Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-06-04
FREEDOMS FOUR SONGS.
SOMETHING ABOUT AMERICAS
GREAT LYRICS.
A Brief story Of Their Authorship snd
the Circumstances Under Which
They Were Written-His.
tOry's Credit.


the Circumstances Under Which
They We're Written-His.
tory's Credit.
The four greatest lyrics of our coun-
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 q native
OF Massachusetts and graduate of
Yale. He studied law, intending to
adopt it as 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 a 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 way. Hopkinson
had an actor friend named Fox, who
was to have benefit at the theatre,
and it was for him that the song was
composed. The music which accompa-
MED the song, and to which it 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 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 writers
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
ly RIGS. 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, the author, was {
prisoner in the hands of the British
when the song was composed. He hAe
gone down the bay at Baltimore, ther
being attacked by the British fleet, fo1
the purpose of securing the release o
a friend who was being held by tn
enemy. He carried a, message from
President Madison asking for the pris
oner's release. The British commando
agreed to the request, but told Ke,
that he must be detained during tn
attack. Key and his friends wer
therefore held back, and it was Will
they watched the terrific bombardmen
of Fort McHenry, now and then losin,
sight OF the flag that waved over it
ramparts. that he wrote the "Sta
Spangled Banner" This took place i
1914. When he was released Key too
his poem back to the city, where it wa
speedily printed to the music of a
English song. "Anacreon in Heaven,
and in a short time was being sung q.
over the country.
, l have recorded the fact that tn
Star Spangled Banner" was adapte
to an English air. DIR. Smiths beau
tiful ode, America" has the same dis
, tinction, the air to which it is sun
being that Of God Save the Queen.
, Strange to relate this same melod
answers for the national song of th
, German Empire, Great Britain an
! Ireland, Bavaria, Switzerland, Brunl
, wick, Hanover, Denmark. SwedeAN No
a way. Prussia. Saxony. and does servit
a in the United States as my COuntr.
'Tis of Thee"