The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-21
DEMOCRATIC DITTIES.
RICH, RARE, RACY RHYMEsTERs
Political Bards Already Tuning Theix
Lyres-Tho werRses OF This Fin do
Steele Age are Dropping Into Poetry.

Mr.. VI. b. Ramos gave me copy OF a
Cleveland and Stevenson Campaign
songster' yesterday and l fancied that
few lines Of extracts from the many choice
political lyrics with which it's pages are
thickly gemmed would be Of interest--es-
pecially to campaign clubs. for whom it
is intended.
In the predatory note the compiler says:
Generally political songs are very poor
trash" and adds that their chief claim
is their timeiness and the ease with which
they may be sung to popular airs
He is right-quite right. IS the reader
will see
The first ballad Is set to the wall-known
air OF Hold the Fort aud through four
verses of Indifferent rhyme is the singer re-
minded, as the chorus puts 1t. that
Cleveland still shall rule The nation,
SO the people say;
with the help OF able stevenson
lie Will win the day"
There is q popular impression abroad that
hr. ste, enson's Christian name is Adlai
please rhyme with sadly" or you'll rhyme
1t badyl-not Abel. However, we must
not be too critical.
The second OF these songs Is entitled, II
Am Democrat and these words Of the
New York Senator are made 20 do duty
through three verses. which are peppered
with ordinations Of "Boom.ta-ra," ad
libitum
Another one to the air Of Tho Battle Cry
of Freedom" calls for cheers Tor Grover
Cleveland. the man that we have triod1
waving the glorious old bandsna."
Then comes ono headed shout le Grip
Piles" which goes on 10 command them 10
dance and sing aud raise the loud Ho-
sannah."
must give verse Of this. Here 1t is
verse g.
Hail 10 Grove and hail 10 Steve!
They are team % span
Continent, and beat the world.
Let the standard be unfurled.
Hail the dear old banner
Then comes song. The Cleveland
Band. TO be sung to the old tune Of 'Ienting
on the Old Camp Ground Next ono ia re-
minded of the slVer-toned Patti and her
eternal farewell tours. when one sees Air
Coming ThTo' the Rye, heading three long
verses. to which tune they are 70 DO sung.
Then comes ballad called The Pohti-
cian." The fourth verse tells as that
oar Grover Cleveland isa msn.
That we have trlod and trusted
For four year be has led the van,
And all their schemes are busted
Considering the good cause and the zeal
of tbs author therein, / forgive him Tor
outraging the Queens English thus.
In the next song once more is the air Of
Hold the Fort" made use Of, and one verse
reads.
brothers, rise, and let as rally.
Every voter true,
Shout aloud IN tones OF .hundor,
Shake the Welkln blue"
Ordinarily the welkn is made 10 ring.
The spectacle of every voter shasing tue
welkin blus, like terrier shaking rat, Is
sight for gods and men.
I'VE Need Change ia the title Of tho
next bsllad-and IL Is a stirrsr-a regular
soul stirrer. 10 the air OK GLORY. Glory
Hallslujah. - are set four verses OF rather
bad poetry invoking the Lord for his as
sistancs claiming him. as "the leader IA tho
fight and so forth. The air Of the Bon
ME Blue Flag" allows poet TO give forth
an ebulition Of rhyme that l. entertaining.
to say the least for. unmlnd.ul OF tho tact
that the shirt-hopper is still abroad IN tue
land, he declares that
THE passions Of the war are DER,
Its hatreds all are past.
And now an army marching on
They come as frie nds 40 last.
Following this. to the air Of the comic
,onq Well Get There all the Same. which.
oy the way, is q clean steal from the opera
Il "Anorita," being the serenade as sung In
IN act Of that opera by number OF far
naidens In the gulse OF cavaliers. come three
,erses of declaration regarding tho next
,leotlon Of which tho chorus Is sample,
namely:
With Cleveland again 20 lead us,
We freely may now proclaim,
Altho' they may shout
And cry, Put 'am outV
Wen get there all the same"
I haven't space for the rest Of them.
yhIoh, 10 notice briefly. are three verses 20
he air: Tramp. Tramp. Tramp. the Boys.
re Marching" three set 70 the tune OF
John Browns Body aud four fitting the
lOtes Of The Battle Cry Of Freedom"
The national anthem, commonly known
IS America" really the air Of the British
National hymn. has two Appearances, one as
God Save the State" and again as God
Save the President
The good old nautical ballad Of Nancy
Jee" has brave show, for the bard sings
husly:
OF all the men that eer you know,
feo no! lads, no yeo no geo no!
There's none Ike Cleveland this troT,
Yeo hol lads hoi geo hol
Religious tunes are not neglected. Here
g the old reliable Pull for the Shore"
With several verses. tho refrain Of all which
IRE Cleveland's the man" " Yankee
Doodle" wouldn't know himself in the new
Tersss set to that iingly and jerky tune,
md Tho Sweet Bye and Bye IS also re-
rendered with four stsnzas AID chorus
hat should DO q great GO AZ sort Ok
Zoology the last song is Hail Columbia"
Tho book Is q curiosity, indeed.
Uara Are Some Simple Rules Laid Down