The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-10-03
ITEMS OF INTEREST.


in Germany in the manufacture of lead
pencils. 1t is stepped in an adhesive
liquid, and rolled round the core of
lead to the requisite thickness. After
drying it is colored, and resembles an
ordinary cedar pencil.
The first French ballet in New York
was given at the Bowery about 1927.
Nine. Hutton, the principal dancer, on
appearing in her brief and gauzy
costume, was greeted with a storm of
Kisses, which ended in an uproar and
the departure of many from the theater.
The curtain was rung down, and no
further performance was given that
night. There was general attack
upon the troupe in the papers of the
next day, and the exhibition was char
acterized as the most shameful and in
decent ever presented in the city. The
consequence was that standing room
could not be found the following night
on the rising of the curtain. The house
was black with men only. Within
week, however, few ladies appeared,
and before the end of the month fash
ionable New York had focked in large
numbers to the theater.
FRANCIS SCoTT KEY, lawyer of
Frederick, Nd, was the author of the
"Star Spangled Banner" which he
composed while prisoner in the Brit
ish fleet during the bombardment of
Fort ucHenry. The facts in relation
to the composition of this song are
worth reproducing: "The British, hav-
ing captured Washington, returned to
to their vessels, carrying with them DR..
Beanes a prominent citizen and physi
clan of Upper Marchase. Mr.. Key, with
the permission of the President, pro-
coeded to board the English fleet and
solicit his release, the British Admi-
raj, Cochrane, upon whose flagship the
! Doctor was imprisoned, being about to
make an attack upon Baltimore, detained
them both until the attack should have
taken place. On the evening of the
bombardment they were sent, together
with Gen. j. s. Skinner, on board the
American cartel. The Minden, which
was anchored in sight of Fort McHenry
with guard Of marines, to prevent their
landing and carrying information to
their unsuspecting countrymen. From
the deck the three friends saw the bonn
bardment of Fort McHenry, which
soon ended. While the bombardment
lasted, the "bombs bursting in the air"
was evidence that the fort had not sur
rendered. The firing ceased soon after
midnight. All was once more still. Hav-
| ing no communication with the shore,
the Americans were in grave doubt as
to the result of the fight and the fate of
their many friends in the city. They
awaited the dawn with the greatest So
licitude. Then on that shore, dimly
seen through the mist of the Deep"
they discerned the flag they had watched
at the twihght's last cleaning still wav-
ing above the fort, and the broad stripes
and bright stars, defiantly unfurled to
the breeze, shone brightly as beacon
of hope to the beating hearts in the
bright rays of the rising sun. 1t was
upon the deck of the Minden, between
midnight and dawn, that the song was
written whose stanzas expressed the
feelings of thousands of eye-witnesses
on shore. To their great JOY they soon
learned that the attack upon Baltimore
had failed, that Ross was killed, and that
the British were re-embarking the for
ces which had fought North point.
When the feet was ready to sail, Mr..
Key and his friends were released, and
proceeded to Baltimore, where, from the
rude substratum jotted down on the
back Of a letter, the song was reduced
to its present form, and read 20 Judge
Nicholson, one of the gallant defenders
of the fort. So pleased was he with it
that he had it printed by Samuel Sands,
the apprentice of Capt. Berry Edes, who
was then off on defense duty, and cop
les of it were distributed among the
citizens.