickening the blood TO
action. 1t is not merely sentimental
it is positive physical in
f1uenCe, as any medical scientist may at
test. 1t was not the words of the old
songs half as much as it was the music
associated with the words that quick ened
weak spirits into the hardihood of fears
lessness. There is not Il great deal
in the words Of Rally Round the
Flag" Just Before the Battle"
"Tenting on the Old Camp Ground"
John Browns Body" Marching
Georgia" but at the right time
sung by a hundred voices or played by
full band, any one of them has as much
potency to stir the soul of man as a glo-
ria from the trumpet of Gabriel. The
war songs and the war music fought half
the battles of the union. The mite of
drummer boy, marching dOughtily ahead,
rafting his sticks to a quick-step or
charge, sets more vital force speeding
along the line than the stentorian For
ward" of the general, and the company
that could send into the smoke of battle
the merry waves of the song that touch
ed heart with valor was as serviceable to
the cause as the cannOnade of the bat
terry roaring in the rear. The war songs
have not been sung of late, but they have
become memories that would sweep over
an audience like the voice of old, recall~
ing life, were they to be sung by strong
voices with some of the old fire in them.
A people with vigorous war songs fondlY
is armed for defense. A nation
SO fortressed at heart need fear no foe
without.