The age-herald., 1899-01-25
SONGS FROM
 THE PHILIPPINES

In taking possession of the islands In Pas cific and Atlantic waters the United States has acquired some new national airs and songs to add to it's limited repertory The Hawaiians have had a national hymn of their own, and in addition thereto must be counted the large number of native songs which are ind genous to the islands. The Filipinos have national march, which is reproduced on the first page of the Record this morning. It was written by Antonio Comillas, and is the tune which the insur- gents have used to inspire them in their battles against the Spanish rulers. The melody is simple as that of Yankee Doodle" but it has plenty of animation and swing, and the change of key in the refrain slVes 1t variety. Probably it has served the F1lipinos purposes we'll enough and if the Islands are to be annexed will make another patriotic anthem for the United States.
 The new march does not appear to have any racial character, but no one tune could even suggest all the various kinds of music which the Philippine peoples must possess. The specimens of native Asiatic music which were displayed at the worlds fair were not Of kind to tempt civilized com posers as the law material out of which to make national hymns. The "Philppine National March is the tune only of the insurgents and of those of the Filipinos who have come under the influence of Span ish civilization far enough to have adopted the European system of notation. If the dominant and intelligent element in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanoa continues to grow and acquires control of the archipelago, however, the march may have to be ac- cepted as the representative tune for all the islanders.
 Some of the American soldiers at Manila, however, have not been content to pass their time listening to the music of other people. A Souvenir Song Book" pub lished in Manila, contains twenty-five orig inal songs and poems written by members of the Eighth army corps. The authors are men of the regular and volunteer regi- ments of all branches of the service The songs are strongly suggestive of the tedium of the soldiers life in far-away camps ana of the straits to which he Is reduced TOT amusement. It may be noted, also, as a unique characteristic of the American army that its men should have either the inclin- ation or the ability to amuse themselves In just this way. The verses are often rough and imperfect but they indicate liberal acouaintance with the kind of verse Whlch passes current in popular songs ana no little knack of inclination. The complla- tion begins with song by Charles c. Web ster of the Astor battery, who has written new words to the popular college air or the ''Prodigal Son. Here are some or the stanzas in which he describes the achieve ment of "Dewey, the King of the Sea: "A torpedo boat came out with d oash'
 It did, it did.
 If started for Dewey like flash,
 It did, it did.
 Not 9 man at his post was seen to finch, The commander gave the button plnch' Let go his twenty-pounders-oh' what
 cinch!
 Sang Dewey, the king of the seas
 (Repeat)
 "All this took place on the 1st of May.
 It did, it did.
 Troops in ships were hurried away,
 They were, they were. t Re-enforced by batteries H and K, John Astor's battery sailed away, And they hurried them on to Manila bay,
 Sang Dewey the king of the seas. ..Now. the four expeditions came in safe
 and sound,
 They did, they did. Intrenchments the Spanards were plant
 ing around,
 They were, they were. Since the 18th of August they've planted no
 more,
 They've learned what they never knew be-
 fore, Intrenchments can't stop the Sth army
 corps, .
 Sang Dewey, the king of the seas." The popularity of "A Hot Time In the Old Town To Night is attested by Burt D. Carrier of the Thirteenth Minnesota vol unteerS, who writes:
 Come along, get you ready, for we are go-
 ing to the war,
 But it's nothing new to Minnesota, for
 she's been there before. We're going to lick the Spaniards, who are
 anxious for 0 fight, But for some unknown reason they keep
 quite out of sight
 CHORUS. Please, oh, please, MT. Spaniard do not
 run,
 For now that we are started we are bound
 to have some fun, And when we reach the Philippines we'll
 put you on the bum. Therell be hot time in Manila that night" That the American Tommy Atkins has a sweetheart at home there are several songs to show. George w. Moulton, of the First South Dakota, writes: "I am lying in my tent, Sweet Marie, And my soul with rage is pent up in G,
 For I know almighty well
 You have caught another fel, And your thoughts no longer dwell, love,
 with me.
 "When we kissed last good-by tearfully, You but worked a girlish guy off on me,
 Oh, you sweet bewitching jade,
 What clever game you've played, For your tears were ready made, sweet
 Marie.
 "When I donned the soldier blue, sweet
 Marie,
 Like a picnic woodtick you stuck to me,
 And the smile you used to wear
 Was as full of gleamng glare As sunbeam on tear, sweet Marie. "How your cunning head you'd lay, lovingly On my bosom. while you'd say thing to me,
 There you'd rest In loving pose,
 Right beneath my very nose, Swiping buttons off my clothes, sweet
 Marie."
 Some of the verses are frankly sentiment al in bluff. boyish way, like the poem by William H. Doyle of the First Montana regiment who writes eloquently of "A Girl With Dark-Red Hair" who was left