The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-05-28
THE OLD WAR SONGS,
Interesting "Reminiscences by tho Autsss
of Rally Round the flag"


war songs was published, many Of which
became very popular and some on which
tell to this day in song and melody some
thing Of the emotions inspired by the great
civil conflict Dr. George X. Root has re-
Gently published a book of "reminiscences
IN which the story Of many OF these songs
Is told and which contains rs well aEec-
dotes which are extremely interesting TO
read. DR.. Root is now, notwithstanding
his years, possessed Of as much mental
vigor seemingly as characterized him when
ne was famous as the peoples song writer.
and as he possessed the business instinct
as well as the soul OF melody, lac y now in
his old age prosperous, contcnted and hap
py, and his book is written in chatty yet
vigorous manner which reveals that it was
work OF pleasure 20 him.
A good many persons who are now OF
mature years will remember the great
popularity which n song entitled Hazel
Dell' attained, but probably not one in a
hundred knows that this was one of the
first Of the songs written by DR.. Root.
When he composed this Fosters negro
melodies were giving the people great de-
light, and "Suwanee River" and "Old
Folks 40 Home" had attained hold which
they were never TO lose. DR.. Root was
therefore little timid about publishing
over his own name, and so turned it into
German and that is the reason why SO
many persons suppose that German
named Woerzel 0he German word for root
composed this song. Hazel Deli' was
such q success that DR.. Root tried his hand
at another. 1t was called Resale, tho
Prairie Flower" and received such instant
popularity that it brought the doctor in
short time something like 5000 in royal
ties.
In the early days Of the war patriotism
was necessarily expressed unsteady either
by the Star Spangled Banner" Hail,
Columbia the words Of which were set to
the music Of a march written in honor Of
Washingtons Inauguration as president,
or America" 1t was not long. however,
before Dr. Root was inspired to express his
own emotion unsteady, and be wrote the
first war song, which was entitled, The
First Guns Fired" That did not gain the
popularity which some of DR. Roots later
songs obtained. He says in his reminis-
cences that when he heard Of President
Lncolns second call for troops the inspira-
ton came on the instant for a song and the
stanzas to accompany it. He turned it
over III his mind during the evening and tho
next morning wrote it out. Within week
the song had reached the army and within
month was being sung all over the north.
II is the one with the refrain
Yes. well rally round the flag. boys. wen rally
once again,
9 I. hot ia. 81
With the exception Of "John Browns
Body" and later, Marching Through
Georgia" this song was probably more
frequently sung by soldiers than any other.
DR.. Roots service in thus expressing in
song the emotion Of the hour and doing it
so that great armies on the march might
take up the refrain and thus tighten heavy
steps Oh weary marches, was 50 great that
he received personal acknowledgment from
President Lincoln, and many times from
officers and soldiers.
He went on writing these popular war
songs until the conflict was over. Some Of
them attained almost rs great popularity
as Rally Round the Flag" and, Of course,
"A good many Of them were but Of mo-
mentary interest One OF bis pathetic
Mother, was great fayorite, as was THE
Vacant Chair" and especially Tramp,
Tramp. Tramp, the Boys Are Marching"
OF course when the occasion had passed
| which made these songs so popular most
Of them ceased TO be sung, but two or
three of Dr. Roots songs are sure TO be
sung so long as there are camp fires and
soldiers Of the army living.
II is an evidence Of DR.. Roots broad
minded character, that in bis "reminiscences
he speaks with the greatest enthusiasm OK
the works Of the man who was in one sense
his greatest rival in the composition OF war
songs He SAYS that one day there came
into his store in Chicago a solemn looking
Young man whose dress indicated poverty.
lie laid upon Dr. Roots desk n song in
manuscript and asked whether IL was
worth buying and publishing. DR.. Root
looked mt the manuscript carefully and
then very queerly at the young man, won
dering whether this modest hammered per-
son could have written that song. He
asked the man If be was the author, and
being told that he was DR.. Root asked him
his business and he said he was printer.
"Well, if you can write songs Ike this, |
think You may as well give up the print
ing business said Dr. Root, and ne then
made an arrangement with him which was
continued very profitably 20 both. The
song which was then offered gave tho
writer fame as soon as it was published. 1t
was entitled Kingdom Coming" and Is
sung 10 this day. Soon after IL was pub
Hshed the author. Henry {. Work, wrote
another one which gained equal fame, en-
titled. wake, NicOdemus.' Other songs
revealing the peculiar genius Of the writer
soon appeared. The melody was as origi-
nal as any Of Fosters songs. and fitted the
words. which were comical and yet pa
triotic Works most famous song, how
ever perhaps the most popular Of the war
songs, was Marching Through Georgia"
Mr.. Work died a few years ago, not only
famous but also leaving a fortune rs ths
result Of these compositions.
Bishop Phillips Brooks has been some
what averse 30 the publication Of his SER
mons in book form. He has received
tempting offers from publishers and also
from newspaper proprietors for such pub
LEGATION, but for some reason does not listen
10 such proposals Publishers say that II
Brooks sermons while be was pastor Of
Holy Trinity, in Boston, had been regular-
" published the sale would have been
enormous. Like nearly all preachers whose
sermons have given them great repute a.
pulpit orators and have been in great do
inand by readers. Phillips Brooks breaches
without manuscript. \ year or TWO ago he
described 70 the writer his method OF
preparation. and it resembles those which
Beecher and Sturgeon adopted.