davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-27

Physical Stimulus Of
Work-Songs Of the
Fields, and Row.
ing Songs Of
the River.

ty-four Negro Melodies" Booker p
Washington says: Wherever companies
of negroes were working together. in
the cotton fields and tobacco factories
on the levees and steamboats,, on sugar
plantations, and chiefly in the feryor q,
religious gatherings, these melodies
sprang into life. Oftentimes in slavery
as to-day in certain parts OF the South
some man or woman with an exceptional
vioce was paid to lead the singing. the
idea being TO increase the amount OF
labor by such singing" And thus speaks
the writer OF the article entitled Amer.
lean Music" in The American History
and Encyclopedia OF Music" published
by Irving Squire: Work on the planta.
tions was often done to the accountant.
ment of songs, whose rhythmic swing
acted as an incentive to steadier and
better labor; especially was this true
with the mowers at harvest. Charles
Peabody tells of a leader in a band OF
slaves who was besought by mis- com.
panions not to sing certain song be.
cause IL made them work too hard.
Again, on the boats plying between the
West Indies and Baltimore and the
Southern ports, which were manned by
the blacks, song was used for the same
purpose. Later, on the Southern river
boats the same method was utilized.
These boat songs usually we're con.
structed OF single line followed b. an
unmeaning chorus. the solo being sung
by one of the leaders and the rhythmic
refrain repeated over and over by the
workers"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-27
In Analysis Of Over
Five Hundred Songs
Prevalence of
Major Mode
Is Noted.
CHAPTER ".

To lay a foundation for a discussion OF
the idioms Of the folksongs created by
the American negroes L have examined
527 songs found in six collections nVe
OF which have appeared in print. or these
five four are readily accessible TO the
student. The titles Of the printed collec-
tons are,
slave Songs Of the United States,
edited by William Francis Allen, Charles
Pickard Ware and Lucy McKim Garrison;
published by A. Simpson & Co., New
York. 1867. This work, by far the most
valuable and compendious source, as 1t is
the earliest, is out of print and difficult
to obtain.
The Story of the Jubilee Singers. with
Their Songs" by j. b. 7. Marsh. Pub
nshed by Houghton, Osgood & Co., Bos-
ton. 1880. This is a revised edition of two
earlier publications, the music arranged
by Theodore f. Seward and George L.
White, OF which the first was printed by
Bigelow & Main. New York. in 1872,
Religious Folk Songs of the Negroes
as Suns on the Plantations" arranged
by the musical directors of the Hampton
Normal and Agricultural Institute from
the original edition of Thomas p. Fenner
Published by the Institute Press. Hamp-
ton, Va. 1909. The original edition. en-
titled Cabin and Plantation Songs as
Sung by the Hampton Students" was
published In 1874; an enlarged edition by
Thomas p. Fenner and Frederic G. Rath-
bun. by @. p Putnams Sons, New York,
in 1891.
Bahama Songs and Stories A Contr-
button TO Folklore" by Charles L. Ed
wards. Pm. D., Boston and New York,
published for the American Folklore So
ciety by Houghton, Miffiin & Co.. 1898.
Calhoun Plantation Songs" collected
and edited by Emily HallowelL first edi-
ton. 1901; second edition, 1907: Boston, c.
w. Thompson & Co.
These books, as well as the authors
private collection, have been drawn on
not so much to show the beauty and
wealth of negro folksong as to illustrate
its varied characteristics. An analysis
Of the 527 songs in respect of the inter-
vallic structure of their melodies is set
forth in the following table,
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-27

