= iF Dena Madan Bellefonte, Pa., January 18, 1918. hk sm I HAVE A RENDEZVOUS WITH DEATH. I have a rendezvous with Death At some disputed barricade, When spring comes round with rustling shade And apple blossoms fill the air. I have a rendezvous with Death When spring brings back blue days fair. and It may be he shall take my hand And lead me into this dark land And close my eyes and quench my breath; It may be I shall pass him, still, I have a rendezvous with Death On some sacred slope of battered hill, ‘When spring comes round again this year And the first meadow flowers appear. God knows ‘twere better to be deep Pillowed in silk and scented down, Where love throbs out in blissful sleep, Pulse nigh to pulse, and breath to breath, Where hushes awakenings are dear, But, I've a rendezvous with Death At midnight in some flaming town, When spring trips north again this year, And I to my pledged word am true, I shall not fail that rendezvous. ° —Alan Seeger. The above poem was written on the western front by an American poet, Alan Seeger, whose great love for France led him to volunteer on her behalf. The bril- liant author was killed soon after he had written his “Rendezvous With Death”— possibly the last poem to escape his pen— in the battle at Belloy-en-Santerre, last July. The poem appeared in the North American Review. It was among many spirited verses which Seeger had sent back from the front. His soul has gone on, but his lines will live as a challenge and inspiration to all who battle for God. And I to my pledged word am true, I shall not fail that rendezvous. THE PATRIOTIC IN MUSIC. (The following very interesting address was delivered by Rev. Malcolm DePue Maynard, rector of St. John's Episcopal church, Bellefonte, at the December meet- ing of the Bellefonte Chapter, D. A RR, held at the Nittany Country club.—Ed). The subject assigned to me is a wide one and could be treated from many different angles. At most times it might be deemed to have merely an academic interest, to musicians, for example, or to school teachers striv- ing to inculcate by every means possi- ble the duty of love of country in the minds of the nation’s younth, or to members of a patriotic body such as this, which has been due, together with other societies of similar genius, so much of the effort of keeping alive, during the long period between our wars, the sacred fires of patriotism and national devotion. But as we deal with this thought of the patriotic in music, we cannot lose sight of the fact that the nation is engaged in the greatest war in its history. The war- bugles are sounding not only through- out our own land, and not only throughout lands of freemen beyond the seas, but they are sounding in every land among all peoples on the planet’s surface who still cling in one form or another to ideals of national honor, national righteousness, inter- national brotherhood, and earth-wide fredom for all. We are all of us call- ed to a vindication of the same holy principles as those for which our fathers sacrificed and bled and died, and yet triumphed gloriously, in the far-gone days of Bunker Hill, Valley Forge and Yorktown. We must on this account necessarily look at mu- sic as one of the great psychological and spiritual facts which may be used to the further upbuilding of love of country and loyalty to the tremendous ideal on which she was founded and in which God has sustained her. We shall therefore consider music in its relation to patriotism as at this time a very practical thing, one of the most potent forces to arouse America’s manhood, womanhood and childhood to the lofty plane of unswerving loy- alty, unselfish devotion and whole- hearted love to their country. Music must always have had a pro- found influence on patriotism, and particularly when patriotism has been calling for sacrifice, for deeds of he- roic daring. For music, whether we think of it as a succession of sounds as in harmony or melody, or as po- etry, or as in architecture, sculpture or painting,—and each one might think of some such art which though normally not music at all, yet has mu- sic at its heart, or rather springs godlike from the same divine source as issue the symphony of the old mas- ters, the folk lore ballad, the Christ- mas carol, the love song, or the na- tional anthem,—music, and all the arts, speaks to the soul, and there is that within them all that pulls and tugs at the very depths of our being until we cease almost to remain mor- tal, we touch infinity, eternity, soar- ing beyond space and time. To some of us, one art will have this effect, to some another, to some, many of the arts, music, poetry, architecture and what not. So, with music in its in- fluence upon love of country. In the earlier days of the world’s history,— when patriotism was largely devotion to the cause to some leader, or of some band, in and through one form or another of military activity,—its role was chiefly among soldiers, but in these latter days among civilians of all classes as well. From the days of the conquering armies of the Ro- man Empire, and before, men have gone forth to battle to the accompa- niment of instrumental music of some