Yankee Doodle

AMERICANS can claim "Yankee Doodle" as one of their very own -- native born, not foreign. The tune ranks as one of the most popular in Colonial times, during the Revolutionary War and well after it. It was the original carrier of American patriotism, a thumb-your-nose outcry against a parent country.Once, it had been taken for granted that the simple ditty was of English origin, probably from a nursery rhyme. Other theories had the song arising from Dutch, French or even German sources. Exhaustive research by Prof.

Regarding the article "The man who wasn't there: 'Poe Toaster' fails to show at gravesite" (Jan. 20): The only mystery here is how it could have taken the Toaster so long to figure out that it would be more appropriate to leave birthday gifts for Edgar Allan Poe in Boston where he was born than in Baltimore where he died! Rumor here has it that over the past 48 hours the Toaster, sporting a Red Sox cap and whistling "Yankee Doodle," has been spotted walking between 62 Charles Street South and Edgar Allan Poe Square, searching for the perfect place to leave his cognac and roses.

George M. Cohan (1878-1942) was the son of an Irish-American vaudeville couple. He began performing as a child and grew up to be a phenomenally talented performer, playwright, song writer, director and producer. Cohan's career is celebrated in George M, a 1968 Broadway musical by Michael Stewart and John and Francine Pascal. The show, a feast of old-time song and dance, is running at Toby's Dinner Theatre through June 10 in a brisk production directed by Toby Orenstein. Cohan wrote more than 500 songs, but his reputation today rests on a handful of great numbers that appeared between 1904 and 1906 -- "Give My Regards to Broadway," "The Yankee Doodle Boy," "Mary's a Grand Old Name," "Harrigan," "You're a Grand Old Flag" and "Over There" (1917)

Peter Angelos is taking a rare day off. Pam Shriver is leaving the television spotlight and making a dash from England to California to be with her three children. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend will spend a civilized day in Towson instead of enjoying the outdoors at some exotic locale. As the nation turns 233 today, Angelos will celebrate his 80th birthday, Shriver, her 47th, and Townsend, her 57th. Even though being a year older isn't thrilling, each of them considers sharing their birthday with the nation an honor.

Despite its title, the current Baltimore Symphony SuperPops program - "A Star-Spangled Salute with Marvin Hamlisch" - isn't just a flag-waving, Yankee Doodle, born on the Fourth of July patriotic spectacle. Sure, the program boasts patriotic songs aplenty, and ends with a red-white-and-blue salute to Old Glory itself. But there was also ample time allotted for other forms of Americana, and that, ultimately, was what made yesterday's performance at the Meyerhoff so thoroughly entertaining.

Popular songs: Karen Randall, a music teacher, leads children at Clarksville Elementary School in the singing of such old favorites as "Down by the Bay," "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" and "Yankee Doodle" for a program about the millennium. (Article, Page 6B)

The Baltimore Road Runners Club kicked off a week of Fourth of July celebratory running with the Yankee Doodle Dash 4-Miler Sunday at Lake Montebello.The running festivities continue this week with the Dundalk Heritage 6K Independence Day Dash, the Kingsville Firecracker 5K and the Arbutus Firecracker 10K, all on Saturday, and the Independence 4-Mile Run Sunday at Havre de Grace.Neville Anderson kicked off what could be a busy week of running for him with a 21-minute, 14-second, first-place finish in the Yankee Doodle Dash.

Regarding the article "The man who wasn't there: 'Poe Toaster' fails to show at gravesite" (Jan. 20): The only mystery here is how it could have taken the Toaster so long to figure out that it would be more appropriate to leave birthday gifts for Edgar Allan Poe in Boston where he was born than in Baltimore where he died! Rumor here has it that over the past 48 hours the Toaster, sporting a Red Sox cap and whistling "Yankee Doodle," has been spotted walking between 62 Charles Street South and Edgar Allan Poe Square, searching for the perfect place to leave his cognac and roses.

Sculptures displayed through March 25 The Carroll County Arts Council has on display "Strictly Sculpture" through March 25 in the Tevis Gallery at the Carroll Arts Center, 91 W. Main St., Westminster. The exhibit features local and regional artists using bronze, iron, steel and other materials to create diverse works. Works include ancient techniques such as carved stone by Wasyl Palijczuk, professor emeritus from McDaniel College, and lost-wax bronze casting used by internationally renowned sculptor Bart Walter.

Many graduations will be taking place this month and next. However, not very many will have a Yankee Doodle patriotic theme like the one taking place Friday at the St. John's Cooperative Nursery School in Linthicum.Sixty-seven 4-year-old graduates will receive their diplomas from the Rev. William Gilroy, pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church, sponsor of the nursery. He will be assisted by volunteers at the school, Eadie Leach and Adeline Bradshaw.Leach will give a short graduation address to the children.

