WAR-SONGS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1351, 11 January 1905, Page 3

WAR-SONGS.

.The news that an officer of .the Russian army. Captain fsleUdoQ, has composed a starring jvar-«ong which “ lias infused new. vitality, and courage ’* into .the .Czar’s sorely-tried army, reminds one that it was also a icapeayi, Rou/got dc Lisle, w : lio in a mood of inspiration wrote both .words and music of the .w.orld-faiaous *•* Marseillaise," the most inspiring song that has even led .a soldier. ,tq his death* The story, of the .composition of this fc>ong of tho Army, of the (ftiine, M as it was first aaWed, is almost as remarkable as .the song. Be Lisle was a little-known captain of Engiuoers stationed at Etrasburg in lisa, and with a little reputation among his fellows as a writer of pretty .verses and a singer .of a song, when a chance attendance at a public dinner indirectly, made him famous*.

During the dinner his feelings had ‘been aroused to a high degree of patriotic excitement ; and wnile in this mood of exaltation he sat down and. With incredible rapidity, composed both the w.or.ds and music of his great war-song..

It was .under strangely different conditions that Mrs J.uli.a .Ward ■Howe wrote her famous "■ Battle Hymn of. tho Repubiio," which is perhaps the noarest, rival among martial songs to the "Marseillaise.” She had been witnessing a review, of .the tro.ops at Washington,, and on her.return she,and the friends .who had accompanied her beguiled the tedium of a long drive .by, singing snatches of army songs, concluding .With

Jphn Brown’s body lies a-mo.uldoring in the ground, His soul is marching on. " Now, Mrs Hjowe," said the Rev. James Freeman Clarke, who was one of the musical party* " why don’t you write some really good words for that stirring tune VDuring .the night. Mrs Howe pondered over the suggestion in bod, until, without any conscio.us effort, lines and stanaas began to form themselves in her brain. 1 must get up and write these verses now,” Mrs Ho.we said to herself, " or else .1 shall fall asleep and forget them."i And,, jumping .out of bed, she found the stump, of a pencil and .quickly committed them .to papor. As in the case of the " Marseillaise,” the song at first made little impression, Rut very soon it was being sung by hundreds of thousands, and was in fact the leading battle-song of the great American Civil War. There has probably never been a Ijreat war whioh has not inspired one or more of such songs, to whose strains soldiers have marched with gay step to battle, which they have sung in rousing chorus over distant camp-fires, or shouted as they, flung themselves in reckless bravery bn the enemy* it was the Crimean .War .which inspired Henry Russell .to Write his famous Cheer* Boys, Cheer," which put such bravo hearts and inspired such cheerfulness and patience in thousands of our soldiers To .the Crimea and the Indian Mutiny* pur gallant soldiers marched avgay to the music of " .The .Girl I Left Behind Me,” and -"Good-bye, Sweetheart, G;ood-bye "—not exactly inspiriting tunes,, it is true ; but the pathetic and sentimental appeal to - ‘ Tommy. "■ almost as strongly as the martial, and the thought of the girl who is patiently and proudly waiting for his return has stimulated many a man io miracles of heroism. Probably there never was a .war richer in stimulating songs than .that between North and South in America* They are all admirably adapted to the purpose of putting new vigor into flagging limbs and pew; heart into shrinking bodies. Why. the very titles of them, .with the strains they suggest are enough to make the most peaceful men anxious to shoulder a riflo and step bravely forth to battle. Here are some of them " .Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, the Boys are Marching," " When Johtmy Comes Marching Home/* *•* .The Star-Spangled Banner," -*-■ Rally Round the Flag, Boys,** - John Brown’s Body." Doodle,** and *•* Dixie." The Zulu War produced that somewhat ’depressing song. " Tho Noble Twenty-fourth,” composed In ” honor of the gallant men of that regiment who Were cut down at Isandnla; and who can forget th© patriotic fever whose fires were fanned 27 years ago by the great Jingo song, " We Don’t Wawt to Fight,*’ or the ‘'strains of **■ Soldiers of the Queen/* ‘to which so many, thousands of Britons stepped put gallantly on their Way to " death or glory, in South 'Africa*—Tit-Bits,