we are in our graves, our children will honor it. They will celebrate it with thanksgiving, with festivity, with bonfires, and illuminations. On its annual return they will shed tears, copious, gushing tears, not of subjection, and slavery, not of agony and distress, but of exultation, of gratitude, and of joy. Sir, before God, I believe the hour is come. My judgment approves this measure, and my whole heart is in it. All that I have, and all that I am, and all that I hope, in this life, I am now ready here to stake upon it; and I leave off as I begun, that live or die, survive or perish, I am for the declaration. It is my living sentiment, and by the blessing of God it shall be my dying sentiment, independence, now, and INDEPENDENCE FOREVER."-Daniel Webster. NOTES 1. John Hancock presided over the meeting and the "venerable colleague near you" was Samuel Adams. Each of these men had been declared outlaws and a price had been set upon their heads. Read in any good history the story of the Declaration of Independence. 2. Make yourself familiar with the biography of Jefferson and John Adams. 3. Define, as used here: reconciliation, colleague, proscribed, predestined, clemency, plighting, controversy, fickle, eradicated, real, ignominiously, compensate, chartered immunities. EXERCISES 1. Who may "sink or swim," "live or die," etc.? 2. To what vote does he give his heart and hand? 3. Whom does he quote when he says, "There is a divinity which shapes our ends"? 4. What was the effect of calling attention to the outlawing of Adams and Hancock? 5. What is the second argument against longer deferring the declaration? 6. To what does he next call attention? 7. From what book does he take many of his expressions? 8. How would he regard any one who forgets the pledge to Washington? 9. What argument does he next urge for the declaration? 10. What does he next proceed to do? 11. What means does he employ to strengthen the faint heart? 12. Where does the peroration begin? 13. Why does he make the frequent appeals to God in the closing paragraph? 14. Find as many things as you can that make this an oration that will convince. ADDITIONAL READINGS WEBSTER: Bunker Hill Oration. Reply to Hayne. PIERPONT: Warren's Address at Bunker Hill. LONGFELLOW: Paul Revere's Ride. EMERSON: Concord Hymn. SCOTT: Patriotism. LOWELL: Centennial Hymn. READ: The Rising in 1776. Our Defenders. DIXIE EVERY pupil in our schools should know the most popular of the songs of the South, the South's greatest folk-lore piece. The movement recently begun at Memphis to erect a monument to the author of "Dixie" has created a new interest in the song and in its origin. origin. Daniel Decatur Emmett was born near Mt. Vernon, Ohio, October 29, 1815. He left home in early manhood and spent the most of his years between the ages of twenty and forty in the South, visiting New York for a few weeks each summer. By profession, he was a wandering minstrel, traveling all over the United States, making and singing his own songs everywhere he went. On the death of his parents, he returned to live in the little homestead he had inherited. For many years later he lived in Chicago. When too old to follow his chosen work, he retired to the little Mt. Vernon homestead where he eked out a miserable existence, poor and practically forsaken, until his death in 1904. Only his nearest neighbors knew that the forsaken old man was. the author of the immortal “Dixie.” The circumstances attending the composition of the song are interestingly told by Mr. Edward Bok, editor of the Ladies' Home Journal, in an article written in 1895 and first published in the Pittsburg Dispatch. He says: "Dixie Land,' which is really the proper name of the song, was written by Emmett in 1859, while he was a member of the celebrated 'Bryant's Minstrels,' which then held forth at No. 472 Broadway, in New York City. One Saturday night after a performance, Emmett left the hall and was proceeding homeward when he was overtaken by Jerry Bryant and asked to make a 'hooray' and bring it to the rehearsal Monday morning. He composed the 'walk-around' next day, Sunday, and took it to the rehearsal Monday morning, music and words complete. The tune and words of 'Dixie' as now sung are Mr. Emmett's, exactly as he wrote them." This is in substance the story told by the author in declining years when his memory was failing. He insisted, however, that he had played the air on a Southern tour nearly a year before the New York incident. Professor Herman Arnold, an eminent musician, formerly of Montgomery, Alabama, now of Memphis, declares that Emmett came to Montgomery in January, 1859, and played and sang "Dixie." Professor Arnold was so taken with the melody that he requested a copy of the music, but as Emmett declared no copy had been made, the Professor transcribed the music as the author played the air on his violin. Professor Arnold has the original score and has offered to present it to the Tennessee Historical Society. Whatever may be the true story of its origin, it spread like wildfire and became a general favorite as rapidly as minstrel troupes could bring it to the people. Mr. Bok further says: "It is interesting to know how 'Dixie' became a 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 battlefields and there established as the Southern Confederacy war song." President Lincoln was the most distinguished contemporary admirer of the catchy tune. |