Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-03-16
AMERICAN NATIONAL AIRS.

We believe that not one OF the three Da-
tionnI airs OF tnp United Ststes Is strictly an
0rlglual American composition. Their hlsto
~ is not IN every cas. fully ascertalned, but
Is somp ~ hat us follows "InUk-s Doodle"
20 said. by most critics TO have bren the com
position Of an English physician, and to date
hack TO the French wars, when II was com.
pneed in dprlslOn OF the appearance Of the
volunteers from the colonies who assisted
the British regulars. BY others it is said to
date AZ far back us the time OF Cromwell. j,
was certainly known iE,, EnglAnd before the
American Revolution, and WIS sung in dsri
zion of the BostOulaus hy the soldrrs who
garrisoupd that city But the laugh turning
10 the other side ut the retreat Of Concord
and Lexington, sndtthe people thus inangn-
rating the revolt, made the troops dance
aheIr way back to the same tune their bands
1lqyea as they marched.
> Dcr that time the air has been nsti)nh
one. and American hearts have exul,inpi!
responded TO i: 10 every age, and IN s'l lands.
Tn. music Of the Star Suangled Banner"
is an old English air, once bearing the title,
We believe, Of "Anacreon in Heaven
Robert Treat Paine adapted TO this air one
nf his popular songs. adams emo Liberty"
durire the life of Washisgton. one verse of
which was in praise OF the Father Of bis
Country Bnt it was not until 1911 that
Francis Scott Key. then young lawyer com
l,nsed the preseut words in remembrance OF
Che bonn bar6ment Of Fort Mctienry. when
Baltimore was besisged by the British feet
the sight of the natiOnOl banner proudly
boating amid ths carnage and drstruc
,iau of The attack inspiring the refrain, which
has given the title to the song
The words of Hail Columbia were writ.
ten in 1898, by Judge Joseph Hopklnson, Que
of the siguers Of the Declaration nf lndep"nd'
4ncp, To what WAS called the PRESIDENTS
March 40 air composed by a German rsned
Fnyles, on the occasion Of visit from the
President to one of the New Io!a theatres.
-New York MuSica' Rsriep
ORA SoHuYLKIlL CorsTY LIBEL CAFES
The prosecutions for libel, instituted in the
Conrt OF Schuylkll county, against the pub
fisher of the Reading Gazette and publisher
Of the Philadelphia Ersning Bulletin, growing
out of the publication IN the latter part oi
December last. OF report. alleged TO be
founded upon the death OF man 10 Schuyl.
KIN county, who was said to have male
confesslun duplicating samuel Heilner IN the
murder of Adaline Bsvor, were taken up Tor
trial on Thursday. At The suggestion OF
couns |, the defendants pu. in special plea
to the Indictment, admitting the publication
Of the matter charged Ms lIbellous, but dis
claiming any malicious motive. or intention
20 tefatne the character OF iieiner. and in
support Of such disclaimer, recltiug the
rstruction they voluntarily made as soon as
they ascertaiped that the report was un'ound'
ed ami furthermore and asking that the plea
he entered upon the records OF tbs Court
WhpreupoD. the counsel for the prosecution
entered a noile prOse9m iD both casee, on the
agreement OF the defendants to pay the
Coart costs. This disposed of the whole
matter, 10 the satisfaction Of ell the parties.
A eantlamsp from Mckinney, Texas. is
reported by :be ST. Louis Democrat as
saying that the recent crazy action OF ,hal
State has already created quite q panic 10
many portions ofths State. Thousands OF
fIniiies are anxious to sell LoG thsi, property
ond emigrate TO Californis. Many OF tho
most euter prisiug farmers, formerly from the
northern S.stes have dsIsTmioeo to So back