The Washington herald., 1921-01-16
LatDia Has Fund
of Poetic Lore
EUery Shepherd Writes
Verse---Fdrn1ers
Forsdke Soil
FREDERICK w. GANZERT.

ii III - lOOhluB lOhdlO INT SuiACQ
States for recognition as a republic,
is one of the richest stores of popular
poetry known today, according to Prot
Ian A. Ozoiin, Of Riga, who has written
several books on his country and its
people
There, every shepherd is a poet, he says
writing verses as he tends his sheep.
Farmers who discern musical talent in
their sons, urge them TO forsake the rude
farm work lest they spoil their hands, and
send them to continental consevatories
The cherished ideals, the trials and strug-
giles Of the Italians of the North" as the
Let's have been called, TO retain their cul-
ture, their language and traditions, despite
more than 700 years Of foreign occupation,
all are expressed in the zooooo-odd popu-
lar songs of the country.
Although Latvia has only recently been
thrust on the attention Of Americans
through its representations to this govern
ment, and also because Of recent press
dispatches announcing troublous conditions
there because of the propaganda spread
by Communists to foment dissatisfaction
with the republican government, Europe
has long realized the value of the culture
Of the Let's
Long ago French and Russian students
of folklore were attracted to the songs OF
these people by the Amber Sea" as the
Baltic is popularity known. Sir Walter
Scott, too, it is reported, was greatly in
terested in Lettish folklore and had many
of the songs translated
These songs were not collected until
about sixty years ago when q sudden and
brilliant national renaissance followed the
liberation of the Let's from the scrfdom
Of seven centuries Of Russo German rule
Scientific and art societies were founded,
theaters were established, and q national
school of music was opened in Riga, the
capital
The most significant event OF this period
the revival OF the ancient Lettish
song festival. In this country songs have
always been popular. Let's sing every
where, in the fields at their work, in the
home by the freside, in the country, in
the town, in school
In 1873 musical societies and choruses
from the three provinces Of Latvia sent
several thousand of their best artists 10
Riga From that time up until eight years
ago this was an annual event singers COM
ing from all Latvia, which includes the for
mer provinces of Livonia, Courland, the
Western districts of Nitegsk, Pskov and
Mogilev, and the Prussian Gumbinnen. Dur
ing the world war, Of course, the festivals
were suspended, but a revival IS expected
just as soon as European affairs become
settled
The revival of the song festival in
fuenced the compilation Of the folk-songs.
These Lettish collections were soon iol-
lowed by translation into FSench and Rus
sian. Altogether there were more than
100000 of these songs, or a song for
every tenth man in this country of 100000
people.
Professor Ozolin has made several
translations Of the "Dainyss" as the folk
songs are called. As among other folk
love is favoritc theme with the Letlish
poet. The delightful little tidbit given
below was probably composed and sung
by some illiterste peasant six centuries ago:
THE boat decked with flowers
Is coming toward my love?
Let my love come to meet it,
For she is a flower"
An ancient custom amongst the Let's OF
visiting neighboring provinces to find
bride is quantity told in the following:
The cranes croak
The msidens sing,
By the banks Of Dsugava:
The cranes crosk,
But cannot be caught;
The maidens sing,
But cannot be led forth"
Ii. C. to marriage)