Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1891-05-14
FREEDOMS -FOUR SONGS.
SOMETHING ABOUT AMERICAS
GREAT LYRICS.
A Rr;cf story Of Their Authorship and
the Circumstance, Under Whlca
They Were written
tory's Cred /.

The four creates, lyrics OF our coun-
try ares Columbia, tho Gem of the
Ocean" Hail Columbia, The Star
Spnnglod 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 n native
of Massachusetts and graduate of
Yale. lie studied law, intending To
adopt 1t us n profession but there
being dcarth of chaplGins in the
Revolutionary army, he became one In
Parsons Brigade, of the Connecticut
Line, and served some time there. Ii
was during this service that he com
posed the immortal song, "ColumbiL "
which Mt once attracted general at
tontion, aud from the first became
famous, II was composed without
much thought, the times being full of
patriotic feelings which inspired the
poet, and he Is said to have expected
no moro than passing fame for his
production, II 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 II position
which he held until his death IN 1917.
fIhA nt,thAp AT "A 'Atn,,l,t.N 81
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. II
will over remain his monument
Hail Columbia" bears the distinc-
ton of being written entire in this
country, It's author. Joseph llopkin-
son, was II native OF Philadelphia, and
the son of u signer Of the Declaration
OF Independence. Like the composer
Of Columbia, he was the author OF
many other things in prose and verse,
hut nothing has como down 10 our day
with any famo but his national song.
"llail Columbia" was written in the
sumner of 1903, when we were having
complications with France, which
threatened TO end In war. IIopkinson
had I'M actor friend named Fox, who
was to have u benefit at the theatre,
and IL was for him that the song was
composed The music which accompa-
MED the song, and 10 which il Is sung
to-day, was originally tho Presidents
March, which was written ten years
before, on the occasion OF Washing
toms visit TO New York, by u German
orchestra leader named Fyles. 'IInil
Columbia spraug into sudden popu-
larity, and II ~ said TO have avcrtod
the threatened war. MS IL melted
national pride and reused the whole
cSuntry.
or the many national song writer's
none have enjoyed more enduring fame
than the author of the Star Spanglod
Banner II Is, perhaps, the greatest
and most popular of all our songs and
lyrics. IL was composed amid the roar
OF cannon and the bursting OF bombs
ana seems 10 have sprung without
effort from the mind Of It's author.
Francis Scott Key, the author, was Il
prisoner in the hands Of the British
when the song was composed He had
gone down the bay nj Baltimore, then
being attacked by the British fleet, for
the purpose Of securing the release OF
II friend who was being held by the
enemy. He carried message from
President Madison asking for the pris-
oncr's release. The British commander
agreed to the request but told Key
that he must be detained during the
attack. Key and his friends were
therefore held aok, and IL was while
they watched the terrific bombardment
of Fort Mclienry now and then losing
sight OF the flag that waved over It's
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 1t was
speedily printed TO the music of an
English song, "Anacroon in Heaven
and in Il short time was being sung all
over the country.
| have recorded the fact that the
"Star Spangled Banner" was adapted
TO an English air. DR.. Smiths beau
tiful ode, America" has tho same dis
tinction, the mir TO which IL is sung
being that Of God Save the Queen"
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 docs service
in the United States ms My Country,
lis OF Thee