The Dickson County herald. (Dickson, Tenn.) 1907-1979, 1916-10-27
New fork Ealcation Board y
Dispensed With Negro Dia-
lect Tunes.
kIDs NEED BETTER EAcEa
Prspessi Msds 70 Charge Werdlsa u
s'ssar-spaaslsd Raaaesa 80 peaes
Levers Mss's ea:ss u aleea
Thirsty FsrAasa.

New Yorks---A Raaycment TO pa.
rsfy" Americas famous old fsrky
songs and temper the "StAr.Spaa-
gled Hammer" In the New Iark
public schools was begun recent
~, Az a conference az the higil-
school music teachers, at which Dr.
Frank II. Rix. music dlrecter of the
beard Of education. WAS rtesent, .
eommlttee was appointed 20 ask the
music publishers and the nuhilcssehoot
teachers TO eliminate NIL the old negro
dialect from songs printed In the tuxt-
books.
Thus, IL the movement succeeds. viii
future generations be without What
has been happy part OF all Aneri-
can homes quaint and typical dia-
lee, Of the American Negro as en-
pressed In -Dixie." perhaps the most
beloved song In the eouutry, aud In
stephen Fosters famous trio, "Massa's
In de Col COL Ground" "old ikiacA
Joe" and "Suwahnee River"
Ara Mothers luliahisa
Fer years American mothers have
hummed their babies into siumher
with these old foik song faverites.
There's hardly a lad who can't hum
"Suwannee River" or "old Black Joe"
And their charm lies principally In
the harmless dialect. There would DO
little left TO them without that
The chief objection to the songs a.
they are now universally sung Ia
purist opposition. Instead cf de"
"cayse," "ob," ''nebber" and moe"
darby dialect, for "the," cause"
"of." 'never" and more" the purists
would substitute the English words
and Insist upon careful pronunciation.
1t may prove hard job, for the ex-
pressions might well be said TO be-
born with American children. 10 much
part Of children's music have thar
become.
Az TO the national anthem. extrern-
lists would have attempted capital
operation on II. but for strenuous OBJ
lection. A plan was FIRST preached
to cut out the word fight" ns II oc-
ours In the Srsi verse. The objection
was that Il smacked too much OF war
and not at all OF peace.
More moderate counsel prevailed.
The change was not made. The only
tempering now will be slight change
Of rhythm In the first and third verses:
and the adoption Of clouds Of the
fight" In place OF ''periious fight" In
the first verse. "perilous'' ls bit
too wary. but clouds" Is not Also
the uniform key viii be changed from
"B" fiat to "A" fiat 10 make the sing
Ing Of the song less difficult for ordi.
nary voices.
"plaieet confuses chIid.~
The suggestions Of these changes
were made some time ago. Doctor rtix
said, by him to the board of superin.
tendents, bpt they were sbelved aud
Doctor Rix doesn't know whether they
are dead or not.
The reason for changing the darby
dialect should appeal TO any interest.
ed person" Doctor Rir said. I'VE
want our children 10 lesFa spvyr Ea9-s
lisn, rot dialect. Then. also. there
are inauy foreign children In our
schools. The numiNer is growing con-
stnntly. And dialect confuses them.
II ~ hard enough for them TO learn
our ordinary EngliHh. think the
change should be :nade throughout the
country,
"The proposed changes IN The Star
SpungIed Banner are suggested In the
hope ~ making the song easier for
children and the populace TO sing by
KandnrdizIng 1t and making IL much
more powerful anthem"