BRITISH PRO-BOER CONCERT

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4289, 23 February 1901, Page 2 (Supplement)

BRITISH PRO-BOER CONCERT

HOW ENGLISH PRISONERS SANG THE NATIONAL ANTHEM.

A ‘‘smoke night,” at which British soldiers as prisoners contributed the songs with thedr Boer captors, rifles in hand, showing visible appreciation, is capitally described in a Yeoman’s letter to the “Standard.” He, with several others, had been captured in the Orange State, and the chilly long winter eyenings were found very depressing until the hanpv thought struck one of the prisoners that they should give a smoking concert zo relieve the dullness.

“Captain Grant, of the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, threw himself into the project with whole-hearted zeal. Everything was quickly arranged, likely ‘artists’ canvassed, their songs . jotted down, and.a regular programme fixed up ‘in drill time.’ - .

“See us, then, shortly after dark on tha following evening, gathered around the appointed place. We formed a.ring-, many deep, around a huge fire, with which the veldt-cornet had gracious.;,permitted us to be provided.; The fire was situated half-way, up the slope of a rock kopje, beneath which nestled our camp, now quiet and dark, save where the dying embers of a fire broke bright and red through the surrounding gloom. Above us loomed, black and sharp against the sky, the summit of the kopje below the open plain, bounded by the interminable and to us prisoners heartwearying—series of hill upon hill. “Inside the magic circle were several Boors, merely on harmony bent, while outside it, but hovering near to listen, ware two or three, rifle in hand, as if to remind us that we were only permitted to have an hour or two’s recreation on sufferance. MADE THE BOERS L-AUGH. “There was a man of the Derbyshire Militia, with quite a. superior tenor voice, who gave us “The Star of Bethlehem’ and ‘Queen of the Earth,’- and was listened to with rapt- silence. Following him came a gelntleman of the same regiment, but w-hose performance was quite of another prdef. He - sang’ two or three comic songs with a, rich Midland accent, and reduced us all, including the Boers, ter ah almost hysterical condition of laughter. We were not lacking in serious and sentimental singers, who received a ' due meed of appreciation, but, without a doubt, the. humourous folk -bore away the palm. ‘ A patriotic song, ‘Who Carries the Gun?’ sung by one of the Imperial Yeomanry with a good deal of nerve and go, was well received, but it was nothing io the storm of wild applause which greeted Captain Grant vvhen, with Irish accent, voice and gesture ‘all complate,’ he gave us ‘Phil the Piper’s Ball’ and ‘Mulrooney’s Dog.’ “Everyone composed themselves to listen to a Dutch duet by two of our captors. Most ef us understood not a word of what they were singing, but their facial play and gesture) were highly diverting. Shortly-; after, came a: highly comic episode. One of the artists was

-inging ’For Old Times’ Sake.’ the chorus of which goes : For old times’ sake Don’t let this enmity hve. For old times’ sake, .Say you’ll forget and forgive. Life's too short to qua no., Hearts too precious to break. Shako hands and let us he friends, For old times’ sake.

BOERS’ SILENCE AND RESPECT. ■'One of the Boers, sitting in the inner ling, understood English well. At me iir>.t line of the chorus he pricked up hiears; at the second looked quizzically amused, and as the chorus proceeded expanded into a broad smile, whispering to his friend, who at once was similarly atfected. "As for us, the humour —tho unconscious humour—of the thing struck us simultaneously ; the whole crowd was rippling with merriment, which turned into a roar as. at the conclusion, the iirst Boer gravely extended his hand ' J the singer, who, with equal gravity and theatrical empressement. shook it iieartiiv.

"The time came to finish, and we rin-i-hed as Englishmen- invariably do wind up, no matter in what quarter of the globe they may he, or in what circumstances they may find themselves. ’We will sing the first verse of "God Save, the Queen” ’ —thus Captain Grant, standing up in his place. ‘‘A momentary pause—a mellow baritone rang out, for a bar or two-, alone, t'pii the air was taken up hy the crowd and by those who had remained in Hie camp, and sung as the blase conceit iiahituo rarely hears it hy us prisoners in a far distant land. Every man stood to attention as he sang, and either sainted in regulation fashion er removed nis head-dress.

“It must- have a waken e ds I range emotions in the breasts of tliose into whose hands we had fallen, hut tlicly listened, not without, interest, sileSitly and reRuectfully.”