kind. It is reported that the Roman soldiers introduced the bagpipes into the British Isles. We need only men- tion that stirring instrument of music, and tke sound of its skirling brings to mind vivid pictures of the clans of | Scotland and their redoubtable war- | time prowess, as they fought their | tribal battles in the mediaeval high- | lands, or just a few days ago went | marching down Broadway, their plaid- ed skirts aswinging, the same patri- otic music piping, in the interests of recruiting for the British forces. Even we civilians can scarcely,—even if we should so wish,—keep our en- thusiasms from running riot when such martial strains are brought to our ears, or when the drums beat, the fifes trill, the bugles call, even when a local brass band on some patriotic occasion plays one of Sousa’s Ameri- can marches or even music more re- cent and more of a music-hall varie- ty! Generals demand adequate mu- sic for each regiment or for each di- vision that must lead to the front or into battle. W. J. Locke in his last novel, “The Red Planet” comments on the fact that so many of the troops in England, in the early days of the | war at least, were moved silently and | secretly to the continent, whereas it | would have been so much better for their own morale and for the morale | of the country generally, if they could | have departed with bands playing and : colors fiying,—dangerous as such a | procedure would have been. It is right that there should be bands and | fifes and drums to go with our boys, for these can fill their hearts with courage even when leaving home for the first time and saying good bye to the mother who bore them, or when | charging to the last assault,—though in this case the bugles alone could give their silver utterance, and nerve men’s souls for the “going over.” Surely Alan Seeger, that brave young American who died a martyr to his love for France and through her for humanity, freedom and fair play, knew how music could thrill to patri- otic heroism and to utter sacrifice for country, at the same time filling the soldier with the highest ideals of man- hood and honor and with splendid courage, when he could write, “When to the last assault our bugles blow, | Reckless of pain and peril we shall go, Heads high and hearts aflame and bayo- nets bare, And we shall brave eternity as though Eyes looked on wus in which we would seem fair— One waited in whose presence we would wear, Even as a lover who would be well seen, Our manhood faultless and our honor clean.” Music then which has done its bit in wringing such stupendous deeds of bravery and loyalty from the soldiery of all times and all nations, must be also a powerful agent in building up all classes in patriotism. And this has been borne out in the history of the various great nationalities of the world, more especially so during the past one hundred or one hundred and fifty years when the sense of nation- al consciousness has been so wonder- fully developed. During this time we have seen the evolution of the so- called national anthem or song sa- cred to the life of the nation. We have seen it, among us Americans at least, win its way to a position almost sec- ond only to that of the flag in the de- votion of our people. The two, flag and anthem, have become wellnigh the great sacraments of our corporate life. Foreigners coming to our shores and desiring our citizenship we teach the anthem’s holy words, and little | children are taught to lisp them al- most before they can read them in our EH Eo eet mem pm mm words of the first stanza!—largely no doubt because there is little incentive to learn what it is so difficult to use after one has learned it. There are other national songs which have almost the prestige of an- thems, two of them particularly, such as “Hail Columbia,” “My Country "is of Thee,” “Columbia the Gem of the Ocean,’ and “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Of these the one that lies closest to the hearts of us all is undoubtedly “America.” The words are well-known, practically everyone sings them at any public gathering where this national hymn is used. The tune is derived from the English an- them, “God Save thc King.” To some | this fact is an objection to the adopt- ion of “America” as the national an- them of the United States. There is a German propaganda which most strenuously objects to the wide use of this tune among us, and some of this ilk have even gone so far as to assert that the air is of German origin. By reference to the Encyclopedia Britan- nica the following history of the mel- l ody may be discovered. It was sung, that is the words and music of “God Save the King,” as his own composi- tion by Henry Carey in 1740 in Eng- land, words and musie being subse- quently printed in the “Gentleman’s Magazine” for October, 1745. Since that time and particularly of late date there has been much controversy as to the authorship of both words and music. In this paper we are nat- urally interested chiefly in the music. Earlier forms of the air exist such as an “ayre” of 1619, attributed to John Bull, one of James I’s organists and later organist at Antwerp Cathedral a Scottish carol, 