The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-07-28
How "Hail Columbia" Came To Be
Written by Joseph Hopkin-
son in 1898.
First Sung In the City Of Brotherly
Love, Where 1t Became
Popular.
NJ Elements Of Popularity With the
Peopls-Comparsd With Some Other
Famous National Songs.

Peopls-Compsrsd With Some Other
Famous National songs.
Many Americans do not know the history
OF Hail Columbia" There IL . story or
two connected with its birth and reception
by the public that make IL interesting and
surrounds 1t with more sentiment than ia
usual with things Of an artistic nature in
American life.
II has been said that. although there is
here a love and taste for music and : liberal
way Of oompsnsating artists, America 10 not
a thoroughly musical nation. Be this % it
may, no city in the world to-day can COM
mand 10 many excellent orchestras. and in
no other city during the musical season are
the various departments of musical litera-
tnre 80 we'll covered and presented rs to
tho musical public Of New York
city. OF course We can not boast
Of any renowned composers. or even
national songs such AZ Ia Marsellaise,"
"Wacht am khein." ETC.. and thouRh moi
ther the words nor the music of "Hail Co.
lumbia" can be highly praised. every one
knows that when the patriotic feeling of an
assembly is reused, If u person will only
step forward and say, "Behold the flag of
our %union!'' the audience will burst into
cheers.
How many orators have caught an audi
ence by a happy allusion to seeing the flag
of the United States in = foreign land, n
in some cases wrought large assemblaRes up
TO the highest pitch of excitement. Tears
have glistensd in many eyes during such
scenes.
Hail Columbia was written in the sum-
mer of 1888, at a moment whom the United
States seemed about to be drawn into a war
with France, their old ally and friend.
The American envoys sent out by Presi-
dent Adams, with no other object than to
restore . good understanding, were thought
TO have been grossly insulted by Franco.
Army and navy were in preparation. Gen.
Washington had accepted the chief COM
mand, with Alexander Hamilton a. his Sec
ond. and nothing was thought Of but i'm
pending war. -. "
A vocalist by the name of Fox was about
to have a benefit in Philadelphia. and,
owing to the excitement that prevailed, the
couraginR. His benefit was announced for
q Monday evening. and it was only on the
Saturday previous that he had an idea for
drawing a house."
1t appears that ono of his sohoolfellows.
Joseph Hopkinson, son of a distinguished
father. had become q man of note in the
intellectual circles of Philadelphia. Mr..
Hopkinson was at tho time vice president
of the American Philosophical society.
founded by DR.. franklin, and presided over
by Thomas Jefferson. He was also presi-
dent Of the Academy of Fine Arts, and was
somewhat noted for his ~poetical illusions.
The vocalist in this extremity went to
his old school friend and told him that he
had little chance Of a paying audience IN
less he could announce something new and
piece that could be sung by the whole COM
pany to an easy or familiar tune. like the
"President's March,"
He added that the poets of tho company
had been trying to produce the required
song, but had beon unable to accomplish it.
II will see what l can do for you." said
Hopkinson.
So the vocalist called the next afternoon,
when the words were ready for him, and he
took them at once to . musician of the
theater, who selected and adapted to them
an old and easy air. On Monday morning
the song WAS announced in the newspapers
aud diligently rehearsed upon the stage.
A crowded house rewarded the efforts OF
the Singer and poet, and the long was re-
oeived with the greatest enthusiasm. The
words and music were at once published,
and the piece was sung at every patriotic
gathering during that period of excitement.
A particular circumstance added to its
popularity. and was. perhaps, the true
cause of its remaining for forty years not
merely the favorite national song, but the
only composition that could be fairly called
by that name. During the 1irst year of the
revolutionary movement in Franoe-from
1889 to the execution OF Louis XVI, and
Marie Antoinette in 1793-its progress wae
watched in America with an enthusiastic
approval OF which we can now scarcely
form an idea. But tho cruel and needless
execution of the king and queen checked
the enthusiasm, and soon divided the coun.
try into two pa, ties on the subject, one de-.
tending, the other execrating, the conduol
of the revolutionary leaders.
At the height Of the first excitement
sympathy. with the people of France.
manager in Philadelphia revived Addison'l
famous old tragedy of Cato. Before tn.
play began the curtain rose and the full
company of actors. ranged in a semicirclt
upon the stage. sang the national hymn O
France, l. Msrseiilaise." q new compo-
sition then.
The audience spranQ up M joined in tn,
chorus. The house presented a scene O.
exoltsment without previous parallel in til,
staid city of Quakers. At the emf
of the hrst act of the tragedy the an
ASAS SsssSN ~ IA IL
ing song. 1t was given as before. the PEG.
pie joining wildly in the chorus. AT thu
end of every act the "MarsellRise'' was de-.
manded and repeated. 1t seemed as ii tn,
people could not get enough of it.
Even upon us, who have been familiar
with it, this wonderful song has an effec
unlike that Of any other. The next even
ing. and every evening, as soon AZ the mu
sicians came into the orchestra, the or,
arose all over the house for LA Narseii
laise!"
1t was Of no use to resist, for the peopl,
would listen to no ether music. General,
the audience, or some part of it. woult
catch the spirit Of the piece. and thunder
out the chorus. 1t grew into a custom anc
for three or four yenrs tho piecs was suns
every night. But rs the euillotine in Parii
quickened its activity the enthusiasm
Rbated. One night during the patriot,
fefvor of 1893, soon after the arrival Of il
news from France, one man, upon hearing
the usual faint demand for tho "Msrseil
l~aise," ventu!ed to dissent by kissing. A
once the whole audience joined in one de
oisivs and overwhelming hiss.
The "Marseillaise' WAS not played ant