The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-06-27
FREEDOMS FOUR SONGS.
SOMETHING ABOUT AMERICAS
GREAT LYRICS.
A Brief story OF Their Authorship and
the circumstances Under Which
They Were written-His-
tory's Credit

tory's Credit
The four greatest lyrics OF our coar-
try are: columbia, the Gem of the
Ocean," Hail Columbia" ''The Star
Spangled Banner" and America
The first named OF the four was
written by Timothy Dwight who wrote
other patriotic anthems, but "Colum-
bia" is the only one by which he be-
came famous. Dwight was a native
of Massachusetts and graduate OF
Yale. He studied law, intending to
adopt it as a profession, but there
being dearth of chaplains in the
Revolutionary army, he became one in
Parsons Brigade, of the Connecticut
Line, and served some time there. 1t
was during this service that he COM
posed the immortal song. columbia,
which at once attracted general at
tention, and from the first became
famous. 1t was composed without
much thought, the times being full OF
patriotic feelings, which inspired the
poet, and he is said to have expected
no more than passing fame for his
production. 1t was caught up, how
ever, by the patriots and soon became
known throughout the struggling col
onies.
After the war Dwight went back to
the pursuits interrupted by his enter
ing the army, and eventually became
president of Yale College, a position
which he held until his death in 1917.
The author of Columbia" was vol
luminous writer, turning out many ex-
tended poems and books; but all seem
to have been forgotten except the great
lyric which he gave to his country
during the struggle for freedom. 1t
will ever remain his monument.
Hail Columbia" bears the distinc-
ton of being written entire in this
country. Its author, Joseph Hopkin-
son, was native of Philadelphia, and
the son of signer of the Declaration
of Independence. Like the composer
of Columbia" he was the author OF
many other things in prose and verse;
but nothing has come down to our day
with any fame but his national song.
Hail Columbia" was written in the
summer of 1898, when we were having
complications with France, which
threatened to end in war. Hopkinson
had an actor friend named Fox, who
was to have benefit ut the theatre,
and 1t was for him that the song was
composed. The music which accompa-
MED the song, md to which 1t is sung
to-day, was originally the presidents
March, which was written ten years
before, on the. occasion of Washing
toms visit to New York, by a German
orchestra leader named Fyles. Hail
Columbia" sprang into sudden popu-
larity, and it is said to have averted
the threatened war, as it melted
national pride and reused the whole
country.
Of the many national song writer's
none have enjoyed more enduring fame
than the author of the Star Spangled
Banner" 1t is, perhaps, the greatest
and most popular of all our songs and
lyrics. 1t was composed amid the roar
of cannon and the bursting of bombs
and seems to have sprung without
effort from the mind of its author.
Francis Scott Key, tho author, was q
prisoner in the hands of the British
when the song was composed. He had
gone down the bay at Baltimore thon
being attacked by tho British fleet, for
the purpose of securing the release of
friend who was being held by the
enemy. He carried message from
President Madison asking for the pris-
oner's release. The British commander
agreed to the request. but told Key
thai he must be detained during the
attack. Key and his friends were
therefore held back, and it was while
they watched the terrific bombardment
of Fort McHenry, now and then losing
sight of the flag that waved over its
ramparts, that he wrote the Star
Spangled Banner" This took place in
1914. When he was released Key took
his poem back to the city. where it was
speedily printed to the music of an
English song, ''Anacreon in Heaven, :"
and in short time was being sung all
over the country.
/ have recorded tho fact that the
Star Spangled Banner" was adapted
to an English air. DR.. Smiths beau
tiful ode, America" has the same dis
tinction, the air to which it is sung
being that of God Save the Queen. y
Strange to relate this same melody
answers for the national song of the
German Empire, Great Britain and
Ireland, Bavaria, Switzerland, Bruins
wick, Hanover. Denmark, Sweden, Nor
way, Prussia, Saxony, and does service
in the United States as my Country,
IT'S of Thee"