The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-30
SONGS In THE BOYS CLUBS.
YOUNGSTERS TAKE TO MUSIC nv
THETR ORGANIZATIONS.

- y
Then Come the Sentimental and Huraor-
ous-some OF the "Club GonGHn That
Are Sung IN Occasions on the East Side.
Ahundred small boys singing ct the top OF
their lungs a Sentimental or humorous song
with catchy music under the direction OF q club
lanai may he seen any night among the
clubs and other philanthropic institutions OF
the east side, And OIL how they sIngl Eacn
boy endeayors to surpass his neighbor and to
carry air and chorus entirely unaided. There
suit is q volume Of sound which would make
the Boston Handel and Haydn Society hold up
ita hands in wild amazement,
And IL Is good sinRingl The average street
boy has q keen ear for music. n fair votce and q
| fine appreciation Of the humorous. He is polite
in his way and say little or nothing when he
hears a song sung out Of tune or listens to dull
and innne compositions. But the pollteness is
not very deep. On the second recital there 10
some pointed comment In street language.
such as Say, what's yer giving us ?" or Go
home. Johnnie. and sing It to papa or How
much do you get paid for that ~ Andthe third
time the hapless singer is likely to have some
thing n little unpleasant happen to him.
This club singing has become a regular fea-
ture OF the organization work throughout the
city. 1t was started some years ago In that
famous institution the Boys Club OF SC. Marks
place. which has 5000 members. and is sup
posed to be the largest in the world. The aver
age nightly attendance Is about 200. and of this
number at least one-half take part in the sing
ing. homo Of the boys have beautiful voices.
and when they are 80 inclined they are allowed
to do solo. quartet or double quartet work.
They are intensely patriotic and give The
Star-SpangleG Banner" with the ring and
rush Of q brass band. Some OF the Older boys.
whose voices are changed or changing, give a
good second. and so add a body to the music.
which relieves 1t Of shrillness. The club
repertory varies from month to month. taking
In the better class of new songs as they become
popular.
Juvenile taste is not SC. bad after all. Itwants
patriotic music: next to that sentimental. and
next to that humorous. Under instruction. 1t
improves rapidly. At the beginning OF the new
class the ~faVorite songs OF the boys are music
hall songs. These they drop almost immedi-
ately aud want better words and finer music.
Finally they reach a point in which they want
their own songs, and these. when they appeal
to their imagination. become adapted first as
class songs and afterward as a club songs. In
this way nearly all OF the boys and many Of the
girls clubs in New York have their distinctive
songs. as Columbia College fayors the Son Of
q Giambolier% Yale, Drink Her Down" and
THE Boys CilubH in St. MARKS place the club
song is the following:
YANKEE DoopnE UP TO DATE.
Yankee Doodle came 10 town
DC saw the crowd and laughed aloud.
Aud said 1t was q buster.
cHonus-Yankee Doodle. &c.
Yankee Doodle went downstairs
To see the boys a-playing-
He held his head and sadly said;
II fear can't be STAYING"
CHoRUs-Xankee Doodle. &c.
Yankee Doodle went upstairs
To hear the the boyo a-sinBlnR--
With cotton wool his ears were full.
And still they kept ON ringing.
CHORUS Yankee Doodle, &c.
Yankee Doodle come again,
Stay TIL nine and after.
Lots OF boys and lots OF noise.
And lots OF fun ami laughter.
C~HoRus-Yaukce Doodle, 40.
The Altruist Chapter. a fiourishing boys
club which meets in Jefferson street not far
s siets Of sps y%onnssters still IN their teens. Is noted
on the east side for its musical accomplish
monts. 1t has considerable professional talent
among it's own members at a moments notice.
i fayors English songs; but knows several u
all the national anthems and. a number OF
humorous parodies and torical composittons
and SuIlivan's "Mikado:" The boys learned
s vi Before many east side audiences. They
had little money to spend and so painted their
pianist, violinist and fiutist. who constituted
season that they WIN repeat the undertaking
this winter. when they win give one or more
p pSae IN %R 1hfitIhi t5ey are Interested Mt E 'Hsd' The song
was written by their superintendent f. Fl.
Tabor. and is as follows:
Amerry crowd of homemade JapS. =.
We greet Won here tonight,
And hope, in spite of all mishaps,
To give you some delight.
Ko-Ko and Pooh-Bah, Nanki-Poo,
Yum-Yum and Katisha
Extend to you q welcome true.
OF skill or strength not boaatful we,
Whose wills alone are strong;
But purpose pure tonight shall be
The burthen Of our song.
II any clever critic. then,
To note our faults should think,
;. We crave him use q cautious pen
And kind, indulgont Ink.
truce to Judgment, aern and cold, r.
Restrain the ready tongue.
Aud prove that, though in wisdom old.
In heart you still are young.
And 40, in boyish merriment,
We bid you Join tonight.
Not doubling tina. ,opr true intent
Little New York girls are not much behind
0Mn V Of them anI that il is ddMiniicssiitt to Keep TH track K
90 Son anem most az; Of Pt Them i Being hS Satisfied " 8ith 'I pao
triotic and sentimental music; The girls oi
Ieagife have a composition about the destruc-
ton OF the Maine for one Of their f~avorite songs.
tional Alliance In Jefferson street L. a club
who's members endeayor to learn q little about
: the field. farm, and forest. and q great, deal
about swimming; fishing. Grabbing and base;
singing. Their favorite musical piece is this
oh. we're marching out TO camp.
Can't you hear our steady tramp
AS through the city's noisy streets We pAAaf
And the dogs begin to bark
As we come to Pelham Park
And wake the little insects in the grass.
CHORUS.
Tramp, tramp, tramp, the boys are marching.
Harkl the sound 10 borne upon the broeZei
Every heart with pleasure beAts
As we leave the scorchlng streets
And march beneath the cleaning Of the trees.
They won't know us In the town,
For our faces are so brown.
And the skin Is coming on our hands and feet;
But wa do not care ajot
II We have to lose the lot,