Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-01-23
LETTER FROM "JUNIUS."
1t Is Devoted To The Subject or
Political Ballads and Lyrics.
c. E. BUTTON. Capt. etc,
Chief Engineer.

CHICAGO, Jan. IS; 1890. Especial
Correspondence OF the DEsEREr
News. leone political philosopher
once said: "Give me the making Of
a nations ballads, and 1 care not
who makes its laws" If this is not
whole truth, there certainly IL
much truth ia t. Ballads and lyrics
have figured more largely in the 20
litical history Of the world than the
average writer and studentimagines.
Monafchs have been actually sung
out Of thrones, and others sung In
to them. Republics have been ere
ated and maintained mainly by
song. Tyrants and despots have
often been humanized by fear Of
ridieuie in song. Many n question
which in the history Of a race or
nation appears a problem will be
very easy Of solution If bna exam
ines the Gong attachments and en-
vHonmentS Of the time. For in-
stance, Macaulay can't under
stand how Ireland Of all the
western nations adhered to the
Roman church, though her history
shows that she was the earliest of
these nations which was independ-
ent Of Rome and most disliked by
European ROmanists. If Macaulay
could examine the Gaelic ballads Of
the fifteenth and sixteenth centu-
ries he would sOsn learn the cause.
The bards iBgeniously blended re-
hgion, race and nationality in their
songs, until the common people AT
last came TO believe that Rome was
Ireland, ami the Pope only a primi- I
tive Parnell. And il was only be-
cause nationality was made n reJi-
glon that Ireland so steadfastly |
clung to Rome.
Ballads have also had a good deal /
to do in the history Of our own /
glorious republic. The old refrain
" TippecanoO and Tyler too'' has an
honorable place in American his
tory. But If the old sage who wanted
the making Of nations songs wee
10 come among us mt present. he
would be much puzzled at some of
our popular songs and lyrics. For
example, we have one song which
has he'll the boards for nearly six
months. 1t is IN everyboiy,s
mouth. Persons who don't know a
musical note from the braying Of a
burro find themselves chanting II
us chorus has become n catchword.
The newspapers have devoted col
umns upon columns Of space to an
this strange melody. And
sun the secret Of its popularity re-
mains unrevealed. Numerous auth
ors are quarreling over the author
snip OK II. The papers say IL is
Universally popular all the way
rom Sandy Hook to the Golden
iate. IL so, it, soothing s;raips can
not be unknown in Salt Lake City
snd SEE no reason why We should /
not take cogniZance Of an event
Shich s, 600, 900 Of people are talk
ng about. II
Here is the song in its full text:
DOWN WENT NGISrY.
HE SONG THAT EVERYBODY IN ANEuc,
Is SINGING.
unday morning last, At 2, Dan MeGiBtv
dressed go fne, '
Was looking At 4 very high stone Wall. I
'hen along came Pat MeCan-And saws. I
"I'l bet IS. Dan, I
can lave you at the top without 4 fall, {
n his back he got poor Dan-to climb The
ladder he began,
Until he'd very nearly reached the ton:
ut for fear he'd lose his fiye-Just As sure a
a. you're alive I
Dan let 20 his hold. not thinking OF IN. i
drop, :
CHORUS. 1
own went MeGinty to the bottom Of IN. {
wall I
he won his Eve, he was more a
dead thsn alive,
iih kicks and bruises on his face fran \
such fearful fall
Dressed IN his best Sunday clothes. a
to hospital they hooked him. And for Il
dead the doctors booked him. n
But heGiniy gave the doctors surprise. ii
r be soon began TO shout: asay, We blaek. d
guards. let me outrr .,
though his head was twice itz ordinary Ii
size,
und to see his wife and child. With de.
light he near went wild;
ie walked along as proud a. John the
Great; IA
the sidewalk was a hole. To reee,ve , nj
load OF coal II
ieGiniy never saw until too latei q
CHORUS. b,
"n went NeGinty to the bottom Of the ~ ~
hole. th
he driver of the cart gave the load of y
coal start NJ
ook an hour m half TO Dig McGip,v y, "
from the coal. ~
ressed in his best sunday clothes. "a
en- they dug MeGinty out. Loud for ven. Sc
geanee be did shout, gu
nd the driver OF the cart he then did s,,. oW
picked Up half brick And he hit hin to
such lick o.,
hat Il caused 8 tamefacuor or his eve as
n be kicked up such fuss That the -
cops got In the mass,
iey arrested Dan for being very druut. cor