March Music.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 15 January 1914, Page 2

March Music.

(As heard by the 0.L.)

The power of music, especially march music, has been recognised iroin very early times. The earliest and most notable instance took place when the priests of Joshua murched round the walls of Jericho seven times, blew on seven trumpets of rams' horns, and aided by shou'ting- brought the walls of the city tumbling down. .Either the walls or the music have greatly improved since then, because I have never seen a wall brought down by music; though when listening to some music I always keep out of reach of any walls. The first time I to.k note of the effects of music Wi,i when I played an accordeon to lure a snake out of a hole in u w:,l!. He came out alright, but whether it wis Lecause he" w.s phased or annoyed I cannot say, us a lad alongside promptly shot him. Among the many inarch tunes the ''Devil's March" (wriftcn j,y ;l German composer) and "The Kogue's March are the least known, though scores go through life to the same time and measure. The' funeral march is well known. But the best known is the "Marscllaise," the famous march written in a hurry by llouget De Lisle in 1792. It was this march and Napoleon's genius that later on carried the French troops over the snow-clad hills of Spain and the frozen wastes of liussia. Though {originally French, it has been taken by people of all civilized nations. Another march, "The Watch on the llhine," has been brought into notice since the rise in Germany in 1870. I heard this last under strange circumstances about two years ago.

Having at that time a strung desire to emulate Nimrod I got hold of an old gun and wandered back into the hills looking for wild pigs. I did not see any, and weary and tired I was returning, picturing to myself the tight—to which the squabble between St. George and the Dragon would only have been a circumstance— I would have had with a wild boar had one been unfortunate enough to meet me, when I heard the slow measured whistling of a march. I stopped, and, in few moments recognising "The Watch on the Rhine." I slipped behind a huge rata, from behind which T peeped out, expecting every minute to see the spiked helmets of Kaiser William's soldiers appear over the slight ridge in front. No one showed up, so I crept cautiously up flie ridge and looked down the gully the other .side. Half way down two men wore clearing a track around the hillside, one had a "Jack" rolling a huge log aside while sat whistling on the stump. I made my way down and found them to be two Irishmen. One, Jerry, explained matters, "Sure, ye see, 'tis a German, jack, made 'in Germany an', built an' trained to work to a march; listen." I listened and true enough, the working of the cogged gear of the jack when worked slowly kept good marching time. After the log was moved, Mick went down to the little stream to bring up a billy of water, and in his absence Jerry made a further explanation: "Yes, 'tis a German Jack alright, an' thinkin' to try an experiment I opened it and fixed inside a small hammer fixed to a spring which is raised by a spike m the coo- wheel ,and beats time, explainin 7 to Mick (who is only a poor new chum) that the jack was made bv a military netion, an' had to he worked to a military tune, an the best part of the scheme is that Mick can't whistle, an' I've got to do all that part of the .job." Then Jerrv again took his seat on the stump awl Mick fixed the jack under another log. With the fourth note, of "The Watch on the Rhine" the log started to move, mid wondering at the power ot music and Jerry's plausible tale to Mick I resumed my homeward iournev. ~,,,.„ T J ' THE O.L.