The record-union., 1898-06-17
A NEW NATIONAL ODE.
The Ode, Song and Anthem of A. H.
Vivian Of This CITY.

There has just been issued from the
press of the H. S. Crocker Company of
this city national ode and anthem
entitled America, Beloved Land" 1t
is by Arthur H. Vivian of this city, and
is reserved under copyright. It con-
sists of 1O4 lines in ten stanzas of ode,
with four lines of chorus, two stanzas
Of anthem and four lines of grand
chorus. Mr.. Vivian began work upon
this production more than a year ago.
For long time, while sick, he laid it
| aside, and but recently has put the
finishing touches upon it. We heard it
read in it's initial form, and were then
deeply impressed with it's high merit.
In printed and revised FORM in which
we are enabled to read it with care and
deliberation that impression has been
sensibly deepened and the Judgment
first formed of it emphasized and con-
firmed
1t differs in all respects from all other
national hymns, from any manner of
war songs, from any other enthusias-
tic Inscriptions to national glory, or ap-
peals to national pride. 1t is. while an
apostrophe and a lofty ascription,
sermon in gentle. yet lofty, sentiment.
1t appeals to the profoundest patriot
ism, and not a particle to passion or
prejudice. 1t is inspired by the gentlest
of sentiment, and yet breathes the loft
lest and broadest humanity possible to
the conception of the human soul re-
garding the destinies and rights of the
races of men.
Strictly speaking, it reads as if
third power, another and benignant
intelligence standing afar off and apart
and viewing the expansion and the
drawing near of the two great English
speaking peoples, was extending it's
hands in blessings over both, and in
soulful and tunefu numbers was
sounding their praises, telling of their
one time antagOniSm now ripened, in
the fullness of an evolution planned by
divinity, into an alliance of civiliza-
ton that is limitless in it's possibilities.
There are no concealments in the
theme. The exact position of England
and America at the beginning is re-
ferred to. and the achievements of each
in the field of human liberty and the
expansion of free thought and free
mankind and our own unhappy civil
war are indicated. The future is fore
cast boldly, with strength, yet in a
gentle and reverential manner.
Mr. Vivian has accomplished what
would in forecast be pronounced quite
improbable. He has crystalliZed into
one poetic form, history, ascrption to
dead heroes, acknowledgment to the
Supreme Power, glory of the present.
defiance of enemies of humanity and
the prophesy of all the future, and this
without commonplace laudation. vain
glorying or departure for an instant
from historic truth and what must be
the logic of civiliZing processes, unless
indeed, civilization is a cheat, human
freedom deceit and free government a
delusion.
Politically, it is what the true poem
should be-prOphetic. 1t moves in easy,
flowing numbers without the slightest
involvment of language or any strain
ing after effect. It's simplicity and lu-
cidity are two of it's principal charms
AS a creation it is, we should say,
wholly original We can discover no
copying, no imitation; if at first it has
measured beats that seem to be ia
miliar, these are metrical adapting it
purposefully, easily to popular music
setting, though it's length may be OBJ
jectionable in song. Happily for the
work, however, it is divisable. Either
tilC OoC VI tllS dutlISlil SldHO diOHC,
though having logical and rhetorical in
timacy. Thus, excepting, perhaps, the
first and second stanZas, any two or
three of the other verses would con-
stitute Independent, relevant and har-
moniouS song. In fact, in this ode, an
them and chorus we discover the possi-
bility of three Independent national
songs, each complete in itself, and suf-
fpTin0 nOfhincr of wrQnch hv hQinO
taken from the whole.
Again, in this strong and beautiful
work we discover remarkable reading
quality. The odes of national song are
few indeed that can be declaimed with
oratorical effect. But in this inter-
woven ascription, apostrophe and
prophecy, there is the quality that fits
it for the elocutionist's art. It has the
soul of poetry and the life of true song,
and, hence, it will live, because that
endures that is fit to live.
Since in the poets own life he rarely
receives his full need of recognition
so in the case of the author of this
new national anthem, who was born
the son Of one and adopted the son of
the other nation to which this lofty
tribute and prophetic prayer of song
is paid he will find that it is cast in a
mold to meet a day and time more fit
tingly, when he shall have been gath
cred to his fathers, time into which it
will fit better than the present-and yet
it is national anthem, a national song,
and poem and benediction for to-day.
The regret is sincere that the right of
the author to protect the child of his
thought prevents the Record Union
from presenting this new work in full,
which we consider one of remarkable
and chaste beauty.