The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-12-01
FATR1roV7P VIZ ST.
west yIReIIN,lA.


tosh, editor. OF the Tribune. and whom
] am going to make my literary exc
cutloner. called attention 10 the fact
that the state song, .The West yir.
ginia Hills" would not bear anlysis.
and was puerlle, weak, yacuous and
not worthy to be part OF a meller.
dramer at popular prices.
Without discussing whether any
song would stand the result OF a
test for 5logis, II will suffice to say
that the West Virginia fIillst have
suffered from erosion. There Is a
French saying. That which Is not
worth speaking they sing" ia
At the best the West Virginia flllls
have to do with rugged topography OF
country and not the heroic race which
fromed the government under which
we live and brought into existence
the war born child. John s. Wise
said that West Virginia Is the result
OF CRsarian operation following a
political rape.
Instead OF making the name OF the
State great in history It seems to
have the opposite effect, and TO be
a bar sinister.
The Supreme Court OF the United
States seems to attach no Importance
to the fact that the creation OF the
Stae was war measure. and one
that was most vital to the issue sub
mitted to the arbitrament OF arms
and which was an important factor
contributing to the success Of the ma
tibnal armies.
1t behooves us then to insist upon
our place in history. The grandilo-
quence OF Virginia has. always been
more or less offensive to- the race
which lived under the shadow Of the
mountains. but thate same grandilo.
quence has carried far, and our war
time heroes, '>who were able to take
the iniative, and cut loose, In time OF
war. and risk an ignoble death by
hanging. have been neglected. The
situation was more dangerous and
more intense than when the declara-
ton Of independence was signed. and
one of the signers remarkd: We
must all hang together or We will
hang separately. As Schiller says:
Song forblds victorious deeds to
die"
: 1t Is enough to make one FESTIVE
to see the loyal north do homage to
the State OF Virginia in the literature
OF the day and neglect our own state
as not worth place In the history of
the country. The only answer 10 such
a ,scorning is for West Virginia sons
and daughters to claim In no uncer-
tain tones tlIatttheir state is second
to none In the lists Of chivalry. 1t Is
due those men who are fast passing
away who formed the State in 1868
and who put 1t on frmer basis in
1872, that their acts OF heroism should
not be forgotten. Virgil has the fol.
lowing:
Cantabitis, Arcades montibus HRc
vsetrIs: Soil cantare PERTH Arcades.
o imihi tum guam millotcr ossa quies,
lcant. ~ ~, a.s.,s.
| Which means, softly shall my bones
rest. II In the future Arcadians ex.
pertin song will sing my woes upon
the hills. If this translation does not
suit you. translate 1t to suit yourself.
One of the grandest church songs
Is "My Redeemer." found in practic-
ally all standard collections OF church
music. 1t has been great favorite
for a generation.
| When the alumni of the University
OF Virginia meet and renew their
youth they sometimes sing football
song OF their alma mater, Set to this
music, which lends itself to the vol
ume OF sound necessary on such occa'
sions. The theme Is at such n vari
ance to the sacredness Of the original
hymn, that the music Is not readily
identified by the ordinary ear but /
Is nevertheless the same "Ha -
Now, therefore. having finished witt
whereases and the aioresaids and the
, preamble, this harangue, witnesseth
That the following is dedicated tt
George c. Mcintosh. in consideration
that he protect me from any storm
which follows and be true to his name
: Try 1t upon your accordeon:
will sing OF West Virginia,
Born In passion. fear and war;
On her mountain tops, ! linger,
Where. the birds of freedom are.
CHORUS
Sing. o sing. OF West Virginia,
Mountain, river, rock and tree,
Men Of brain and Drawn and sinew