Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-02-22
our NATIONAL AIRS.


national music, that we have thought Il would
nAs he uriDterestng TO our readers to refresh
their recoileeions of the history of some of
those familiar airs.
And 6rst few words about time bouored
sud association-honored "Yaukee Doodle."-
Much learned researeh has been expended on
tbs origin of this tune, and various are the
OPINIONS that have been expressed upon this
point. One authority has it that too air was
composed by British doctor, one Shu ;kburg,
as long ago as the time Of the old French war
10 Canada, when the British regulars and the
colonial troops fought side by side, and that ii
was got up ia derision Of the old fashioned
usnHers Of tho pIovinciais as contfasted with
the more trim aud soldierly appearance OF the
regulars. Others say that the air rs as old as
Cromwelfs time, aud that Ii may be found 10
the 'sMusicsl Antiquities of Englaud." Ger
tainly it was well known in Nav Eugland be-
fore the American Revolution, aud there wers
sords to it about Lydia Fisher" and ssLucy
Lsskit I" Aud the red coats who occupied Bos-
ton IN ITS and l776, made verses in ridicule
Of the peopla their presence iusultsd, adapted
70 the time. for example:
s.Yahkee Doodle came to town,
For to buy freoek,
We viii tar and feather him,
And so we will John Hancock
When tha brigade under Lord Percy, on the
morning of the 18th of April. IT'S, marched
out of Boston on their way To Concord auG
Lexington, the drum and fife played aerisively,
this very air. On she rather rapid return Of
what there was left ot them, shay we're told they
hsa been made 10 dance it. Ans from this
tlps out s'Yankee Doodle" was accepted IS
4 c Il. IL a
t;oa 1t was played on every battia field 10 the
great strife for American Liberty, from Bunker
Hill to Yorktown aud the Pcdeo. (S. C) 1t
was beard amidst The hnrling of the leaden
Storm of infantry and artillery oa lhe plain Of
Chslnette. on the banks of the Chippewa, aud
beneath the spewy siertas OF Mexico; aud the
pulses of evory true American heart, OF what
ever State cr section, have lssped ihto accord
ant harmony with il fer generations pusi, anG
Sil4ado 80 for generations yet to cous.
"Hail Columbia" hiss also most interesting
history.
This, the most popular oc all the national
songs of America, was written by Judge Joseph
Hopkinson, one of the sieuers Of the Declars-
ton Of Independence. 1t was written n the
summer OF 179S, when war with France was
thought to be inevitabls; Congress then being
in session at Philadelphia. The theatre was
then open there, anu young actor, school
mate OF Hopkinson, being about 70 take ben
eft, asked the Judge to compose for bin sons
words tp the tune of the 'tPresiieut's March,"
which was then the popular sir. This was on
Saturday; on the Monday night following tho
song was ready, was sung With great success,
| and a. once took its place as national air of
A Aok Ind &c thic
in lS40, said of it, ssis was truly American; aud
nolhiag elso; and the patriotic feeling of every
American hear, responded to it,"
We should add here that the tune Itself
"Presidont's March"-was composed in 1889,
by German named Foyles, on the occasion OF
General WashiDkton's first visit to theatre in
the city of New York. A pretty fair pedigree
for "Hail Columbia" and one os which no one
born 90 American soil has any reason TO be
ashamed.
The origin Of "The Star Spangled Banner"
as national song, is less ancient, but hardly
less richly fraught with patriotic associations
than the others We have been treating of. Its
history is familiar to our readers.
The air is old English, and has been known,
time out of mind, under the name of 'Anacre-
on 10 Heaven" To this tune Robert Treat
Paine wrote one of his best odes, during tue
lifetirae of Washington.
Il was called "Adams and Liberty" aud was
written for some patriotic festival dinner. just
as the company we're taking their places at ts-
BILE, friend Of the writer, to whom be had
shown his verses, told Paine be had forgotten
to mans Washington in tham. Whereupon the
ready poet called for pen and ink, and i'm
promptu threw off the best stanza In his song.
II was ths:
''Should the tempest of war overshAdoW our
land,
It's bolts can ne'er rend Freedoms temple
asunder;
For, unmoved at its portal shall Washington
stand,
And rcpel with his breast th' assaults of the
Thunder.
His sword from the sleep
Of its scahbard shall leap,
And conductswitb its point, every fash to the
deep;
And meier shall the sons Of Columbia be slaves,
While the earth bears planet, the sea rolls
its wavesl"
And il was TO this same air, that, In 1914,
Francis Scott Key, of Baltimore, then young
man, and afsorwaraa 40 eminent lawyer, com
posed that we'll kndRn lyric, s'Tbo Star Span
gled Banner" - happened that Key, IN
der flag of truce, went on Board British
frigate, which was one OF Hest tbst was then
beResguering Baltimore During his stay on
board the frigase, il was decided 10 commence
the bombsrdment on Fort MciIenty. and the
young Baltimorean was compelled 10 DO wit
ness Of the deadly attack upon the deferces Of
bis native city and his hoae. The Fort ro-
sponded gallantly, and the engagement between
it aud the feet lasted throughout the night
By
"The rockets red glare,
And the bomb bursting In air,
tbs ardent young patriot could see
----ssthro' the night,
That our daQ vas still there.-