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Show feast. In the earliest ages none but the kings, noblemen of rank and musicians mu-sicians were allowed to possess harps. For a nobleman to be without such a symbol of rank usually meant that his position had been forfeited. As time went on the growing popularity of the harp and the genius of the poor people in performing upon the instrument made it possible for all freemen to possess harps. This ownership was one of the three things distinguishing a. freeman from a slave. How much those in bondage suffered from the restriction re-striction that slaves should not even touch these Instruments cannot be easily imagined. Gradually the harp became more and more common in Erin's isle until in the fifth century there was scarcely a peasant's hut without one. Religion, romance and valor were still in the music, but after a while songs of everyday life crept into the soul of the harp. The breezes of summer, sum-mer, the chirping of birds, the whirr of the spinning wheel, the singing of the teakettle and the crooning of the baby were all echoed by the bards. Few persons realize when looking at Ireland's flag that the same musical emblem was suggested as part of our national seal. On the Fourth of July, when the Declaration of Independence announced that the thirteen American colonies had formed themselves into a new nation, congress saw the necessity neces-sity for a national seal. On that day John Hancock appointed Doctor Franklin, Frank-lin, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson as a committee to prepare a suitable design for the seal of the new nation. About a month later Thomas Jefferson Jeffer-son submitted a design for each side of the seal. The plan for one side displayed dis-played a shield supported by the Goddess God-dess of Liberty, holding a spear and Va LEGEND OF FIRST HARP OF IRELAND Dagda, Pagan God, Won the Love of Maiden He Wooed Througn the Sweet Strains of Its Strings. EACH year as St. Patrick's day arrives public attention is drawn to the green flag of Erin and its harp of gold. The popularity popu-larity of this national emblem Is so complete that the design of the Emerald Em-erald isle has gained world renown. Not only natives of the "auld sod," but people of other nations show an indisputable indis-putable fondness for this flag. It Is not because the banner of green is representative of power or wealth that it has been able to blaze its own way into prominence, but the secret of the admiration of the Irish flag lies in the fact that it symbolizes so exactly the national characteristics of its people. The color suggests the constant verdure ver-dure of the island, the outdoor habits of the rural folk and the sunshine of life which is reflected in each Irish heart. Times may be hard and dark clouds of poverty lower, but the Irish always see the silver linings which foretell better days. The people talk, laugh and act in music, each singing his song from the cradle to the grave. Some measures are glad and some are sad, but hope is never abandoned. In choosing the harp as their national na-tional emblem the sons of Erin wove the symbol of their very being into each Irish flag. The harp represents their early religious worship, both pagan pa-gan and Christian; their national recreation, recre-ation, the medium through which the deeds of their heroes were taught to the people and the book from which every child in early times learned the lessons of patriotism and love of country. coun-try. From historical accounts it seems that this musical instrument is as old as Irish civilization, but even history is antedated by the legend of the first harp of Ireland. , The old story of Dagda, the pagan god, tells that once when the hero was walking by one of the beautiful lakes of his country he beheld a pretty damsel. dam-sel. It was love at first sight on the chief's part, for Dagda sought the maiden, in the hope of gaining her hand in marriage. Probably the girl was not so favorably impressed with her wooer. She ran into the forest to hide from him, but Dagda pursued close by. At length upon coming to a rounding beach the maiden's attention was absorbed by strange sounds. Such music! The dried skin of a whale stretched over the skeleton of the creature formed a harp for the mournful mourn-ful wind to whistle through. The girl was enchanted. When Dagda saw that such sounds fascinated her, he improvised impro-vised a wooden instrument patterned from the whale harp. By plucking the strings with his strong finger, he played such sweet music to the maiden maid-en that he finally won her heart. The success of this romance gave the incentive to other lovers to. fashion similar harps until it was not long before be-fore the "old story" was set to music whenever a young chief went wooing. Harpers all over the country accompanied accom-panied their stories of love and valor with this musical instrument. Bards journeyed from place to place with their harps, singing of the deeds of wonder which their brave chiefs had accomplished. As all this happened long before the- day of printer's ink, it was the only Way in which the people of the laud could learn of the conflicts and victories of their own heroes. The harpers wert always welcome and given the best in the house. Even kings were so gladdened by their presence pres-ence that the coming of one of these bards meant a banquet in the great hall where the table seated more than a hundred. If a story teller was present pres-ent he shared honors with the harpist, harp-ist, for these two entertainers furnished fur-nished the merriment for the all-night First Design for an American Seal It Contained an Irish Harp, and Was Sketched by Doctor Simitiere Sketch Was Never Adopted, But Was Later Found in the Jefferson Papers. cap, and by an American rifleman. Above was the all-seeing eye of Providence Provi-dence and below the motto "E Pluri-bus Pluri-bus Unum." The shield, which was the design of Du Simitiere, a West India In-dia Frenchman, the friend of Adams and Jefferson, gave recognition to the various nations which had peopled the new republic. In the six quarters of the shield were the rose for Englr.nd, the thistle for Scotland, the harp for Ireland, a flower de luce of France, the imperial eagle of Germany and the Belgic lion of Holland. Although this seal was not adopted, it showed the high regard in which many prominent persons held the old world countries. The harp was probably in recognition recogni-tion of the thousands of Irish who migrated mi-grated to the new world before the Revolutionary war. Later a design for a seal was submitted, which showed a harp of thirteen strings representing the thirteen original states. With thia there was the motto "Majora minoro-bus minoro-bus consonant," meaning that all play together in harmony. Although this design was not the one finally accepted, accept-ed, it indicated that the early Irish influence in-fluence in the new nation bore considerable consid-erable weight. The music-loving people peo-ple brought their happy characteristics characteris-tics across the water with them; their tuneful melodies were sung not only in the time of peace, but in the din of battle. At least one of their folksongs folk-songs has lived as one of the most inspiring in-spiring national tunes we have today, for it is said on good authority that our "Yankee Doodle" of revolutionary fame is the air to which the Irish iau? their "All the Way to Galway.'1 |