Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-04
Capital Sidelights


Encouraged by the issuance Of the
special tercentenary stamp commence
rative Of the arrival of the ship Arbella
in the harbor Of Salem, Mass, bringing
to Gov Winthrop the charter for the
Massachusetts, Bay Colony, and by the
elaborate plans being worked out by
direction of Congress for a Nation
wide celebration of the bicentennial Of
the birth of Gen. George Washington,
Representative Emanuel Celler of New
York has just proposed that as an ad-
vance feature Of the bicentennial OBJ
Servance q special commemorative
stamp be issued In honor of Gen. Wash
ington's inspector general.
He points out that September II.
1880, will be the 200th anniversary of
the birth Of Baron Frederick William
Won Steuben, and that 1t Is the unani-
nous verdict Of American historians
that Baron Won Steuben rendered ines
timable services to this Nation when he
established order and discipline in the
shattered and disorganized Continental
Militia. He is credited with having
created an army that outmarched and
outmaneuvered and beat the British.
Within three months after his arrival
in the colonies Washington made him
inspector general of the United States
Army. Washington's Judgment Of and
confidence In Baron Won Steuben were
not misplaced. The new inspector gen.
eral took the farmers from their piows,
placed in their hands bayonets and
muskets and made them an army that
won the Revolution.
This PrusSian-born drillmaster of
the first American Army" says Repre-
sentative Celler, sis responsible also for
the founding of the United States Mill
tary Academy at West Point.
Ii.
was rendered at Valley Forge, which
marked the lowest ebb OF adversely for
the American Army. To Washington
he appeared as sent from God at time
when he was most needed, for he trans
formed into real soldiers o well-nigh
nlutinous militia. In the language Of
this day, he popped up the soldiers.
He elaborated with Mad Anthony
Wayne in the capture Of Stony Point
single shot, by the use Of the bayonet
only.
Tn offering his services to the Con-
tinental Congress In writing on De-
cember 8, 1777, he said, I ask neither
riches nor titles. Ny only ambition Is
to serve you Is volunteer should
willingly purchase. at the expense Of
my blood, the honor Of having my name
enrolled among those Of the defenders
"Honoring Won steuben involves the
paying Of tribute Of respect and graft
tude TO those industrious pioneering
German immigrants, who, during the
lifetime of our Nation, have been
streaming into our land, for he typ1fies
the essence of the great German con-
tributions to the veal and welfare OF
the United States Of America. This
special stamp will commemorate Our
recognition Of that contribution"
The interesting story Of the MAINE
Stein Song" which has recently become
so popular over the radio and which
has caught the public fancy, Is told by
Senator Dill Of Washington, who en-
phasizes that the radio has been able
to take q song Of which not Q single
copy had been sold in many years and
cause the sale Of 100000 copies in two
weeks.
Coupled with this, Senator Dill tells
the history Of the song itself. In 1907
Prof A. w. Sprague of the music de-
partment Of the University Of Maine
adapted a march, "Opie," composed by
Bandmaster Fenstad Of the United
States Army, for the use Of the stu
dents. Lincoln H. Colcord of the class
Of 1904, who has since come into ma
taonal prominence, wrote the words
This marching song was played by the
University Band and was extremely
popular locally. When the I'd Maine
Infantry Of the State National Guard
went to the Mexican border in 1916 II
was used and attracted quite wide at
tention. Later this company became
the 103d Infantry. 26th Division, In
France, where its band, composed
largely Of former Maine University STU
v~fax Snn4
with great spirit. These bandsmen act
ed as stretcfer bearers at the Battle OF
Belleau Wood; several Of them were
killed and many injured. Because OF
this, the MAINE Stein Song" became
sacred to the veterans Of the old 1880
Infantry.
The new 1osd has adopted this same
Maine Stein Song" as its reglmenta.
march, and 1t will again be played at
Camp Devens, when that regiment goes
into Summer encampment.
The National Broadcasting Co. de-
cided TO make test to show how strong
the radio Is as . song salesman. When
several music concerns were merged
into the Radio Music Corporation, e
search Of the old catalogues revealed
that not q single copy Of the old Name
Stein Song" had been sold for 20 years.
A modern orcheStration was made ana
Rudy Vallee was engaged to make the
demonstration. The old marching
tune swept the country from coast to
coast, and within two weeks the sale
exceeded $4,000 copies.
~ =
'"The North Carolina nag represents
upon its folds O glorious star encircled
by two sacred dates-'May 20, l775,' the
first declaration of independence IN
America at Meckienburg, and April IL,
l776,' when at Halifax the people OF
our colony In their representative ca
pacity voted and sanctioned, before any
other colony In America, independence
from Great Britain" Representative
Abernethy has Just called TO the at
tention Of the Congress.
Recently" Representative Aber-
nethy said, when we secured from
Congress national recognition OF the
great historical pageant at New Bern,
took occasion to go fully into the his:
torical significance OF the Gate OF
April IL, 1776,' as 1t concerned North
Carolina from a national standpoint. l
was able to show by such great his
torians as Bancroft, Nevins, Bassett
and orr own r. D. w. Common and 9TH
ers that it was at Halifax on this date
the people Of North Carolina were
the first In America to vote an explicit
sanction to independence when our
delegates to the Continental Congress
at PHILADELPHIA were instructed to con-
cur with the delegates OF the otner