Life, 1920-10-28 · page 9 of 46
Life — October 28, 1920 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical article critiques how American patriotic songs are often replaced with foreign melodies. The main argument: the Austrian national hymn composed by Haydn works better than "Yankee Doodle" for the U.S. national anthem, but importing foreign tunes is culturally problematic. The two cartoons illustrate related absurdities: the top shows a woman receiving wedding invitations while discussing imported melodies; the bottom depicts a man confronted about his car's high cost while defending the expense. The underlying satire mocks Americans' tendency to adopt foreign cultural products—whether musical compositions or automobiles—while simultaneously celebrating national identity. The piece satirizes both cultural snobbery and the contradiction between patriotic rhetoric and consumerist behavior favoring imported goods.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Transmigration of Tunes OME people don’t know when they are well off; and they seize needless oc- casions for disclosing this disregard of their valuable possessions. Next to the “ Marseillaise,” the Austrian hymn com- posed hy Haydn is perhaps the most satis- factory of national air: It is elevated and uplifting; it is dignified and soul- stirring. And now the new Austrian government, so we are told, proposes to discard it, after it has served its purpose nobly for nearly a century and a quarter; and they are making ready to have a new national anthem written by Chancellor Renner—whoever he may be—and set to music by Kienziwhoever he may be. It is to be wished that the ouija board might bring us an authentic message from Haydn, declaring the intention of his ghost to become an American citizen, post mortem, so to speak. Then at last the citizens of these United States could take over a national hymn which would be really worthy of a mighty republic. At present “Yankee Doodle” is absurdly inadequate for the purpose to which it is often put; in fact, “A Hot Time in the Old Town To-night” would serve better. And “The Star-Spangled Banner” has the double disadvantage of commemorat- ing the capture of an American city and of being vocally very difficult. That Haydn's tune would be a foreign impor- tation is a detail that might be disre- garded, since we imported the airs to which we sing “America” and “ Yankee TIME POR. .ACTION Doodle.” “OUT OF A THOUSAND WEDDING INVITATIONS WE MAILED, ONLY SIXTEEN PRESENTS. Tunes are often imported. The British HAVE BEEN RECEIVED.” “God Save the King” is now. believed “UM. POOR RETURNS, WHY NOT RUSH OUT A FOLLOW-UP Forst?” to have been written by a French-Italian, Lully; and “ Maryland, My Maryland” is set to the German air, “ Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum,” better known in our col- lege days as “Lauriger Horatius.” The transmigration of tunes is an obscure sub- ject; and we need not cry out against the boy who was taken to the oratorio and who asked if “ With Verdure Clad” was the same as “ The Wearing of the Green.” And, for that matter, the air of “The Wearing of the Green” is also the air of “ Benny Havens, O,” dear to the hearts of many generations of West Pointers. B. M. ~ IDN'T Ethel meet with an accident while riding through New York in her “Yes—she got home safe.” SILENT contempt is the noblest way a man can express himself—when the SAY! YOU TOLD ME THAT CAR I GOT HERE WAS NOT EXPENSIVE TO RUN, AND IT HAS ALREADY COST UE SEVE: NINETY DOLLARS FOR A PLATE* ara GLASS WINDOW AND FIFTY DOLLARS FOR VIOLATING THE SPEED LAW” other fellow is bigge comicbooks.com