Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1909-04-22

E1yNN ests or to indiyid
AZ ~.JaT ual trees once
W&M R2A dear to poet
SM KY " hearts. 1t is
therefore fitting
that laureates should have been crown
ed with leaves, for thus the collective
world of trees could show gratitude to
their panegyrists.
1t should be a proud thought to
Americans that of all the singers who
have rendered tributes to our leafy
friends it remained for our country
man to write the one tree song that IS
immortal. George 7. Morris has now
been dead nearly forty-five years. To
the world at large much of his other
work is forgotten. Yet "Woodman,
Spare That Tree" lives in all hearts
and in practically all tongues Its
fame Is self renewing and perennial,
like its subject. 1t has become the
song Of great crusade, that for the
preservation of our forests. Annually
throughout the land it Is lisped on Ar
Dor day by the myriad voices of chill
dren. Its author Is well entitled, there
fore, to be known as the Laureate of
the trees"
In his day General Morris was per-
haps the best known of American song
writer's. He sang simply from the
heart, and his words found an i'm
mediate and widespread echo In the
hearts Of the masses. He touched on
cantimapts common tn homo CONN
try, love of nature and the hallowed
things Of everyday life. Many of his
poems had their place in the school
readers and are yet familiar. To the
gray headed boys and girls a mere re-
cital of some of the titles will seem
like calling a roll of old friends. Here
are a few of them: "a Leap For Life"
is one, beginning
Old Iropsides at anchor lay
In the harbor OF Manon.
Who has not felt an apprehensive
thrill as the captains little son stood
far aloft on the main truck and as the
agonlZed father seized a rifle and COM
manded him to Jump far out into the
wave?" Famous to all New Yorkers
ut ltuSl was btIGldl NIOlOl
Ode" sung IN celebration Of the spar
king mountains whence comes New
York citys water supply. "Land-Ho"
is another of Morris famous songs.
loved of all travellers. The Flag OF
Our Union" is not so well known es
formerly perhaps, but once promised
to become one of our national songs
Every one knows I'm With You once
Again, My Friends" even If he does
not recognize General Morris as the
author. Equally famous is MY Moth
er's Bible" I'VE Were Boys Togeth-
er" can now be sung by old men who
were boys when this touching song
was written. When Other Friends
Are Round Thee Is equally familiar
THE Miniature is fondly known OF
all lovers. One Of the finest and ten
derest little songs written by Morris
and one Of the sweetest In the Ian
guage begins:
Near the lake where dropped the willow
Long time ago!
The Origin OF Yankee Doodle" has
fine flavor both Of humor and patriot
iSiAl- "t btdutlIul SOlES COuCeT0 HIS
daughters. one begins thus:
Where Hudson's S wave o'er silvery sands
Winds through the hills afar
Old Gro Nest like monarch stands
Crowned with single star.
The other, while not so famous is
even more touching. Its first line will
recGl! it TO many:
George come home! Lies tendrtls cling
about thee.
These are but a few of General Nor
ris' famous songs. One or two are
stirring hunting odes, others relate to
the wild, free life of the west, while
some of the most beautiful are ad-
dressed to the Hudson river He wrote
at least two dramas and several the
atrical addresses quite popular in their
day. Besides, he was one of the earli-
est literary editors in the country, hav-
ing started the New York Mirror and
the Evening Press, which eventually
became the Home Journal. Associated
with him in all his newspaper enter
prises was n. p. Willis The two
brought out many young authors who
afterward Joined Americas little band
OF literary immortalS. Among the as
sistant editors were James Parton Ed
Nllpn