The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-02
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.

Through the kinoneee OF w. w. bmltn, |
proprietor OF Stills Oyster and Chop
House in this city. I am enabled to pro-
vide for -. r." the words of THE
Mountain Dew" which song was written
by the late Ned Harrigan and set to
music composed by his associate. the
late Dave Brahsm. who composed all the
tunes to which Harrlgan's songs were set.
II was published by W. A. Pond & Co.
When I read -. F.s'' inquiry in your
!ss.e es July 6 I felt convinced that
this was a 1Iarrigan song and not an old
Irish come all ye." as he called It; and
knowing that Mr.. Smith has az complete
a collection OF Harrigan's songs as can
be found anywhere 1 asked the favor of
reproducing the words for your CORE
spondent. ! assume that -. r." remem-
bers the tune: but II might be contrived
90 supply even that IL he wants 1t.
incidentally. IL -. F." or any other Sun
reader Is interested in perpetuating the
memory of Ned Harrgan and his songs
which brought Us so much cheer In the
older and better days-lt would DO worth
his while to seek membership IN The
Ned Harrigan Club.
j. s. ANDERSON.
THE MOUNTAIN DEW.
AS Sung by Ed Hsrrigan in the Irish
Drama THE Blackbird"
Let grasses grow and water flow
In a free and easy way:
Give me enough of the prime old stun
That's made in Gran-u-a.
Ye gaugers all from Donegal.
Galway and Wexford too.
| When home you roll come take a bowl
OF the rale old mountain dew.
| On ev'ry hill there's n little still
Where the smoke curls up to the sky
You could aisy tell by whit OF the smell
| There's whskey. boys. close by.
! II fills the air with perfumes rare
! And 'twixt both me and you.
When home YOU roll come take n bowl
OF the rale old mountain dew.
/ All learned men who Use the pen
! They have wrote your praises high,
| My sweet poiteen from old Erin green,
! Distilld from wheat and rye:
Away with pills. twill cure the ills
OF Pagan, Christian or jew.
| Then or with coat and wet your throat
with the rale old mountain dew.
Fifteen men on dead mans chest"
| For thirty years. the doubt having
arisen in childhood. your correspondent
has wrestled with the question: Ia the
reference anatomical or impedimentical ?
II Is impossible to conceive, unless one
thinks along Dean Swift lines, OF a man
with "A chest big enough to hold fifteen
men. True, the Barnum and Bailey
strong man can do IT II the Hi Rubes
sit along on plank. but the circus at
mosphcre does not cling to the pirate
chant. on the other hand. who ever
heard OF pirate going to sea with a
portmanteau capable of holding "A whale
boats crew. more or less? Any light you
can direct to clear up this matter will b,
appreciated HAWKINS.
Stevenson has explained the Treasur,
Island chantey. The verb in the ellipsl,
is not sit. but bid. In the old custom OF tn,
sea the probate of wills was accomplished
without surrogate and the settlement o
estates was effected with no delay. Whei
a sailor died at sea, virtuous merchant
man or joyous buccaneer his scanty be
longings were offered at public roup i'm
mediately after the body had been cas-
over the side All hands were called 70
the double ceremony. The officer OF TN
mans watch conducted the sale on tn
capstan head and 1t was matter O
pride for the watch to outbid the othe
watch. No money passed in the transac
ton, but the purchase price was payable a
the end of the voyage on the settlemen
Of the articles There Is no great amour
Of sense In this pirate chantey; FEY
chauteys show any continuous sequence q
ideas. but the reference to the chest
). susceptible only OF this explanation in ia
law of the fo'castle.