Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1881-08-10
THE STAR SPANGLED BAN.
NER

What is our national song? The
British have their Rule Britannia, the
French their Marseillaise, the Swiss
their Rahz des Vaches, and so Oh
through the family of nations nearly
every one has its own song which
stirs the pulses and fires the blood as
no other human words can. But when
the question is put to the average
American the chances are that he will
answer indifferently, Yankee Doodle
Hail Columbia, America, or the Star
Spangled Banner Each of these has
its own right to the honor. The first
two, while possessing merits of their
own, belong in spirit rather to the
Revolutionary period than to that Of
| to-day. The first is tune rather than
song, for the words are frivolous,
while the second, with its
Sound, sound, the trump of fame
Let Washngton's great name,
Ring through the world with loud applause
is rather an invocation of the Father
of his Country than of the patriotic or
national spirit The Rev DR.. Smiths
America, laboring under the disadvan-
tage of being sung to the tune Of God
save the King. the music of the English
anthem of to-day, is also destitute of
the qualities which appeA to the
heart. The Star Spangled Banner,
with its impassioned appeal to the
emblem of patriotism, must then be
considered our national song, represent
ing, as it does, the spirit to which
Maryland, my Maryland, written by a
citizen of the same State as Francis
Scott Key, appealed in another way.
The Star Spangled Banner was
written by Mr.. Key, who was native
of Frederick county, Maryland, and
like all his verses was written on the
moment, to serve the fancy of passing
occasion, and the circumstances of its
composition are not only interesting in
themselves, but are almost necessary
to be known to appreciate the reception
which it had upon its first appearance,
and which gave it permanent lodgment
in our national literature. Like Roguet
de I'Isle's Marseillaise Hymn, war
song for all nations, which it must be
admitted far excels it in vigor and vi
vacity, our national hymn was written
in single night, and the morning
gales" swept it through the land.
In 1914 Mr.. Key and family were
residing in Georgetown. The British
squadron had moved up the Potomac
River as far as Alexandria, and the at
tack of foreign marauders was expect
ed at Washington A member of Ma
jor Peters volunteer company of light
artillery, Mr.. Key was forced, by his
honor no less than his inclination, to
remain in the city and aid in protecting
its peoples homes without him Mrs.
Key would not quit the place. His
relatives in Frederick, appreciating the
defenseless position of his family at
Georgetown, with their natural pro-
tector likely to be engaged in the ac-
tive defense of the Federal Capital, sent
bis brother-in-law, Taney, afterward
the Chief Justice, to 60 and bring his
wife and family to their friends in
Frederick. The preparations for the
defense of Washington induced the
early departure of the enemy but
while Mr.. Taney remained at the Key
mansion messenger came there with
an urgent summons for Mr.. Key to OBJ
tain Governmental permission to go
aboard the British Admiral's ship and
secure the release of one DIR. Beanes,
whom troop of struggling English
soldiers had seized in Upper Marlboro
and carried prisoner with them to the
feet upon embarkmert for their depart
ure, and the efforts of whose friends
for bis release had thus far been una
vailing. Friendship for DR.. Beanes
and consideration for the community
of which he was most highly esteem
ed member and leading physician,
pressed Mr. Key to promptly under
take the mission, and with due authori-
/ ty he fastened to Baltimore to take q
vessel to communicate with the Brit
ish feet in the matter, his family,
meanwhile, under escort Of MIR. Taney,
journeying to Maryland. He did not
secure even the promise of his friends
release without delay and difficulty.
Although Dr. Beanes had treated the
officers OF the. invading British army
with courtesy and hospitality at his
elegant mansion, and had tended their
wounded at Bladensburg with pro-
fessional skill and humane tenderness,
they maintained that he had violated
some sort of parole in putting HIM
self at the head cf detachment of citi-
zens to pursue and punish the plunder-
ing troops who were depredating on
him and his neighbors. For this he
was detained and treated with more or
less indignity, and only after consider
able effort on the part of Mr.. Key and
the Government Agent for exchange Of
prisoners, Mr.. John S. Skinner, was
his release reluctantly consented to.
But neither he nor those who had come
leave the feet until after the impending
attack upon Baltimore had been made.
Thus was an occasion made which fur
nished the inspiration for the Star
Spangled Banner. When the feet
reached PatapscO and the troops were
diser,horked and Admiral Cochrane
moved up the river to superintend the
attack on Fort McHenry by water, the
American agents and prisoner were
placed-under guard of marines to
prevent themI from landing-upon their
own ship, which was anchored where
they could plainly see the flag flying
on the Fort from their deck. With
what patriotic anxiety they watched
all night "the rockets red glare" and
the "bombs bursting in the air" may
easily be imagined, For hours the
bombardment continued increasingly,
indicating the stubborn and successful
resistance of the attacked party. In
the early morning, and some time be-
fore the gray dawn, the cessation OF