the minor mode as a symbol OF SuHer-
ing, is at fault in respect of the folk
songs Of the American negroes, or that
these songs are not 50 poignant an rN-
preston of the life OF the black slaves ms
has been widely assumed. The question
deserves looking into. As matter OF
fact. musicians know that the major and
minor modes are not unqualified expires
sions Of pleasure and pain. gayety ana
gravity. happiness and sorrow. Funeral
marches are never expressions Of JOY. ct
great funeral marches have been written
In the inaior mode Handers Dead March
in saul" for instance-and some OF the
maddest scherzos are minor. u may be
questioned, too, whether or not. az a
matter Of fact Ohe physiological and
psychological explanation OF which IL not
within the scope OF this study, the life Of
tho black slaves was. on the whole. 80
weighted with physical and spiritual SUI
fering as necessarily 20 make Us musical
expression one Of hopeless grief Perhaps
an innate lightness Of heart and careless
ness OF disposition, carefully cultivated
By the Shareholders for obvious reasons,
had much 20 do with the circumstance
that there are few utterances OF pro-
found sadness or despair found in the
songs, but many OF resilient hopefuness
and cheerful endurance Of present pain
in contemplation Of the rewards OF rest
and happiness hereafter. The two emo
tional poles in question are touched in
the settings OF the song Nobody Knows"
ono OF which was printed last Sunday
Colonel Higginson seems TO have sound
ed the keynote Of the emotional stimulus
OF the songs when he spoke OF their in
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-27

lives Of their creators: Nothing but pa
thence for this life-nothing but triumph
in the next" This feeling was encour-
aged by the attitude. legal and personal
Of the slave owners toward their human
chattels. To let them acquire an educa-
tion was dangerous for as rule, insur-
rcctions were fomonted by educated men.
but 10 encourage them In their rude,
emotional religious worship was not
harmful md might bee positively benc-
ncial. Under such circumstances II was
natural that the poetcal expressions n
their temporal state should run out In
religious allogory. and here the utterance
had 20 be predomlnantly cheerful in 'he
very nature Of the case They could not
sing OF the New Jerusalem toward which
they were journeying IN tones OF grief
The Biblical tales and imagery. which
were all Of the boob which seized upon
their Imagination. also called FOR celc-
bration I'm jubiant rather than lugubrious
accents. The rolling OF Jordan's waters,
the sound Of the last trump, the over
whelming Of Pharaoh's hosts the vision
~ Jacobs ladder. the building OF the
Ark Daniel in the den Of lions. Ezckiers
wheel In the middle Of wheel"
Elijahs chariot OF Are, the breaking up
OF the unyerse-all these things and the
lurid pictures of the Apocalypse. whether
hymncd with allcgorical intent or as III
cral conceptions. asked FOR swelling proc
lamation. and all received H.
II is possible. OF course. even likely
though the records are not convincing,
that restrictions were placed upon the
songs OF the slaves. In which an eXpla-
nation may be found for the general
tone Of cheer. not unmixed with pathos.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-27
UP TO SIX THOUSAND.

A doctor who had had run OF "e"'
work WAS called TO a case where All g
animation of the lungs was necessa'
In certain conditions the SOUND N"s
lions are tested by listening to the cns''
while the patient uses his voice. IL Wv
patient counts one gets the best resu'''
The tired doctor seated himself al wv
bedside. and. too lethargic and listless '"
use his stethoscope, rested his head up''
the patients chest
Count Till tell you to STOP the wv
tor directed.
zone, two. three" began the patient
When next the doctor heard him wv
man was plodding on In steady NOW
tone. "6l2l. 6,122, 6.l23."
Good gracious, man, YOU don't mean ....
TO say you've counted over six thousand
II do. doctor You said ! was to cou"'
till YOU told me 10 stop" =,
Dear me. | must have been asleen
replied the doctor. feeling bright ana ~
freshed by the nap he had taken as sow
as his weary head rested on the pauen'
The Strand.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-27
ROWING SONGS.

There Is nothing especially character
istic of slave life In such water music"
except its idiom. The sailormans
"chanty," 1 fancy, is universal in one
form or another. The singular fact to be
noted here is that the American negros
"spirituals' were also his working songs
and the significance which tnis circum-
stance has with relation 10 their mood
and mode The spirituals could not have
been thus employed had they been lugu-
brious In tone or sluggish in movement
The paucity OF secular working songs has
already been commented on. OF songs
referring TO labor in the field the editors
OF Slave Songs OF the United States
were able to collect only two examples.
Both Of them are corn songs and the
first is a mere fragment. the only words
of which have been preserved being
Shock along, John The second defed
Interpretation fifty years ago and Is still
incomprehensible:
Five can't ketch me and ten can't hold
me
Bo, round the corn. Sally!
Here's your iggle-quarter and here's your
COuHl-dpullS-
Ho, round the corn. Sally!
can bank. 'gnny bank, 'ginny bank the
weaver
Ho, round the corn, Sally.
The same songs are used for rowing
as for shouting" says Mr.. Allen, and
adds: II know OF only one pure boat
song. the fine lyric. Michael, row the
boat ashore; and this I have no doubt is
real spiritual-it being the Archangel
Michael that is addressed" Ny analyt'
teal table shows that three-hfths OF the
songs which have examined contain the
peculiarly propusive rhythmical snap or
catch. which has several times been de-
scrbed as the basis OF "ragtime'
II is this rhythm which helps admirably
TO make physical stimulus OF the tunes
and II is noteworthy that 1t is equally
effective in slow and fast time. Essen
TALLY. therefore. II has nothing 10 do with
the secular dance. though II plays large
part in the shout" Mr.. Ware mentions
Continued on eighth page
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-27