A different kind of music echoed through the vast hall of pews and white walls in McDaniel College's Baker Memorial Chapel. Sure, the traditional spiritual soared to the high ceiling every now and then. But there were also hip-hop beats and syncopated stomps on the floor. Guitar melodies punctuated with taps on a gourd and a fair amount of hands slapping the wooden benches. Flowing rivers of recited words about war, about relationships, about life. And between each number, plenty of claps and cheers.

George M. Cohan (1878-1942) was the son of an Irish-American vaudeville couple. He began performing as a child and grew up to be a phenomenally talented performer, playwright, song writer, director and producer. Cohan's career is celebrated in George M, a 1968 Broadway musical by Michael Stewart and John and Francine Pascal. The show, a feast of old-time song and dance, is running at Toby's Dinner Theatre through June 10 in a brisk production directed by Toby Orenstein. Cohan wrote more than 500 songs, but his reputation today rests on a handful of great numbers that appeared between 1904 and 1906 -- "Give My Regards to Broadway," "The Yankee Doodle Boy," "Mary's a Grand Old Name," "Harrigan," "You're a Grand Old Flag" and "Over There" (1917)

Sculptures displayed through March 25 The Carroll County Arts Council has on display "Strictly Sculpture" through March 25 in the Tevis Gallery at the Carroll Arts Center, 91 W. Main St., Westminster. The exhibit features local and regional artists using bronze, iron, steel and other materials to create diverse works. Works include ancient techniques such as carved stone by Wasyl Palijczuk, professor emeritus from McDaniel College, and lost-wax bronze casting used by internationally renowned sculptor Bart Walter.

PRESIDENT BUSH had the nerve to invoke Valley Forge on Monday during a speech about the war in Iraq. Americans persevered through "terrible hardships and losses" back then, he said, and presumably Iraq will be no different. Question No. 1: In what ways are the American Revolution and the war in Iraq similar? Answer: In no ways. Question No. 2: In what ways are George Washington and George W. Bush similar? Answer: See above. If the commander in chief needs reminding, the encampment at Valley Forge during the winter of 1777-1778 was the darkest hour of the struggle for independence.

THE PROBLEM with the Fourth of July is that it doesn't have any great literature it can call its own. Christmas has A Christmas Carol, Thanksgiving has the poem Thanksgiving Day, even Halloween has The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Such an important day in this country's history needs a hook on which to hang its tricorn hat. I have just the book: A Narrative of Some of the Adventures, Dangers and Sufferings of a Revolutionary Soldier, by Joseph Plumb Martin. Don't be put off by the long title (it has since been renamed Private Yankee Doodle)

ON Independence Day, some suggestions for financial independence. Consider refinancing your mortgage. With interest rates edging lower, this procedure could save money. Put every nickel you can in any retirement fund that is offered to you. Your money grows tax-deferred, a big plus. Don't retire too early. If you retire from a $40,000-a-year job, you'll need about $800,000 in assets to reproduce that earned income. Follow Warren Buffett's advice: "Know all about the stocks you own. If you don't, you've bought lottery tickets."

"HIRE US, make your own kids feel guilty," my friend read from the flier on my table. "Do I detect your delicate hand in this ad?"Indignant, I explained that I only offered advice to my son and his friend as they prepared an ad for their new employment venture: "Lawn Jocks.""Not unlike your assistance with the science fair project that eventually required approval from the FDA and the EPA?" she asked sarcastically.OK, I made a few changes to the copy, but lawn service is a tough market.Truthfully, I was open to all suggestions so my 15-year-old son could earn money.

A different kind of music echoed through the vast hall of pews and white walls in McDaniel College's Baker Memorial Chapel. Sure, the traditional spiritual soared to the high ceiling every now and then. But there were also hip-hop beats and syncopated stomps on the floor. Guitar melodies punctuated with taps on a gourd and a fair amount of hands slapping the wooden benches. Flowing rivers of recited words about war, about relationships, about life. And between each number, plenty of claps and cheers.

If you are a baby boomer guy who grew up reading Sport magazine, who fell asleep listening to voices from the faraway kingdom of major-league baseball on your bedside radio, "61*" is going to be the died-and-gone-to-heaven viewing delight of the TV year for you tonight. But even if you're not from that particular demographic, don't miss this HBO movie from Billy Crystal. It's one terrific film. "61*" tells the story of New York Yankees teammates Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle as they chased Babe Ruth's home run record during the 1961 season.