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FAMOUS SONGS
forth to meet and vanquish the foe, and with the defeat of France the dream of Bismarck's life was realized, for, having quarrelled with and conquered and annexed Schleswig-Holstein, Prussia assumed the head of a United Germany —the best thing, as events have proved, that could have happened to the Fatherland.
" Es braust ein Ruf wie Donnerhall, Wie Schwertgeklirr und Wogenprall: Zum Rhem, zum Rhem, zum Deutschen Rhein, Wer will des Stromes Huter sein ? Lieb Vaterland, magst ruing sein, Fest stent und treu die Wacht am Rhein."
The music was composed first as a chorus for male voices by Carl Wilhelm, music teacher and conductor, who was born at Schmalkalden and died some eight or nine years ago, says Fanny Raymond Ritter. But there is another account given of the composition of this great national song by Carl Hauser, which is very curious. The song, says this writer, composed by Carl Wilhelm, was not originally intended for a national hymn. Carl Wilhelm was a thorough Bohemian, and wrote some of his best compositions on lager beer tables amid fumes of tobacco smoke. He had a great difficulty in selling his compositions, even cheap, and when
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