From the new Bookin'! - Peace? Ptui!!

Mose Skinner's Grand Peace Jubilee and Jewsharp Oratorio. 

Boston; New England News Company: 1869. 

A biting satire of Boston's famous National Peace Jubilee, which was organized by Patrick Gilmore and took place in Boston on June 15, 1869. The Jubilee was by all accounts a complete success, with more than 11,000 performers, including 100 choral groups, an orchestra of 525 musicians, and a 486-piece wind band. The Jubilee, in fact, became the "high-water mark in the influence of the band in American life" (Crawford, America's Musical Life: A History).

But before any of this took place the size and scope, as well as the concept of celebrating peace with Southerners (with whom there had been some recent "unpleasantness"), created doubters. An excellent example is this satirical booklet by James E. Brown, writing under the name Mose Skinner, the text of which first appeared as a series of columns in the Wide World news paper. Aside from his obvious doubts about the possibility that such a grand undertaking could ever succeed, one sees doubts about whether it even -should- succeed, the Jubilee being only a few years removed from the bloodiest war ever fought on American soil. 

For instance- "In order to promote kind feelings toward the South, and create a feeling of confidence, Confederate scrip will be considered legal tender, on the five days of the Festival, - and any person passing a greenback (on the sidewalk) will be subject to arrest. One-armed and one-legged soldiers are requested to retire into the country, in order that their presence may not cause any unpleasant recollections to arise in the minds of our Southern friends". Ouch.

Softcover. 4.5"x7.5", 21 pages, plus several pages of advertisements. Front cover damaged, with a small hole, and general wear and soil, creases, etc. [39932] $100 

Read the new Bookin'! here.