1611, and a ballad, 1619. Carey and Bull in the general opinion of musical critics divide the credit between them, though in his “Minstrelsy in England,” 1901, Frank | Kidson has introduced a new claim- ant, James Oswald, a Scotsman who settled in London in 1742, worked for the publisher of the early copies of “God Save the King,” and became chamber composer to George IIL What seems certain is that 1745 is {the earliest date to which we may as- schools. And who of us, since the 6th Sign the composition as we have it of April, 1917, when we entered the war, casting off the reproach of near- | ly three years, who of us,—to whom perhaps, before, the country and its honor meant so little, or meant only in a more or less selfish way,—who of us has not been stirred, inwardly and outwardly, beyond expression, by the sound of “The Star Spangled Banner,” as we never expected could have been possible? We cannot, we must not, discount the influence that music has in fostering the patriotic in ourselves and in those for whom we are in a sense the wards, that is the rising generation and also those whose history, whose antecedents, whose spiritual and national ancestry does not make them, as yours does, necessarily loyal to these United States of America. We come to an interesting ques- tion,—one concerning the national an- them about which we were just speak- ing. “The Star Spangled Banner” has an official standing which we give to no other patriotic song. In the ar- my and navy and at all gatherings of- ficially representative of the country or of her chosen rulers it has the pre- eminence. But thrilling as it is and with all the weight of the authority it has behind it at present, we must acknowledge that it does mot have, among other patriotic selections of a similar nature, the undivided affec- tion of our people. As a people, how- ever, we are still very young and im- mature, we have still to go through much that we pray God will weld us more closely together and make us more perfectly the instruments of His will among the nations of the earth. Qur national anthem of today we may hardly find a fit enough expression for our national sentiments of tomorrow. Today we must be loyal to the things which exist as ordained by the pow- ers that be, but no harm can come from a frank discussion as to how cer- tain things may be bettered, as for example some change in our national anthem, whether that be regarded as something important or as something quite trivial. Notice that our present anthem can hardly be called popular. True, it is thrilling and wondrously so, it is magnificent, but hard to sing unless one has the musical notes in hand and can read them. How few there are who know more than the substantially today, but that both words and music were evolved out of earlier forms. The fact remains in- disputable, in so far as we may seem to have any knowledge covering the case, that the air is of English origin. It was adopted by both Denmark and Germany at the end of the eighteenth century and set to patriotic words in the language of both peoples. If the tune to which we sing “America” or “God Save the King,” be then of English origin, there is no valid reason to be advanced why it should not be the music for the re- spective anthems of the two great na- tions of English-speaking peoples. Indeed the music gains in patriotic significance, and in nation], if it, like our religious and civil liberty, like our body of laws, our language, our very genius as a republic, looks to the rock whence we were hewn, the Mother- land over seas. Recently in the New York Times there were given some words which might be sung to this great traditional patriotic music which we hold in common, which I give you, not by any means suggest- ing them as a national song, but be- cause they express so beautifully that for which we cannot cease devoutly to give thanks to God, for that we stand shoulder to shoulder in this terrible war for humanity, for civilization, for Christianity, with our sister re- public, our Mother country, Great Britain: “Two Empires by the Sea, Two nations great and free, One anthem raise. One race of ancient fame, One tongue, one faith we claim, One God Whose glorious Name We love and praise. “What deeds our fathers wrought, What battles we have fought, Let fame record; Now vengeful passion cease, Come victories of peace, Nor hate nor pride’s caprice Unsheath the sword. “Though deep the sea and wide, Twixt realm and realm its tide Binds strand to strand. So be the gulf between Gray coasts and islands green, With bonds of Peace serene And friendship spann’d. “Now may the God above juard the dear lands we love, Both East and West. Let love more fervent glow, As peaceful ages go, And strength yet stronger grow, Blessing the blest.” The hymn “America,” we may re- mark in passing, as to its words has no objectionable stanzas or verses, as the third stanza of the “Star Spangled Banner” with its braggadocio refer- ences to our British enemies in the Revolutionary war,—a stanza by al- most universal consent omitted now that we stand allied to our blood- brothers of the British Isles,—from whose forbears our ancestors revolt- ed just because they were themselves Britishers and could brook no tyran- ny. “America’s” words would apply always and in any crisis. | The “Battle Hymn” is a splendid | bit of writing in more ways than one. The words were written by Mrs. Howe in 1861 while at the front. They were first published in the Atlantic Month- ly, February, 1862. The music was the old folk-tune long associated with | the song, “John Brown’s Body.” This ! music is often held to be undignified. | It was sung to this hymn in St. Paul’s ' Cathedral, Lendon, last America Day, | April 19, in honor of our entry into 'the war. Many criticisms were made 'at the time from authorities musical ‘and ecclesiastical that such a com- | monvlace and jig-like melody accord- led ill with words of such grand spirit- |ual import. But the criticism, though lat first it may seem to justify itself, {cannot well be sustained, as by this ‘time the tune is nearly as much the ‘Hymn as Mrs. Howe’s words them- selves, and if the hymn is given a fair | chance of presentation in church or ' elsewhere where a certain | must be attained, it will be found as | stirring, as uplifting, as dignified and solemn as few other selections sacred lor secular. The words are music of a high or- | der, and they breathe the spirit of the | front line of conflict not only of ’61 [but of ’17 and wherever the freedom lof God’s people is being battled for. a have seen Him in the watch-fires of a I hundred cireling camps; ! They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps; 11 have read His righteous sentence by the ! dim and flaring lamps; His day is marching on.” Does she not well in these lines re- construct for us the atmosphere of the camp of the “Boys in blue,” as they were called, when the life of the na- tion was at stake and God raised up Abraham Lincoln to be her savior? And then this stanza so often omit- ted from copies arranged for popular singing; why, I cannot tell, for it is ! one of the finest of the five in the po- em. Perhaps it is too theological, perhaps too definitely Christian for those who want their Christianity pared down to suit the standard of an age that would tend to minimize the supernatural element in the Faith: “I have read a fiery gospel writ in bur- nished rows of steel; ‘As ve deal with My contemners, so with you My grace shall deal; Let the Hero born of woman crush the serpent with His heel,’ Since God is marching on.” We have heard something of this hymn as a national anthem, and we could not want one of a higher, loft- ier expression. But whereas it is ‘dear and meaningful to us Christian folk, it may be in a form too much like a hymn of orthodox Christianity ever to receive a welcome by our en- tire people. For national purposes, no doubt, there must be something more generally worded as is our pres- ent national anthem or “America.” Probably we must say that our abid- ing national anthem is yet to be born. Let us nevertheless prove faithful to these present signs, symbols, ‘sacra- ments, call them what you will, of loyalty and devoted love to our coun- try, and God may entrust us with others still more noble. Some weeks ago a brief but timely letter appeared in one of the town pa- pers in relation to the subject of com- munity singing. Rumor has it that the letter was penned by a member of this society. Be that as it may, my only regret is that the suggestion of the letter, namely that we of Belle- fonte organize some definite form of patriotic community singing, has as far as I have had opportunity of knowing not been followed out. We have had patriotic rallies since then, at one of which, as I remember, the singing was to have been a special feature,—or so it was advertised, at Continued on page 7, Col. 1.) ttt 1 | a very gentle spray of a warm, weak | solution of salt and water, in the an- terior nostrils, may do no harm. Pick- ling of the nose should be strictly Health and Happiness dignity ! “Mens sana in corpore sano” ee ———————— “It may be well claimed that the care of individual and family health is the first | and most patriotic duty of a citizen."— Ex-President Wm. Taft. Number 30. AVOIDING COLDS. From “How To Live” by Professor Irving Fisher and Dr. Eugene Lyman isk. In some cases there is a general in- fection, with local symptoms, as In fection, with mixed classes of bacte- | ria. It is probable that these various { forms of bacteria are constantly pres- | ent in the nasal secretions, but do not cause trouble until the local resist- | ance is in some way lowered. ! In many, the susceptibility to colds !is due to abnormalities in the nose or [ throat. Nasal obstruction is a very | common condition. The nose, like the | eye, is usually an imperfect organ. These obstructions are often the re- sult of adenoids in childhood, which interfere with the proper development of the internal nasal structures. Mal- formation of the teeth and dental arches in childhood are frequent and often neglected causes of nasal ob- struction. Such’ malformations are caused by the arresting of the growth of the upper jaw and nasal structures. Correction of the deformity of the arches often renders nasal surgery un- necessary. Such conditions not only predispose to colds, but increase their severity and the danger of complicat- ing infection of the bony cavities in the skull that communicate with the nose. They also increase the liabili- ty to involvement of the middle ear and of the mastoid cells which are lo- cated in the skull just behind the ear. The importance, therefore, of having the nose and throat carefully exam- ined, and of having any diseased con- dition of the mucous membrane or any obstruction corrected must be appar- ent. All who suffer from recurrent colds should take this precaution be- fore winter sets in. If the nasal passages are put in a healthy condition, strict obedience to the rules of individual hygiene will almost wholly prevent colds. In fact, except where actual nasal defects ex- ist, the frequency of colds is usually a fair indication of how hygienically a person is living. The following points need especial emphasis: It is a familiar fact that exposure and chilling will often produce a cold. This is usually due to the fact that the nerve centres controlling the cir- culation of the skin are over-sensitive, and exhibit a sort of hair-trigger re- action to exposure, causing a distur- bance of the circulation, and of the heat-regulating machinery of the body of which the spongy shelf-like turbi- nated bones in the nose are an impor- tant part. Skin training, then, ap- pears to be the first hygienic step to- | ward establishing a resistance to colds. ‘ Such training for the skin may be secured by various means. One should first accustom himself to a gentle draft. : | Cool bathing, to a point that pro- duces a healthy reaction, is another important feature of skin training. Cold bathing, by those affected with kidney trouble, is not advisable, but delicate individuals, who cannot react well to the cold bath, can greatly in- cool bathing performed as follows: Standing in about a foot of hot water, one may rub the body briskly with a wash cloth wrung out of water at about 80 degrees F. and reduced day by day until it is down to 50 degrees F. Following this the cold douche or affusion may be taken (water quickly dashed from a pitcher) beginning at 90 degrees F. and daily reducing un- til 50 degrees F. is reached, or just be- fore the point where an agreeable re- action ceases to follow. The wearing of loose, porous cloth- ing, and the air bath—exercise in a cool room without clothing—are also valuable measures in skin training. Very heavy wraps and fur coats should be worn only during unusual exposure, as in driving or motoring. Outer clothing should be adapted to the changes in the weather, and me- dium-weight underclothing worn throughout the winter season. Office- workers and others employed indoors are, during the greater part of the day, living in a summer temperature. The wearing of heavy underclothing under such conditions is debilitating to the skin and impairs the resisting power. Overheated: rooms should also be avoided for the same reason. In rooms where people are moving about, the temperature should not be allow- ed ‘to rise above 65 degrees. In ordi- nary offices or dwelling rooms, the temperature should not be allowed to rise above 68 degrees and adequate ventilation should be provided. Living out of doors, especially sleeping out, gives the skin exercise, and fnrther keeps fresh air in the lungs. It is one of the foremost methods of prevention against colds. Army men remark that so long as they are out of doors, even if expos- ed to bad weather, they almost never catch cold, but do so often as soon as they resume living in houses. Long breaths taken slowly and rhythmically—say ten at a time and ten times a day are helpful. Constipation predisposes to colds, and should be vigorously combated by proper diet and exercise, and regular habits of attention to the bowel func- tion. : Overeating frequently leads to na- sal congestion. Eat lightly, using lit- tle meat or other high protein foods such as white of eggs, and thorough- ly masticate the food. Avoiding undue fatigue will help greatly in preventing colds. The regular use of nasal douches is not advisable. The mucous membrane of the nose is intolerant of watery so- lutions, and a chronic congested con- dition or even infection of air cavities in the skull can be brought about by the constant use of sprays and douch- es. Where special conditions render it necessary, these should be used on- ly on the advice of a physician. When the nose is clogged with soot or dust, Bacteria play a part in most colds. | tion grippe; in others there is a local in- | crease their resistance by graduated. avoided. This is a fertile cause of in- | fection. In blowing the nose care !' should be taken to close one nostril | completely and to blow through the | other without undue force. Other- ! wise, infection may be carried into the | ear passages or the cavities communi- | cating with the nose and give rise to | serious trouble. When suffering from la cold, gauze or cheese-cloth should be used instead of a handkerchief and ' burned after use. Sneeze into the i gauze, and thus avoid spraying infec- into the surrounding atmos- phere. EMERGENCY TREATMENT