The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-05-08
OLD SONGS AND BALLADS
AN EMPHASIZING PAPER READ AT THE LOAN LIMITATION

By Mrs. George Y. Newcombe-The Old
 Ballads Sung by Well Known Local
 singers-The Afternoon at the Exhibition
 Some Charming Eighteenth Century
 Costumes-A Revolutionary Period Tea
 Some of Those Who Were Present.
 The loan exhibition being held at the Historical society building was largely attended yesterday afternoon and was conducted by members of the Society of the Daughters of the American Rev olution. Tea was served, being poured by Mrs. Beebe, Mrs. Deming, Mrs. Jenkins and Mrs. A. M Wheeler Sev- eral of the ladies present, especially the younger ones, were dressed in cos tunes of the style of the Revolutionary period. Among those in old costume was Miss Henrietta Ingersoll, who was especially charming in a gown of pale pink and green. In her hair she wore high torquoise comb, an old family heirloom. Others in costumes were Mrs. Jenkins, Mrs, Brooks, Miss Col lins, who wore a gown of 1766, Miss Edith Woolsey Mrs. A. M. Wheeler, Miss Weir, Miss Gertrude Harrison, Miss Susan White. Among others present were Mrs. o. Vincent Coffin, wife of Governor Coffin, Mrs. B. F. Learned of Norwich, Mrs. Chappell of dletown, Mrs. A. w. Phillips of Derby, | NIy,e. f N l. Nyn1I A | w. Bishop, Miss Daisy Bishop.
 | A feature of the exhibition last even ing was a paper on Revolutionary Songs and Ballads" by Mrs. George F.. Newcombe of this city, which Mrs. | NeWcombe read by special request. The paper was the same one read by Mrs. Newcombe at the national con- vention of the Daughters of the Amer ican Revolution in Washington last February and was confined entirely to a discussion of historical songs of the Revolutionary period. The paper was in every sense an historical one. In or | der to accumulate material for her paper Mrs. Newcombe has looked through all the large libraries of the country. Through the influence of this paper many old songs which were about l to be lost have been revived, and while the words of many old songs have been found, the music has yet to be dis 1 covered.
 Among the songs described in the paper and which Mrs. Newcombe has rescued from oblivion are the follow ing: 'The Patriots Appeal" Boston Tea Party" "Columbia," an old song | !, +l,o ytxrl,4 l of Yale college, An Ode on Science, which was sung as a solo by Mrs. s. s. Thompson, Hobbies" a peculiar | song, ''Sapphic Ode" or Bunker Hill" also sung as solo by Mrs. Thompson, Darby Ram,'' funny song, sung by General Washington to the children of Hon. Oliver Ellsworth, Chester" sort of martial hymn which was lined out and sung in the old fashioned way last evening, Rose of sharon an anthem | by William Billings, who was born in 1 1747. Besides these Mrs. Newcombe gave descriptions of several songs, of which she has never been able to get the time. Two of these, ballads, "The Liberty Tree" by Thomas Paine" and 'The Battle of the Kegs" by Francis Hopkinson, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, were re- cited by Mrs. Salisbury. The latter ballad is concerning some kegs which the British found floating in the Schuyl- kill river, and thinking that Yankee soldiers were concealed inside they kept up fusllade on the kegs all day and afterwards bragged at home of their valor on the occasion. All of the songs except the last two mentioned were sung in illustration of the paper. The ladies who sang were Mrs. s. $. Thompson, Miss Gertrude Sanford, Miss Annie Day, Mrs. A. N. Wheeler and Mrs A. B. Treat
 These ladies, together with Miss Bel den of this city and Mrs William Rock we'll of Meriden, were with Mrs. New combe in Washington last February. and sang at the reading of the paper Miss Belden and Mrs. Rockwell were unable to be present last evening on &C., count of illness.
 The numbers sung last evening were, of course, interesting from historical rather than musical point of view. Mrs. Newcombe gave in many instances the history of the times as well as of the ballads themselves. She told of her search for the tune sung to Timothy Dwight's stirring ode, "Columb1a, Arise!" Mrs. Newcombe had search made for her in the libraries of Buffalo, Chicago and Boston. The garrets Of 1 Connecticut were ransacked in vain. Finally she herself went to New York and thoroughly investigated the col lections of the Astor library. At the Lenox library she chose from the newly acquired Drexel collection thirty vol umes, having little hope that she would ever find in any one of them what she sought. At last in little worn duo decimo she discovered the words "Co- lumbia, Arise" The clerks refused to allow her to take the book, so she cop jed the tune herself note by note. The ladies sang with great spirit and wera heartily applauded. They were all in costume. with powdered hair. The piano was draped with an American flag.
 Among those present last evening were Professor and Mrs. William w. | Farnam, Mrs. Godfrey Dunscombe, Professor and Mrs Sturgis, President and Mrs. Dwight, Mrs. c. Purdy Linds- ley. Miss Lindsley, Miss Patterson, Miss Wilcox, Mrs. D. J. Phelps Miss Hotch- kiss. Professor Weir. MT George D. Seymour, besides the officers and mem- bers of the society. .. i