which CharacteriZes the music. There is
a hint of this in a remark recorded by
Mrs. Frances Anne Kemble in her Jour
nal OF a Residence on "A Georgian Plan
tation." namely: Il have heard that
many of the masters and overseers on
these plantations prohibit melancholy
tunes or words and encourage nothing
but cheerful music and senseless words.
deprccating the effect OF sadder strains
upon the slaves. whose peculiar musical
sensibility might be expected TO make
them especially eXcitable by any songs
Of "A plaintive character and having ref
crcnce TO their particular hardships."
Examples Of such restrictive regulations
arc not unknown 10 history. The Swiss
soldiery in the French army were pro-
hihited from singing the melody Of the
RAM des Vaches' because II produced
homesickness. and the Austrian govern
mcnt has several times forbidden the
sale OF the Rakoczy March and con-
fscated the music found in the shops in
times OF political disturbance I'm Hungary.
MUSIC IN THE FIELDS.
Had the folksongs Of the American
negroes been conceived in sorrow and
born IN heavincss Of heart by a people
walking I'm darkness they could not have
been used unfortunately, as they were.
FOR spiritual comfort and physical slim
ulation. II Is the testimony Of the earli
est collectors that they were so used.
Though II cannot be said that the em-
ployment OF music to tighten and quicken
work and increase its efficiency was pc
culiar to the slave life OF America. II
Is nevertheless worth noting that this
use. like some OF the idIoms Of the music
itself. was a relic OF the life OF the ne
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-27
Ordinary major
MAJOR MODE PREDoMINATEs.

Almost all their songs were religious
in their tone however quaint their OK
preston. and were in a minor key. both
as to words and music, wrote Colonel
Higginson, in The Atlantic Monthly"
They that walked in darkness sang
songs in the olden days-sorrow songs
for they were weary at heart. . They
0he songs) are the music of an unhappy
people. of the children of disappointment;
and they tell Of death and suffering and
unvoiced longing toward a truer world,
Of misty wanderings and hidden ways"
says DR.. Du Bots, in THE Souls of Black
Folk "A tlnge Of sadness pervades all
the melodies. which bear as little resem-
bance TO the popular Ethiopian melodies
of the day as twilight 20 MONDAY" wrote
Mr. Spaulding, in THE Continental
Monthly" Mr.. Allen. in his preface to
Slave Songs" avoids musical terml-
nology as much as possible, and has moth
ing to say about the modes of the melo-
dies which he records though his de-
soription of the manner Of singing and
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-27
Poor Judgment to De-
clare Strong Suit
When HoldingC Cards
ThatAssure Part
ner's Help.

no trump hid. East figured the cnsnoe'
slim for game at royals. II y needless
TO add that he felt no serious apprehsh.
sion OF the opponents going game "
hearts Only South's return TO no trump
caused him TO declare his suit. bes"e'
directing his partners lead at no rGnil,
East's declaration, notwithstanding th'
unfortunate outcome promised far sue
cess. II should not be overlooked nov,
ever that had South's no trumper helu
the contract North and South would nave
gone game and rubber.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-27
Futility Of Fourth Hand
Overcalling Original
No Trump Where
Game Is I'M
possible.

