The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-11-01
DEAR Old nlNIE

DEAR OLD DIME.
1t is wonderful how some music
sways vast multitudes IL has been
said that music hath charms. and
the statement Is certainly true.
As rule the airs that are con
nected with some historic incident
are more lasting and are more effect
ual. For instance. take the old
hymn. Nearer My God to Thee Pc
For years it has been sung al religi-
Gus gatherings. and, while it WIS al
ways popular at church services. il
never was SO effectual as it has been
since it became linked with the name
OF our greatly beloved. dying Presi-
dent-Mckinley. The same is also
true of Lead Kindly Light"
In the North. Yankee Doodle
has often moved vast multitudes and
caused them TO fall into paroNvsms
OF Joy because OF. it, historic conne,-
tions
NH'AN tAA fNOAAAAfA kAIf'N INfNN We
SOutherners feel the restraining in
huences of dignity removed when we
hear our dear old Dixie" sung or
played. That old air will never die
in this section of the world. Walls
may crumble and fall into decay.
men may pass into the unknown be
yond, but Dixie will ever be the
reminder of history. and shall never
die.
The New Orleans Picayune. i'm De
scribing a recent gathering in that
city, had this 70 say about the pop
ular air.
when the musicians struck ~
Dixie" a very shout arose from
them all; they caught up the air.
singing and Nhistling. and wherr
there had been spirit before. there
was now the abandon of rompinc
children.
Hooray. Hooray,
Away down South in Dixie,
they sang around US, eyes flashing.
hands clapping-a merry, metrical
din
One missus married Bin. de weaver.
William was a gay deceiber.
hummed Virgie beside us. and
Look away Look away,
roared the chorus,
Look away down South in Dixie,
In truth. there isno tune like it to
stir the blood. 1t carries Us out into
the sunny, broad streets. When it
begins with
Dixie land is the land Of cotton.
something is coming at a lively.
quick step; with a dash and "A clane
and cheer, it has arrived We are
out in the broad, sunny streets. with
the marching crowd. the fife pierces
us with reckless Joy.
Away Away Away down South
in Dixie
And we are whirled about among /
the excited, cheering people, then get 4
ting our breath at the outskirts of ,
the crowd and catching sight of the I
rustling live oaks and sound OF the
chorus OF thousand hooking birds.
They, too, are singing Dixie as if
their throats would split Sunlight
and wind and the crowd are now
dancing, too, with a good double
shuttle, Jolly blacks in the lead. white .
boys and girls following them with
merry imitation. each and all beat =
ing syncopation with the nonchal-
ance that is the despair OF the I'M ,
There is still something [
coming, something dashing and bril-
liant beyond words; to see il we are :,
content to be swayed in the crowded q
streets or to lean perilously over the ),
window sills and balconies. Now the :
cheers are continuous, for here they g
are, the Dixie boys, tramping def .
antly, their bright eyes roaming to o
the right and left under the shade OF
Their large gray hats The people
cheer madly and singina very trans
port. Up to the heights of reckless o..
ness, on TO the brink of danger. down {
to the springs of passion-where will Il
the merry, maddening tune not lead I,
the boys of Dixie?' il
TO our neighbors on the other side !
OF the Potomac we desire to say the .
war is over, but we shall ALWAYS Y
revere and love dear old Dixie"
Every nrnoressixn citizor, o.f Nin..;: