Southern war-song. A spectacular performance was being given in New Orleans late in the fall of 1860. Each part had been filled; all that was lacking was a national march and song for the grand chorus, a part the leader had omitted until the very last moment. A great many marches and songs were tried, but none could be decided upon. 'Dixie' was suggested and tried, and all were so enthusiastic over it that it was at once adopted and given in the performance. Immediately it was taken up by the populace, and sung in the streets, in homes and concert halls daily. It was taken to the battle fields and there established as the Southern Confederacy war song." President Lincoln was the most distinguished contemporary admirer of the catchy tune. Shortly after the surrender of Lee at Appomattox, he requested the band to play "Dixie,” remarking pleasantly that "As we have captured the Confederate army, we have also captured the Confederate tune, and both belong to us.' From that day to this "Dixie" has been a general favorite. "Its beginning was in the minstrel show, it was dedicated as a battle song in the great uprising of the South, and in its last estate it has a place among the enduring music of the Union." It has been conjectured generally that "Dixie" is the diminutive form of "Dixon" and that "Dixie Land” is therefore the country south of Mason and Dixon's line, a line fixed in 1763-67 by the British Government as the boundary line between Maryland and Pennsylvania, later made famous as the boundary line between the free and slave states. The song as originally written and kept as the only authentic version of "Dixie" is as follows: DIXIE I wish I was in de land ob cotton, old times dar are not forgotten; Look away, look away, look away, Dixie land! In Dixie land whar I was born in, early on one frosty mornin'. Look away, look away, look away, Dixie land! CHORUS Den I wish I was in Dixie, hooray! hooray! In Dixie's land I'll took my stand, to lib and die in Dixie. Away, away, away down south in Dixie! Away, away, away down south in Dixie! Ole missus marry "Will-de-Weaber"; Willum was a gay deceaber; Look away, look away, look away, Dixie land! But when he put his arm around her, he smiled as fierce as a forty-pounder; Look away, look away, look away, Dixie land! His face was sharp as a butcher's cleaber, but dat did not seem to greab her; Look away, look away, look away, Dixie land! Ole missus acted the foolish part, and died for a man dat broke her heart; Look away, look away, look away, Dixie land! Now here's health to the next ole missus, an' all de gals dat want to kiss us; Look away, look away, look away, Dixie land! But if you want to drive 'way sorrow, come an' hear dis song to-morrow; Look away, look away, look away, Dixie land! Dar's buckwheat cakes an' Injun batter, makes you fat or a little fatter; Look away, look away, look away, Dixie land! Den hoe it down an' scratch your grabble, to Dixie's land I'm bound to trabble; Look away, look away, look away, Dixie land! SUGGESTIVE EXERCISES 1. Give the probable origin of the term "Dixie." 2. For what purpose was the song originally written? 3. Explain, then, the appropriateness of the line beginning, "But if you want to drive 'way sorrow." 4. What is the one central wish expressed in the poem? 5. At what season would such a wish be expressed generally by traveling minstrel troupes? 6. What in the song fitted it to become a favorite in army camps? 7. What in the song caused it to be a favorite in the South? 8. What sentiment in the song makes it a universal favorite? 9. Have the music played. Have the school sing the song. What in the music makes the song generally loved? 10. Give a brief sketch of the author's career. What has recently brought his name into public notice? REFERENCES Maryland, My Maryland. Bonnie Blue Flag. Home Sweet Home. Old Kentucky Home. When Johnnie Comes Marching Home. See other versions of Dixie. Any other songs of the nation. L EXCELSIOR HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW ONGFELLOW wrote Excelsior at the age of thirtyfour. This poem was written on the back of a note from Charles Sumner and bears this explanation at the close: "September 28, 1841. Half past 3 o'clock, morning. Now to bed." Longfellow got the suggestion for the poem from the heading of a New York Journal, bearing the seal of the State of New York,-a shield with a rising sun, and the motto in heraldic Latin, "Excelsior." His imagination eagerly seized the suggestion and the striking story of the youth scaling the Alpine heights resulted. Longfellow declared that his purpose in the poem was "no more than to display in a series of pictures, the life of a man of genius, resisting all temptations, laying aside all fears, heedless of all warnings, and pressing right on to accomplish his purpose." De Quincy declares that the boy hero gives clear evidence of insanity in attempting to scale the Alps under such circumstances, and that he ought to be shut up in an insane asylum. Langtree insists that the poem is not true to human experience. With true insight, Edgar Allan Poe says: "It depicts the earnest, upward impulse of the soul an impulse not to be subdued even in Death. Despising danger, resisting pleasure, the youth, bearing the banner inscribed 'Excelsior!' (higher still) struggles through all difficulties to an Alpine summit. Warned to be con sior!' tent with the elevation attained, his cry is still ‘ExcelThere is yet an immortal height to be surmounted an ascent in Eternity. The poet holds in view the idea of never ending progress." EXCELSIOR The shades of night were falling fast, His brow was sad; his eye beneath, The accents of that unknown tongue, In happy homes he saw the light "Try not the pass!" the old man said; "O stay," the maiden said, "and rest |