The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-05-30
SONGS OF SUNNY SOUTH.
Address Of Rev. Thomas j. Nc
Loughlin, of New York, in st.
Thomas College Hall.

ncopated-commonly called rag"
time music came in for bitter de-
nunciation at the hands of Rev. Thom-
as ]. Mclaughlin, Of New York, in his
lecture at st. Thomas College hall last
night, on Songs of the Sunny South
the last of the lecture series given
under the auspices OF the Catholic
Young Women's club.
Rag time songs were very fascin-
ating, he admitted, but in the major
ity Of instances the words render them
unfit to be sung or played by SELL
respecting men and women. The low,
vile and obscene character OF so many
Of these songs has caused rag time
in New York, ne said, to become syn
onomous almost with depravity. we
are gradually being so formed and
moulded by the corrupt theater ana
It's insidious music that our young peo-
pie are beginning to recognize with
difficulty the difference between right
and wrong. The corrupt theater has
been denounced time and again TO
his mind 1t was time some one rose
to denounce music, which tends to
lower morals instead or inspiring holi-
ness and piety, its true mission, ana
thereby making better and more use
full members OF society.
To counteract the baneful influence
Of this sort OF music, Father McLough-
lin would revive the folksongs so pop
ular with our fathers and encourage
the best of the songs Of the present
day commonly classed as popular.
The Sunshine Of Paradise Alley" was
given as a sample OF a good, pure
edifying composition Of this latter sort
The simple story Of the everyday girl
the daughter of poor widow who
heroically performed a tender and
meinful office
'Dwhen o'Brien's little lad
Had the fever so bad
That no one would dare 10 60 near him.
is calculated to stir the heart Of
young man to great admiration fol
pure, young womanhood than "Romec
| and Juliet" Faust or any othel
grand opera,
To instance the kind OF songs HI
void revive he took up the words o.
q Pennsylvania, Stephen Collins Fos
ter, author OF "Suawnee River" "OlC
Kentucky Home" "Old Uncle Ned.
"Ma.sa's in the Cold, Cold Ground,
"Old Dor Tray" Gentle Annie,
Hard Times Come Again No More
and nearly one hundred other sweet
touching melodies, most OF them fam
iliar and all OF them edifying. Fathe
McLouEhlin sang several OF them
much to the delight of his audience
He has a remarkably nne vote. ant
sings with most artistic appreciation
! II any one would doubt the beauty o
those songs he should only hear Fathe
MeLouKhlin sing them and that doub
would he removed.
Touching upon the fact that Foster
though Pennsylvania. wrote south
ern songs almost exclusively, Fathe
AcLoughlin said that in the mort
commercialism has practically Danish
ed the poetic sentiment that enter
so largely into song writing. Yo
never have heard OF THE Girl Love
In Sunny Pennsylvania" or my Oh
Massachusetts Home" the speake
said. Negro melodies came In for a
interesting discussion in Father N;
Loushlin's able way.
The lecture was preceded by sole
by Miss Isabelle Clark, Miss AliC
Burke and Mrs. Walsh, and at an ar
propriate point in the lecture Fatht
Mel .oushlin paused to have Mrs. JC
seph O'Brien sing "Massa's In the Coll
Cold Ground" The other songs wei
either negro melodies or Fosters con
positions.