WEBVTT

00:00.000 --> 00:18.040
A building more than 500 years old rises from the sea.

00:18.040 --> 00:21.220
Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute.

00:21.220 --> 00:23.680
That statement was made after the American Revolution.

00:23.680 --> 00:27.340
Five well-known tunes can be found in a famous popular song.

00:27.340 --> 00:28.340
Can you imagine that?

00:28.340 --> 00:31.840
Yes, this is Lindsay McCarrie back with you once more, friends, and those statements you

00:31.840 --> 00:33.200
heard are all true.

00:33.200 --> 00:35.960
In just a moment or two, we'll be back with you with the absolute proof.

00:35.960 --> 00:36.960
Wait for us, will you please?

00:36.960 --> 00:58.340
trênoli

01:36.960 --> 01:43.960
.

01:44.000 --> 01:51.000
.

01:51.040 --> 01:58.040
.

01:58.080 --> 02:05.080
.

02:05.080 --> 02:10.080
.

02:10.120 --> 02:15.120
.

02:17.120 --> 02:22.120
.

02:22.160 --> 02:27.160
.

02:27.160 --> 02:32.160
.

02:32.160 --> 02:34.360
and Walton emerged to view the seascape,

02:34.360 --> 02:38.360
to smell the new air washed clean by winter rain, wind and waves.

02:38.360 --> 02:40.860
I say, ain't this wonderful now?

02:40.860 --> 02:42.460
Ay, that it is, Jaime.

02:42.460 --> 02:43.660
Tis a beautiful sight.

02:43.660 --> 02:44.860
Ay, look!

02:44.860 --> 02:46.660
What's Dark Henry, do you suppose?

02:46.660 --> 02:48.860
Jaime, Maggie, look!

02:48.860 --> 02:49.860
Down to the sea.

02:49.860 --> 02:52.260
Wait, what, what, what is it?

02:52.260 --> 02:53.260
Tis a building.

02:53.260 --> 02:56.060
Oh, the lost church.

02:56.060 --> 02:57.460
The lost church, Jaime.

02:57.460 --> 02:58.560
That's what it is.

02:58.560 --> 02:59.960
I'm going back to the elf.

02:59.960 --> 03:01.660
There's an elman, that's what it is, an elman.

03:01.660 --> 03:03.860
Oh, you're a woman's daft, Jaime.

03:03.860 --> 03:05.460
Tis no omen at all.

03:05.460 --> 03:09.360
Tis just the low tide what's given up the old church to our view once more.

03:09.360 --> 03:12.960
The lost church, after all these hundreds of years.

03:12.960 --> 03:14.860
Come, let's go down and have a look at it.

03:14.860 --> 03:16.660
Ay, before the tide flows back again.

03:16.660 --> 03:17.860
Come on, everyone.

03:17.860 --> 03:20.260
Down to the sea.

03:20.260 --> 03:22.060
But before the people of Walton-on-the-Naze

03:22.060 --> 03:24.160
could reach the shell and seaweed covered church,

03:24.160 --> 03:27.660
the jealous Atlantic had once more swallowed it from their astounded gaze.

03:27.660 --> 03:29.260
Built more than a thousand years ago,

03:29.260 --> 03:31.160
the old parish church had been submerged

03:31.160 --> 03:33.460
since the year 1398.

03:33.460 --> 03:34.960
The coast had suffered from erosion,

03:34.960 --> 03:37.260
allowing the ocean to beat higher and higher on the rocks,

03:37.260 --> 03:38.660
farther and farther inland,

03:38.660 --> 03:41.260
until almost 550 years ago,

03:41.260 --> 03:43.760
the ancient edifice had disappeared beneath the waves,

03:43.760 --> 03:44.960
never to be seen again,

03:44.960 --> 03:47.760
except on that wintry day in 1928,

03:47.760 --> 03:51.460
for a few all too brief moments by the amazed and frightened villagers.

