Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1889-07-19

"A HatIOnal hymn or song mas MS
tory as we'll as an individual. Some
times its story is an eventful and STIR
ring one, invested with romance
and renown. Everybody knows the
origin of Home Sweet Home" and
its story has become interviewer in
the political history of our country.
=" Yankee Doodle" "Hail Columbia"
and the Star Spangled Banner" have
been repeatedly written upon, and all
occupy prominent places in our ma
tional literature.
The music variously known as God
save the King" God save the Queen"
and America" dates back three CEN
uries or more, and, as is well-known is
claimed as national air by both Eng
land and America. There is no ques-
ton but that the English people have
a strong claim, both in priority and
business to this grand old choral.
By some strange device it has taken
upon itself the name of America"
since it came into common use on this
side of the Atlantic. A careful exami-
nation, however, of musical authorities
on this subject, will convince the most
patriotic American that this name,
like many other things that Connecti-
cut Ysnkees have dealt with, has SIM
ply been annexed" The story is
norant Londoner, "What language
told OF representative American
who, having been was asked by an ig-
was spoken in his country" answered
in a breath, The American language,
sir" But did you not use to speak
the English language" asked the Bri-
ton. 40 yes" replied the American,
but we have annexed itw Now it is a
good deal the same way with the tune
we are discussing. We have annexed
it, and whether we whistle or hum it
about our daily toll or make it the
vehicle upon which we send up to the
stars our grandest Fourth of July an
thems, it is America" all the same.
In some of the psalmo1y in this coun-
try, this tune bears as its author the
name of H. Carey, but it is quite GER
tain that Mr.. Carey did little more than
to make transcription of it, the bet
ter to adopt it to the varied services to
which it isadapted in this country. The
hymn to which ii has become, by COM
mon consent, irrevocably welded,
my country, it's Of thee
Sweet land Of Liberty
Of thee sing.
was written by the well-known Rev. S.
F. Smith, reputed associate author,
likewise of
"God bless our native land,
Firm may she ever stand
the latter hymn appearing in the
church collections over the name of J..
$. Dwight and S. F. Smith. By con-
sulting old authorities we find that the
music We call America, was composed
in the reign of James ], of England, by
DR.. John Bull. 1t seems, however,
that the author did not intend it es-
pecially for national or patriotic pur-
poses. 1t further appears that a GER
tain Anthony Young, who piled his
vocation as organist of All Hallows,
Barking, taken with its and adaptable
ty, set it to the old hymn, =" God save
the King" for James Fl, when the
Prince of Orange was threatening his
kingdom. 1t did not come into gener-
al use, i'll this form. until about the
time of George ii. So early as 1745,
Garrick speaks of its being sung night
after night in the London theaters
amid great applause, and he makes it
the subject of commendatory mention
in one Of his letters to his friend Victor