OF COLDS. After one has actually caught cold the rules above given for preventing a cold are in most particulars revers- ed. One should then avoid drafts, va- riable temperature and any severe “skin “gymnastics.” The paradox, that exposure to drafts is preventive of colds, but is likely to add to the cold after it is caught, is not more surprising than the paradox that ex- ercise keeps a man well, but that when he is sick it is better to rest. After a cold has actually been con- tracted, the great effort should be to keep the body thoroughly warm, es- pecially the feet. To accomplish this it is often the wisest course for one who has a cold to remain in bed a full day at the outset. Medical treatment by a physician can always mitigate and shorten the duration of a cold and lessen the dan- ger of complications, the symptoms of which cannot always be appreciated by the patient. Among the most effective home remedies for a cold are the hot-foot bath, 110-115 degrees F. a hot drink (e. g. hot flax-seed tea), a thorough purge, and rubbing the neck and chest with camphorated oil. The hot foot- bath should usually last 20 minutes, and be taken in a very thorough man- ner, the body enveloped in a blanket. After taking the bath, the patient should go directly to bed, and not move about and neutralize its good results. A general neutral bath not above 100 or below 95 degrees is very rest- ful to the skin nerves. They are not forced to cope with temperatures above or below that of the body, since the neutral bath has the same tem- perature as that of the body. One can remain in such a bath even for hours, if one has the time, but in get- ting out, it is very important to be in a very warm room and to dress quick- ly. In fact, there is very considera- ble danger of catching cold’ at this time if great care is not taken. If one does not remain in bed, it is generally safer to keep indoors. The air of the room should be kept as fresh as possible without subjecting one’s self to a draft and should also be kept humidified, especially in win- ter when it is apt to be exceedingly dry. Either excessive dryness or ex- cessive moisture is a strain on the mu- cous membrane, which is the directly diseased organ in the case of a cold. If the day is still and sunny, being out of doors, if one is well protected from any chill, may help to get rid of one’s cold, but on a damp, windy day the chances are one will add to the cold. As to eating, it is sometimes wise to absolutely fast by skipping a meal or two, using nothing but water or water with agar—agar, or food which has bulk but little food value, such as green vegetables or fruit. The com- mon idea that one should “stuff a cold and starve a fever” is mose erroneous and comes apparently from a misun- derstanding of the meaning of this ad- age which, originally, it would appear, was not meant in the imperative sense at all, but as follows: “If you stuff a cold, you will have to starve a fever.” It should be added that whiskey and heavy doses of quinine are distinctly deleterious and should be avoided, as should all quack remedies and catarrh cures; there are more effective reme- dies which carry no possibilities of harm. When one is getting over a cold it catching cold altogether, which for the average person can be substantial- ly accomplished by following the above suggestions. The tax on one’s time thus required is far less than the tax required by the colds them- selves. Next week, what another celebrat- of Shsican says about “Catching old.” Arabs Pillage Both Armies. : The worst enemy of both Turks and British (in the advance on Bag- dad) was the Arab, writes Arthur T. Clark in the New York Evening Post. The Arabs plundered both sides indis- criminately, and whenever a battle was fought the Arabs joined the win- ning side. At one time a suggestion was made that the Turks and British call off the war for a while and form a composite Anglo-Turk army to strafe the Arabs. Arabs are inveterate thieves and they will risk anything to steal un- der difficulties. In fact, they prefer to steal where itis difficult rather than easy. Two Arabs entered the tent next to mine at Omarra and, while one of them held a knife over the ser- geant who occupied it, the other took everything he could lay his hands on. And they escaped, although that was in the middle of the camp. The Australian wireless detachment at Omarra lost 31 rifles one night when their sentry went to sleep. Another time an Indian sentry chal- lenged an Arab, who did not reply. The sentry shot at him and the Arab fell down. The sentry was curious and went up to investigate. As he approached, the Arab jumped up, seized his rifle and ran away. Anoth- er time Arabs stole 10 camels out of a camp that had blockhouses every 500 yards and sentries every 250 yards. By order, Arabs are shot on sight from the advanced base, north. A Monologist. “Would you call Mrs. Gowitt a good conversationalist 7” “Yes and no. She makes you think of a lot of good things to say, but she talks so incessantly you don’t get a chance to say them.” is a good time to resolve to avoid ed mel
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers