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A history of the War interests and activities of McLean county during the great world war, that did not take into account the subject of community singing would be incomplete. Music has always carried within its elements the power to stir the deeper emotions of the human soul, to arouse the finer and better powers of human nature, to bring solace and cheer in times of sorrow, and to give courage and fortitude to carry over the crisis of life. Perhaps the first outstanding characteristic of this community music was its voluntariness and spontaniety. There was nothing forced about it, and no man served for pay. James Melluish, who was one of the leaders in the movement, speaks in a paper written January 4th, 1918, of the beginning of the "sings" as being spontaneous, and almost without care so far as preliminary campaigns were concerned. He said: "We were contemplating the subject from a distance when suddenly some one decided to launch a sing in one of the public schools, and within a week many of the schools were clamoring for sings." Mr. Melluish again in the paper quoted above says: "In seeking leaders for these 'sings' a very unusual thing happened; voluntarily the very best leaders in the city came forward and offered their services freely for the good of the cause." In the same paper he states, "Musical jealousies and petty rivalries which had hitherto balked concerted efforts in musical projects in this comiminity were forgotten or ignored." In the organization and coordination of the school singing, Miss Mabelle Glenn, the proficient supervisor of Public School music in the Bloomington schools, with the efficient assistance of many of the teachers early in the campaign had the little singing soldiers storming the forts of indifference if there was any, and thru the schools the inspiration of song passed like a good infection into every home. If schools lacked the facilities for the evening "sings" such facilities were soon installed; as for instance, in one school district the school had no lighting facilities; their first sing was under the dim light of small candles. The next, however, found the school building equipped with a modern electric lighting system. Contests interesting and friendly were carried on between the various grades and rooms of individual schools as to which grade or room would have the largest attendance of school parents at given "sings." And a silver cup contest was carried on between the various schools of the city. An event long to be remembered was the final contest in mass singing for the Silver Cup, held in the High School auditorium the afternoon of December 24th, 1917. The leader chosen for the contest was Prof. Osborne McConathy, director of music at the Northwestern University of Evanston. Prof. Lawrence Erb of the Musical department of the University of Illinois was selected as the judge, and the final competing schools were Hawthorne, Emerson, Franklin and Washington. Needless to say these five school groups at this final contest for the cup that would always remain a valued memorial to the winning school, acquitted themselves with pride and enthusiasm. The schools by standing at the close of the contest were as follows: First, and winning school, Hawthorne, Prof. Westhoff, leader; Mrs. James Reeder, pianist. Second, Emerson School; Leader, Dale James; Pianist, Ralph Freese. Third, Franklin School; Leader, Lyle Straight; Pianist, Miss Norma Brown. Fourth, Washington School; Leader, Mrs. O. R. Skinner; Pianist, Mrs. Harry Roush. Songs used were Keep the Home Fires Burning, Come all ye Faithful, Tomorrow, and Hallelujah Chorus from the Messiah. This was doubtless one of the most enthusiastic meetings held during the year. The Auditorium of the new High School was crowded to the doors, the various singing groups from each of the competing schools being accompanied with hundreds of interested friends and supporters. It being the Christmas occasion a chorus of fifty well trained little boys and girls from the grades under the direction of Miss Glenn marched in procession singing "Hark the Herald Angels sing." The dramatic effect added to the well trained voices gave beauty and the charm of the old Christmas carol to the whole meeting. The Hawthorne school was awarded the honors and the cup by Dr. Erb who was the judge chosen for the decision. The foregoing will suffice to give some idea of the voluntariness and spontaneity of these "sings" that characterized the democratic spirit that stamped itself on the music of the war time period. Of course the music was chosen for its adaptability to the need of the time. The times demanded music of the popular type, music adapted to the emotions common to all classes of people; the man from the shop was to sing with the man from the school and the cathedral, the girl from the counter with brother or sweetheart "over there" was to sing from the same book with her employer's wife whose sons were "over there." The community sing, judged by numbers reached and interested, was a success. The first week of the sings in the various schools, the attendance was 600. By the fifth week, the enthusiasm had spread to the extent that 3200 were present at the various "sings." On Sunday afternoon, November 11, 1917, was held what was one of the most notable mass sings at the High School auditorium under the leadership of Prof. Peter W. Dykema with an attendance of over 2,000 people, and an overflow meeting of several hundred at a nearby tneater. Under the direction of Prof. B. C. Moore, supt. of McLean county schools, "sings" were developed in the sunounumg country schools, leaders going out from Bloomington to the other towns of McLean county. By this method it is sare to say that over two hundred community centers of McLean county were moved by the common impulse of songs, and the larger birth of community consciousness was produced. The most cordial assistance in this work was given by Prof. B. C. Moore, and by the Federated Parent-Teachers Clubs, with Mrs. Harry Fleming as president. It will thus be seen that the American school, the most democratic institution in America gave itself freely to the new democratic type of song. On November 6th, the general shops committee of the Chicago and Alton E. E. gave permission to those in charge, to organize the shop force into a "sing." The first sing brought about five hundred of the men. The interest increased until over a thousand men every Tuesday noon gave 35 minutes to singing national and patriotic songs. A band of fifteen pieces was organized by Geo. Apelt and with Geo. W. Marton as leader the thousand men from forge and lathe and the noise of boiler shops and car shops, painters and carpenters and engine wipers together joined in singing courage for the trying hour. Similar sings were held at Paul F. Beich Co.'s factory; in this instance however, Mr. Beich placed a piano in the main building, where the girls were encouraged to put in time practicing for the "sing" to be held when the regular leaders came, it was a matter of comment, that Mr. Beich himself, one of the leading business men of Illinois mingled freely with his employes in their "sings." Here is seen what may be termed one of the by-products of the community spirit of song. There was revealed a common interest between employer and employee, in the various industries and institutions of the business world. Indicative of the interest taken by the business men of the city, it is of interest to note that the movement was led by James Melluish, a civil engineer and successful man of affairs, being at the same time one of the city's leading organists. The men who gave of their time and leadership without stint were prominent young business men, Dale James, Lyle Straight, Ealph Freese, all prominent young men of affairs, each a leader in his line. The Rotarians and the Association of Commerce club backed up the whole movement in a very substantial way by assisting in the purchase of 2,500 books for the use of the "sings." A word as to what seems to be the permanent contributions to community life from this movement, and this chapter will close with a few of the songs that were popular during those dark days of national sorrow and hope. The first valuable element contributed was that of a mutual fortitude, that could scarcely have been awakened thru any other means. All that was being so well done for the individual of the community thru the Eed Cross, was augumented in mass effect by the enthusiasm of the community sing. From time to time came the added help and inspiration of some great song leader from distant places. Second, the deeper appreciation on the part of all the people of the common bond of popular music, the increased appreciation of the national hymns, the patriotic fervor aroused by the mass movement, and third, the revaluation of music as the means of lightening up, and poetizing the monotony and commonplace spirit of the business and workaday world. The following are among the most popularly sung numbers, worthy to he passed on to the coming generations as typical of the spirit of a struggle that wo shall all hope may never be again a part of the world's life. OVER THERE (A-Flat) Over there Over there Send the word, send the word over there That the Yanks are coming, the Yanks are coming, The drums rum-turning every where So prepare say a prayer Send the word, send the word over there We'll be over, we're coming over And we won't come back till it's over, over there. There was always a spirit akin to the spiritual effect of the real folk song, when the crowd struck in on, "Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag, And smile, smile, smile While you've a lucifer to light your fag, Smile boy, that 's the style. What's the use of worrying? It's never worth your while, so Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag, And smile, smile, smile." To overlook the increased internationalism of spirit as manifest in song, would be to overlook one of the greatest assets of the movement. Perhaps one of the most impressive features of the whole community sing movement was the presence in many of the mass meetings of scores of foreign born men and women, and especially children. Out of the home of Scandinavian, Hungarian, Pole and all other representatives of Europe including loyal Americans who were born in the Kaiser's own kingdom, here joined heartily in singing strength to the heart of the great cause that to them more than any other stood for liberty and justice. As a bit of the French spirit, "Joan of Arc," became popular, sung in the key of (F). "Joan of Arc, Joan of Arc, Do your eyes, from the skies, see the foe? Don't you see the drooping Fleur-de-lis? Can't you hear the tears of Normandy? Joan of Arc, Joan of Arc, Come, lead your France to victory. If these brief words will suffice to give some idea of the song spirit that prevailed during the trying years of struggle, conserving to future generations a bit of the moral and spiritual force manifest in this and multitudes of other cities and states all over the world, it will satisfy the ambition of the writer. And now that the pain and suffering is past, and many homes have a renewed interest in European countries by reason of the graves that are there, may we gather in twilight of memory and imagination and sing, When the great red dawn is shining, When the waiting hours are past, When the tears of night are ended And I see the day at last, I shall come down the road of sunshine, To a heart that is fond and true, When the great red dawn is shining, Back to home, back to love and you. Some of the more popular verses of many war-time songs were these: MARSEILLAISE HYMN (A-flat) Ye sons of Freedom awake to glory! Hark! Hark! what myriads bid you rise! Your children, wives, and grandsires hoary, Behold their tears and hear their cries! Behold their tears and hear their cries! Shall hateful tyrants, mischief breeding, With hireling hosts, a ruffian band, Affright and desolate the land, While peace and liberty lie bleeding? "SMILES" (G) Chorus: There are smiles that make us happy, There are smiles that make us blue, There are smiles that steal away the teardrops As the sun-beams steal away the dew, There are smiles that have a tender meaning That eyes of love alone may see, And the smiles that fill my life with sunshine Are the smiles that you give to me. THERE'S A LONG, LONG TRAIL (A-flat) There's a long, long trail a-winding Into the land of my dreams, Where the nightingales are singing And the white moon beams; There's a long, long night of waiting Until my dreams all come true, Till the day when I'll be going down That long, long trail with you. THE ROSE OF NO MAN'S LAND (E-flat) There's a Rose that Grows on "No Man's Land," And it's wonderful to see: Tho' it's spray 'd with tears, it will live for years, In my garden of memory. It's the one red rose the soldier knows, It's the work of the Master's hand; 'Mid the war's great curse stands the Red Cross Nurse, She's the Rose of No Man's Land. KEEP THE HOME FIRES BURNING Keep the home fires burning, While your hearts are yearning, Tho your lads are far from home, They dream of home There's a silver lining, Thru the dark clouds shining, Turn the dark clouds inside out, Till the boys come home. [McLean County, Illinois, in the World War, 1917-1918; by Edward E. Pierson & Jacob Louis Hasbrouck c 1921]

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