There are times at auction when good
team work makes It OF greater importance
10 conceal information from the enemy
than 70 attempt to benefit a partner. To
paraphrase we'll known legal express
sion-refuse TO speak on the ground that
II tends to incriminate and degrade ones
game.
Very often positions arise where III con-
eidered bidding, especially fourth handed,
furnishes the enemy the information re-
ouired to locate missing cards that war
rant change Of bid; a successful fnesse
or strategy that otherwise would be un-
awaiting.
And the very information defeats IT.
self. This is one Of the problems Of the
game that give the finished auction
player IAN edge" over the less proficient
man.
The following hand played at a Brook
lyn club illustrates a poor fourth hand
bid that warned the adversaries who
acted accordingly.
The hand:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-27

as the cards show. he was able TO accom-
plish what he planned to do.
If the course OF play is followed II will
be found that by means of high cards
and ruffs a thirteenth club will be estab-
lished in dummy's hand on the eighth
trick. with North in the lead. a trump
lead will put West in the lead with the
ace. Only one trick more will be possible,
no matter what West might have.
Thus It will be seen how in actual play
North and South were able 10 go game
and rubber with five-Odd tricks on the
hand. Al the same time, the double value
of the contract netted handsome over
line bonus that would have been avoided
had East refused 10 bid
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-27

Score. love-all rubber game.
South declared one no trump His holding
bears some resemblance TO the type OF
hand on which some players advance
no trumper primarily for the purpose Of
forestalling the adversaries declaring one
Of the major valued suits.
The use of this expedient. however, is
rendered somewhat doubtful In this case
by the fact that South held three spades
and a singleton. At royals their value,
either in defence against an adverslry's
declaration or in attack II bid by partner,
Is easily recognized.
AS d speculative hand. however. that
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-27
EAsT's BID WARNED SOUTH.

The futility OF East's declaration was
apparent when the adversaries, recognize
ing an opposition Of decided strength.
would not permit il TO stand. Had the
distribution Of cards in the other hands
teen different and had caused the adver-
saries 10 allow East's declaration gra-
ciously TO hold, a dummy Of such strength
as West actually held would have been
no doubt sadly missing
East did not possess the requisite
strength in the suit to invite high card
lead from his partner Ordinarily II will
be found that in cases similar TO East 4,
though the suit might become established
without the sacrifice OF n partners high
honor, lack OF re-entry will render the
suit worthless
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-27

groes In their aboriginal home. James
Augustus Grant in his book "A Walk
Across Africa" as cited by Wallaschek
page IL, says that his people when
cleaning rice were always supported by
singers who accompanied the workers
with clapping of hands and stamping OF
feet. George Francis Lyon, in his Mar
rative Of Travels in Northern Africa,
says that at one place he heard the ne
gro women singing a national song in
chorus while pounding wheat, always in
time with the music. mfr. Reade OBJ
served" says Wallaschek page 1869,
citing w. Vinwood Reade's The AZ
rican Sketch Book Vol. H. page 3lO,
that his people always began TO sing
when he compelled them TO overcome
their natural laziness and 10 continue
rowing Here the song, OF course. had
for ITS purpose the promotion OF syn
chronism in movement. like the rhythm
Of the march all the world over
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-27

passed North. placing the proper valua-
ton on his CLUB suit also passed.
Many players In position similar to
Norths would declare two clubs. As n
result many hands good for game az no
trump stop at a fractional game score
with the minor suit declaration. The In
sistence of players thus responsible for
the loss In claiming their course I'm the
bidding 10 be justlhable and their sub
sequent censuring OF their partner for
not continuing their declaration In sur
prising. When pressed for an explana-
ton, however. such players fail TO ad-
vance any logical reasons 20 show how a
partner is TO distinguish between a suit
with top honors and one that is bid merely
for the purpose of saving loss.
Unless abnormal conditions prevail,
there Is no excuse for changing a no
with top honors and one that is bid
merely for the purpose OF saving loss.
East declared two royals. Whether his
bid was Influenced by thoughts OF the
hands intrinsic value or declared for the
purpose OF directing his partners lead at
the adverse declaration was not clear or
afterward explained
South declared two no trumps His
hand warranted the declaration. with
ample protection I'm the opponents suit.
North's was assured OF fair success at
the make even without his partner hold
ing average assistance.
No further bids were forthcoming, so
the play started with West in the lead to
the first trick.
PLAY OFF AGAIN EXPOSES.
West led his supporting queen OF spades
and South won the trick with the ace
In view Of the danger OF a switch TO dia-
monds by reason OF a possible sous
queen. South's judgment In winning the
first trick seemed good. Later develop
ments. however, showed that his play was
unfortunate. South led one OF his small
clubs, and playing low from dummy al
lowed the suit TO clear up East won the
trick, purposely overtaking his partners
trick 10 lead the queen Of diamonds. lie
estimated that mis- spade holding would
be better utilized by reserving the major
card of the suit as an adjunct to a pos
sible unestablshed diamond suit OF his
partner than by maneuvring with the
suit with it's establishment In view.
South won the ace and led his remain
ing club 10 put dummy in the lead. After
all the clubs were run off a heart followed
from dummy's hand. South. correctly in?
ferring from discards that West held the
king Of hearts guarded. went up with his
ace and Immediately returned the suit.
The balance Of the tricks went to East
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-27
A SIGNIFICANT FACT.

