To quote from the jacket of one of his albums, "Following a number of years of teaching and graduate study in mathematics and statistics at Harvard University, he spent a few years performing in night clubs and concert halls certain allegedly humorous songs which he had composed during periods when fits of abulia (abnormal ability to act or make decisions) interfered with his academic lucubration (working in the dark is the definition I prefer). In 1960, after a four-month concert tour of Australia, New Zealand, and Britain, he retired from preforming and returned to academic life. During the intervening years he has continued his graduate work and has been teaching miscellaneous courses at Harvard and MIT. At present he is still engaged in these dubious pursuits.... "

In keeping with today's politicians, Lehrer lead the way, to wit. "If anyone object to any statement I make, " "I am quite prepared not only to retract it , but also to deny under oath that I ever made it." Lest you believe that Lehrer was being original in this thought, I refer you to William Mathews' book, Hours with men and Books*, Galileo (Who demonstrated that feathers and rocks fall at the same pace, among other things. And, who ran afoul of the Church in his teachings that earth was not the center of the universe and instead revolved about the sun, was not disposed to martyrdom.) "He offered to prove that he had never held the doctrine of the earth's mobility, and declared himself ready to show, by fresh arguments, the error of that doctrine in 1616." Having weaseled his way around the problem, he was permitted to return home where he continued his studies.

To fully appreciate Tom Lehrer one must consider that he issued his records under his own label in 1953, long before it became popular to be an entrepreneur and strike out on one's own. At least one of his songs (?), was written in 1948 and entitled, I Wanna go Back to Dixie. This before Lyndon and others ever discovered that there was a Negro population in these United States.

To celebrate Tom Lehrer and make the general population aware of his insight, a three act play has been written and performed by local groups. They do an admirable job of keeping the image alive.

One can choose the piece that most endears Lehrer. My personal favorites (one cannot have only one), are the Vatican Rag, So Long, Mom (I'm off to drop the bomb) from That Was the Year That Was, TW3 Songs and Other Songs of the Year.

And, plagiarize, plagiarize, let no-one's work escape your eyes, which is cleverly concealed from the public in a tribute to Nicolai Ivanovich Lobachevsky, who no doubt was completely innocent, but unfortunately whose name had the right meter for Lehrer to immortalize. It can be found in Songs By Tom Lehrer. Neither Lehrer or Nicolai were original in these thoughts. Just a couple of examples. Perhaps you have encountered the thought put to paper that "We can see farther ahead and over a wider territory not because we have better eyes, but because standing as it were, on their shoulders (those of our ancestors) we can see more - but if it were not for their shoulders we would be able to see no more than they were able to see" pp21, Man His First Million Years, by Ashley Montagu. An original thought? No, you can find it in Sullivan's Rambles . Or as William Mathews wrote in Hours With Men And Books, pp210, "and the threadbare illustration of a dwarf standing on the shoulders of a giant, employed to illustrate the advantage of modern over ancient learning, is used by Sir William Temple, is quoted by old Burton, and has been traced back to the twelfth century".

But what of plagiarism? This is best said by Carl van Doren in his introduction to Plutarch, Twelve Lives, published in 1950 by Fine Editions Press. He said, "It is because Plutarch survives now in the words of other writers who have plundered Plutarch for their stories.... Whoever has heard of how Cleopatra committed suicide by letting an asp bite her owes the incident to Plutarch, or to Shakespeare who got it from Plutarch." So, Nicolai was quite proper in rushing to press with thoughts and deeds lifted from his friends and associates. Maybe, not?

Which brings us to Jingo journalism, the practice of proclaiming loudly and with effect a belief, that is anything but the true belief of the stump-jumper, simply to be in the forefront. Typical of the television press corps who in concert bring us today's offerings. (See South Dakota for the attitude of those good folks in South Dakota toward one of the native suns (aka sons), Tom Brokaw. Today it would be as appropriate for most of our politician's statements.

Other worthwhile definitions of jingoism are; advocating aggressive military action and "by jingo", an euphemism for by God. Take your pick.

Jingo journalism is allied with Manifest Destiny which was first coined in 1845 as a "divine" right to acquire Texas and later other territories. Too bad Indians! In today's interpretation, it simply means "we know what's best for you and we'll bomb the hell out of your country until you agree!"

So full circle. I began by praise of Tom Lehrer and his immortalization of thought and deed in song. And, end with examples of current day events that are neither original nor particularly novel.

****

The Illusions of History an essay by William Mathews in his book, Hours with Men and Books. S. C. Griggs and Company, 1879.

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