03:51.460 --> 03:53.660
Can you imagine that?

03:53.660 --> 03:56.160
What American citizen hasn't heard this declaration?

03:56.160 --> 03:59.460
Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute.

03:59.460 --> 04:01.660
I imagine that most of you think this statement originated

04:01.660 --> 04:04.560
during the War for Independence, the American Revolution.

04:04.560 --> 04:06.160
If you think so, you're wrong.

04:06.160 --> 04:08.860
Yes, because it was made after George Washington

04:08.860 --> 04:11.860
had served his second term as President of the United States,

04:11.860 --> 04:13.860
when John Adams was President.

04:13.860 --> 04:15.960
During the period of the French Directory,

04:15.960 --> 04:18.160
the United States of America had declared their neutrality

04:18.160 --> 04:20.760
in a current disagreement between France and England.

04:20.760 --> 04:22.060
France disagreed with this move

04:22.060 --> 04:24.060
and declared aggression toward American shipping,

04:24.060 --> 04:26.160
a virtual declaration of war.

04:26.160 --> 04:27.660
Three emissaries were sent to France,

04:27.660 --> 04:31.260
Elbridge Gerry, John Marshall, and Charles Cotsworth Pinckney.

04:31.260 --> 04:33.260
When the American ministers arrived in France,

04:33.260 --> 04:35.660
the Directory refused to receive them, unless,

04:35.660 --> 04:36.760
and here's the rub,

04:36.760 --> 04:39.860
unless they would pledge payment into the Treasury of France

04:39.860 --> 04:42.660
of $250,000.

04:42.660 --> 04:45.560
When this ultimatum reached Charles Pinckney, he cried,

04:45.560 --> 04:48.960
Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute.

04:48.960 --> 04:51.760
When the action of the French Directory became known in the United States,

04:51.760 --> 04:53.960
popular enthusiasm for war against France

04:53.960 --> 04:55.160
rose to fever pitch.

04:55.160 --> 04:57.260
Patriotic songs and speeches were heard on every hand

04:57.260 --> 04:58.260
in the new country.

04:58.260 --> 05:00.160
As a matter of fact, several naval engagements

05:00.160 --> 05:02.360
occurred between American and French ships.

05:02.360 --> 05:04.460
The U.S. Congress organized a new army.

05:04.460 --> 05:06.560
George Washington was recalled from retirement

05:06.560 --> 05:08.260
and appointed Commander-in-Chief.

05:08.260 --> 05:11.060
Alexander Hamilton was selected as first Major General.

05:11.060 --> 05:14.360
War with America's erstwhile allies seemed imminent.

05:14.360 --> 05:16.660
But a new turn of events transpired in France.

05:16.660 --> 05:20.660
Napoleon Bonaparte abolished the Directory in November 1799,

05:20.660 --> 05:22.860
became first Consul and virtual dictator,

05:22.860 --> 05:25.860
and instead of pursuing the Directory's policy towards America,

05:25.860 --> 05:27.560
sought peace and goodwill.

05:27.560 --> 05:32.360
And thus, a very probable French-American war was averted.

05:32.360 --> 05:34.460
You know, there's an old saying that goes like this.

05:34.460 --> 05:37.660
A golden mirror may blind the wisest man.

05:37.660 --> 05:39.460
Which means, of course, that money,

05:39.460 --> 05:41.560
or the apparent possession of a lot of it,

05:41.560 --> 05:44.660
can make fools of otherwise shrewd, cautious men.

05:44.660 --> 05:45.660
And the proof?

05:45.660 --> 05:47.560
Well, in the late 1870s,

05:47.560 --> 05:50.660
a French peasant girl whose name was Thérèse Dornignac

05:50.660 --> 05:52.560
announced to an astounded France,

05:52.560 --> 05:55.860
Oui, oui, I am the sole heir of an American.

05:55.860 --> 05:58.060
His name is Robert Henry Crawford.

05:58.060 --> 06:00.060
Sole heir, mam'zel?

06:00.060 --> 06:01.560
And of course, you have proof.

06:01.560 --> 06:03.360
Oui, monsieur, here are the papers.

06:03.360 --> 06:06.460
You see, Monsieur Crawford was so very, very grateful

06:06.460 --> 06:08.960
that I nursed him through a very serious illness.

06:08.960 --> 06:10.860
Oh, mon dieu, but he was ill.

06:10.860 --> 06:14.560
Yes, yes, mam'zel Dornignac, the papers, please.

06:14.560 --> 06:16.660
Hmm?

06:16.660 --> 06:18.560
Mon dieu.

06:18.560 --> 06:23.860
Mam'zel, this will leaves you out to 20 million American dollars.

06:27.360 --> 06:29.160
20 million American dollars.

06:29.160 --> 06:30.160
The news spread.

06:30.160 --> 06:32.160
Little Thérèse Dornignac became famous.

06:32.160 --> 06:35.660
She married Frédéric Umber, son of a cabinet minister.

06:35.660 --> 06:37.960
Of course, some people doubted the existence of the fortune

06:37.960 --> 06:40.460
until the news went around that two nephews of the American,

06:40.460 --> 06:43.160
Crawford, had arrived from America to break the will.

06:43.160 --> 06:44.160
Said one of them.

06:44.160 --> 06:47.660
Of course, we don't mean to cut Thérèse off without a penny.

06:47.660 --> 06:51.160
She was good to Uncle Robert, but we feel that we should be entitled

06:51.160 --> 06:52.360
to some of the money.

06:52.360 --> 06:54.760
So we're going to sue for an enforcement of another will

06:54.760 --> 06:57.860
which will give Thérèse 72,000 dollars a year.

06:57.860 --> 07:00.660
72,000 dollars a year.

07:00.660 --> 07:02.360
A nice tidy little income.

07:02.360 --> 07:04.860
The nephews insisted that until they had reached an agreement

07:04.860 --> 07:08.960
about the wills, Thérèse should have legal custody of the securities.

07:08.960 --> 07:11.960
A French notary sealed a strong box containing a fabulous sum

07:11.960 --> 07:14.660
and placed it in a safe under protection of the courts.

07:14.660 --> 07:17.960
Thus, the fortune was given legal standing.

07:17.960 --> 07:21.660
Thérèse, now Madame Umber, achieved dazzling splendor in society.

07:21.660 --> 07:22.660
She lacked nothing.

07:22.660 --> 07:24.960
Her procedure for buying something was simple.

07:24.960 --> 07:29.460
Ah, Madame Umber, we are honored that you should come into our store.

07:29.460 --> 07:30.960
There is something you wish?

07:30.960 --> 07:32.560
Yes, Monsieur, there is.

07:32.560 --> 07:35.060
A diamond necklace for the ball tomorrow night.

07:35.060 --> 07:36.760
Diamond necklace? Oui.

07:36.760 --> 07:40.560
But yes, the finest of course.

07:40.560 --> 07:44.060
Here is one for only 100,000 francs.

07:44.060 --> 07:46.360
That will do. Deliver it this afternoon.

07:46.360 --> 07:50.160
For the money, I will make you a note, payable after I secure my legacy.

07:50.160 --> 07:51.560
That is agreeable to you?

07:51.560 --> 07:54.860
But yes, but yes. Anything Madame wishes.

07:58.860 --> 08:05.260
For the fur coat, I will give you a note, payable after my legacy is established.

08:05.260 --> 08:06.560
I wish to give a party.

08:06.560 --> 08:10.460
There must be champagne, all kinds of food and lovely souvenirs for the guests.

08:10.460 --> 08:14.160
I will give you a note, payable after the legacy is mine.

08:18.160 --> 08:20.360
Well, that went on for 20 years.

08:20.360 --> 08:23.660
Madame Umber, the former little peasant girl Thérèse Dorignac,

08:23.660 --> 08:28.960
lived in luxury for 20 years while the court fight for the wills went on and on.

08:28.960 --> 08:33.460
At length, Madame Umber's payable notes amounted to over 11 million dollars.

08:33.460 --> 08:35.660
Then suddenly in 1902...

08:35.660 --> 08:38.060
I tell you, I am right. I must be right.

08:38.060 --> 08:41.560
I grew suspicious, so I looked up this Crawford family.

08:41.560 --> 08:47.860
I wrote to America, Monsieur, there is no such person as Robert Henry Crawford.

08:47.860 --> 08:51.960
I am ruined! Ruined! Oh, my dear!

08:51.960 --> 08:53.460
The hoax was uncovered.

08:53.460 --> 08:55.460
Ten creditors committed suicide.

08:55.460 --> 08:59.960
Finally, the safe deposit box was opened in the presence of Madame Umber's distinguished attorney.

08:59.960 --> 09:02.460
The contents were noted and these were found.

09:02.460 --> 09:10.060
The securities worth 1,000 dollars, a jewel case that is empty, several worthless copper coins,

09:10.060 --> 09:13.560
and Monsieur a brass button.

09:17.260 --> 09:20.460
The Umbers and the fake American nephews had fled to Spain.

09:20.460 --> 09:23.460
They were brought back, tried before a laughing public which had been amused,

09:23.460 --> 09:25.660
and were given ridiculously short sentences.

09:25.660 --> 09:28.460
Thus for 20 years, a clever bunch of confidence workers

09:28.460 --> 09:33.460
hoaxed the courts of France and ruined gullible merchants. Can you imagine that?

09:37.260 --> 09:40.960
Now, we're going to take you into the realm of musical oddities once more,

09:40.960 --> 09:45.960
to prove to you that even in popular music, there's nothing new under the sun.

09:45.960 --> 09:50.860
So, let's get our tonal scalpel out and do a little dissecting on the body of,

09:50.860 --> 09:52.960
yes, we have no bananas.

09:52.960 --> 09:58.060
In other words, let's break it down, phrase by phrase, and see what other tunes it sounds like.

09:58.060 --> 10:02.060
For instance, the first measure and a half could very well be the first phrase of

10:02.060 --> 10:03.960
Händel's Hallelujah Chorus.

10:03.960 --> 10:08.260
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

10:10.460 --> 10:12.960
Then there follow three measures of an old familiar tune.

10:12.960 --> 10:19.160
Oh, bring back my body to me

10:19.160 --> 10:22.360
Yep, that was of course, My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean.

10:22.360 --> 10:27.760
Then, well, there appear to be just a few bars of the middle part of another song you'll remember.

10:27.760 --> 10:33.260
It's from Balfe's Operetta, The Bohemian Girl, and it's, I dreamt I dwelt in marble halls.

10:33.260 --> 10:47.260
I had riches to bring, to comfort most, of high ancestral name.

10:47.260 --> 10:49.760
And the next recognizable phrase is this.

10:49.760 --> 10:56.260
In the sky the bright stars glitter.

10:56.260 --> 10:58.060
And now with different words.

10:58.060 --> 11:04.760
We've had old passion come our fall.

11:04.760 --> 11:09.260
Then of course it seems to start all over again, and when you put it all together it spells,

11:09.260 --> 11:12.560
not mother, but yes, we have no bananas.

11:12.560 --> 11:40.860
explosion

12:42.560 --> 12:51.240
Well, that's another batch of Can You Imagine That items for a while, friends, but we're

12:51.240 --> 12:53.560
coming back on this same station soon again.

12:53.560 --> 12:55.000
Will you be listening for us?

12:55.000 --> 12:56.000
We hope so.

12:56.000 --> 13:19.000
Until that time, this is Lindsay McCarry saying goodbye now.

13:19.000 --> 13:33.180
Hope