II is immaterial whether the use OF song
a. a stimulsnt to work was brought
from Africa or was acquired in America:
the significant fact is that wherever ne
gro slavery existed on this continent there
II was found. In his peculiarly fascinating
book Two Years in the French West
Indies" Lafcado Hearn says: For
merry the work OF cane cutting resembled
the march OF an army-hrst advanced
the cutlassers in line, naked TO the
waist; then the amareuses. the women
who tied and carried. and behind these
the kd, the drum. with a paid crisW or
cricuSe, 10 lead the song. and lastly the
black commandeur for general" In
his preface 20 Coleridge- Tsylor's TWEEN
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-27

Harduppe-Why don't you propose
Polly Peaches? 1t,
Borrowell-I haven't the sand. W"
don't you? a.
HarduppeI haven't the dust.-Phiia'''
phia Record.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-27
- AUCTION, BR!DGL CLINICS >7x3

held by South is good type, and sue
cess AT no trump should not be ridiculed
on the ground OF folly in bidding.
West declared two diamonds. though
he held only mediocre side cards TO sup
plement trump holding that was lack
ing high honors. South overcalled with
two hearts. and therefore East having
the three top cards in the suit, remained
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-27

With an ace re-entry. North dismissed
any thoughts Of a diamond take-out, and
also passed. East not as prudent as his
partner. gave the opponents warning by
declaring two hearts. South then
switched to three clubs. AS he had only
one stopper in the opponents suit, which
would fall on the initial lead, South
showed good Judgment in abandoning his
no trumper. His later declaration also
had an added value, as 1t gave an Invita-
ton to his partner to demonstrate any
latent qualities that his holding possessed
West doubled. II appeared as If West
was about to realize on his valuable hold
ing. This possibility, however, was quick
~ dispeled, when North by declaring
three diamonds took his partner out Of
the double. South here fell into the com
mon error so often seen In such situations
and declared three no trump. This
declaration cannot be too severely criti-
cIsed. as It's success depended upon
South's partner holding the ace OF dia-
monds. North's declaration, which was
made under forced conditions could be
easily justified as carrying a considerable
measure of success without the top card
of the suit West was apparently well
fortified to meet any new move Of the
opposition, and again doubled.
South. seeking refuge in his partners
declaration. bid five diamonds. West, OF
Gus competition, in which only spades Of
both values had been neglected.
PLAY.oFF EXPOSES EAST.
East opened with a low heart to the
first trick. and dummy was in with the
lone ace. A low lead Of trumps from
dummy, North winning with the ten,
showed East devoid Of the suit. His dis
card was low heart With possibly a
fourth spade to be disposed Of by rufiing.
North could not safely continue with
trumps.
TWO ways were open TO him TO play the
balance OF the hand. BY one method he
could Immediately ruff dummy with his
losing heart and then lead the king, and
small spade from dummy's hand This
would clear the way for North's fourth
spade. The only bar TO success by this
method would be the contingency Of
Vests holding either no spades or four
spades high enough TO stop the suit twice.
While the first condition was not within
the bounds Of reason. the second was
possible.
The second method OF playing the hand
and the one that North decided upon was
TO establish a club trick to take care of
one losing spade. Should this prove un-
successful during the play he could still
have recourse 10 the first method. But
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-27

Score. love-all. rubber game.
South declared one no trump.
AS previous demonstration had always
proven this players no trump to be genu-
ire. West wisely refralned from bidding
and passed.