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The Sentinel=Record
Hot Springs, Garland County, Arkansas
What is this article about?
In London, the popular song 'It's a Long, Long Way to Tipperary' is embraced by British recruits and Territorials for its patriotic boost, despite objections from the upper class and some churchgoers. A clergyman defends its use in services to honor soldiers.
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A POPULAR AIR
WHISTLING OF
DITTY OUTRAGES
THE SENSIBILITIES
OF
THE
HIGHER CLASS ENGLISH.
Clergyman Believes That Merry Tune
Should be Encouraged so Long as It
Stirs People to Patriotism.
London, Oct. 24.-"It's a Long, Long
Way to Tipperary" is upsetting staid
old England quite as completely as
"Hot Time" outraged the sensibilities
of esthetic Americans at the time of
the Spanish-American war.
"Rule Brittania" and "God Save the
King" do very well for non-combat-
ants who don evening clothes and
pass a patriotic evening watching Sir
Beerbohm Tree's "Drake." But the
hundreds of thousands of recruits and
Territorials have little taste for the
solemn hymns and have popularized
"Tipperary" by whistling it and sing.
ing it in the city streets, along coun-
try roads and in the big concentration
camps.
Recently a war service was held at
Tyler's Green church in London and
many straight-laced
communicants
were shocked because the organist
played "Tipperary" as a closing volun-
tary. But hundreds of communicants
were moved to tears by the swinging
march tune which Tommy Atkins has
adopted in spite of the squeamish
persons who would force more decor-
ous airs upon him.
The organist at Tyler's Green
has
established a precedent which is far-
reaching and the favorite air of the
recruits is finding a place in the
hearts of composers who are giving it
dignified variations and offering it the
honor place in medleys of patriotic
airs arranged for sacred concerts.
A prominent clergyman discussing
the protests against "Tipperary" as a
tune to be used in churches said:
"Really these superior people might
drop their nonsense at such a time of
national peril. I would like to point
out to them that a tune which is good
enough on a dark, damp night to cheer
our brave men on to almost certain
death in their heroic endeavors to
save their country and the honor of
their womenfolk is surely good
enough with which to end a church
service. Persons who possess imagi-
nations and hearts must be moved by
such a human sort of tune, a tune
which means so much to the young
Englishmen who are really defending
the nation's honor."
Most of the camps where recruits
are in training lack organized bands.
The rapidity of the recruiting and the
great tax upon the resources of the
War Office have not admitted of band
organization. However, nearly every
company has a few musicians who
play fifes or harmonicas and "Tipper-
ary" is the one tune invariably heard
as the youngsters move along
on
practice marches. If instruments are
lacking the men whistle the rousing
tune for it has been demonstrated
that it is a good "whistler." Even the
least musical can sing or whistle the
air.
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Foreign News Details
Primary Location
London
Event Date
Oct. 24
Key Persons
Event Details
The song 'It's a Long, Long Way to Tipperary' has become popular among British recruits and Territorials, who whistle and sing it in streets, roads, and camps, despite objections from higher-class English and some churchgoers. At a war service in Tyler's Green church, the organist played it as a closing voluntary, shocking some but moving others to tears. A prominent clergyman defends its use in churches, arguing it cheers soldiers facing death. Composers are incorporating dignified variations into patriotic medleys for sacred concerts. Recruits lack organized bands but play it on fifes, harmonicas, or whistle it during marches.