The record-union., 1894-09-15
OF Fort McHenry.

hrst appeared in type:
Defense
OF Fort McHenry.
The annexed song was composed under the
following circumstances: a gentleman had
LETT Baltimore IN flag OF truce Tor the pur-
pose OF getting released from the British neet
"a friend OF MS, who had been captured at
Marlborough. lie went as tar as the mouth
OF the Patuxent. and was not permitted 10 re-
turn, lest the intended attack on Baltimore
should be disclosed. He was therefore brought
up the bay 10 the mouth OF the PaLapsco,
where the nag vessel was kept under the guns
OF a frIgate and he was compelled TO witness
the bombardment OF Fort Mclienry, which
the Adm1ral had DoaSted that he would carry
IN a few hours, and that the city must 1ail. lie
watched the nas at the fort through the whole
day, with an anxiety that can be better ielt
than described, until the night prevented him
from seeing IL. IN the night he watched the
DombShels, and at early dawn his eye was
again greeted by the proudly waving nag OF
has country.
Tune-"Anacreon in Heaven"
y! say can you see by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly We hailed at the twlllEhts
last cleaning,
Whose broad STR pes and bright stars through
the perIlouS light,
Ger the ramparJS watch'd, were SO gal
lanily streaming?
And the Eo kets' red glare, the Bombs burst
III the air
Gave proof through the night, that our fiag
was still there;
W say dOCS JIldL StdT-S -SpdnSIGQ DdIiASE ytI
Ger the land of the free, and the home of
the brave.
On the shore dimly seen through the mists of
the deep,
Where The loe's naughty host in dread silence
repoSes:
What is that which the breeze, DER the tower
ing steep,
AS it fitlully glows half conceals, half dis
closes?
Now 1t catches the gIeam of the mornings
In full taS elory Cy"ii rtaected now shines in the
stream,
'Tis the star-spangled banner, o long may
il wave,
Ger the land of the free, and the home of
the Orayei
And where is that band that so vauntingly
SWOre
That the havoc of war and the battles con-
fusion,
A home and country should leave US no
more?
Their blood has washed out their foul steps
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom OF the
grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph
doth wave
Ger the land of the free, and the home of
the brave.
o. thus be il ever when freemen shall stand
Between their lov'd homes and the wars
deSOlatiOn,
Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the Heav'n
rescued land,
Praise the Power that hath made and pre-
sery'd us d nation
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is
just,
And this is our motto: "In God we Trust"
And the star-spangled banner in triumph
Ger the land of the free, and the home of
the brave.
The Century recently published fac
simile of what is said to be the original
manuscript OF this song. comparison,
however, of it's lines with the verses as
they first appeared in type shows numer-
Gus differences. The punctuation is diff
terent. There are many commas which
do not appear in the manuscript. At least
a dozen capitals are in the printed copy
that are not in the CeHtury'S manuscript.
In the manuscript copy the fifth line is as
follows:
"And the rockets red glare, the bomb bursting
In the copy as first printed and as given
above the line is as follows:
"And the Rockets red glare, the Bombs burst
ing in air"
In the manuscript heaven is spelled
with a small ''h' and power with a small
''p." Mr.. Key uses double quotation
mark, and the printed copy has single
quotation. There are other minor differ
ences which need not be pointed out. Of
course. anything is to be expected of n
printers devil who has temporary charge
OF the entire office, but it scarcely seems
reasonable that be should make all these
changes OF his own accord. The copy the
Century publishes is undoubtedly gem
uine copy, but it may not be the original,
from which the song was put in type
Although the main facts of "The Star
Spangled Banner" are SO well known, it
is curious how many little romances have
been woven around 1t. For instance,
more than twenty years ago, in Ha,peg's
Monthly, was an article giving circum-
stantlal account Of the setting of the song
to music by two brothers named Durang
some time during the month of October.
The fact of the matter is, as shown by
the copy in this issue of the New York
Tunes. the tune "Anacreon in Heaven"
(Which, by the way, was a somewhat
questionable song, was given with the
first publication of Mr.. Keys verses, and
he probably had it in mind when the
words came to him. Another story was
that the first public recital of the song
was IN restaurant, with clog dancer
for Its interpreter. The truth is. as at
tested by the historical records of the day,
1t was first sung in the Baltimore Thea
ter in October, 1914. The theater hsd
been closed tor several weeks, and it was
reopened on October 18th with the drama
entitled THE Point of Honor; or, A
School for Soldiers" and the comic onera
''rhe Highland Reel" On the second
night the profits of the performance were
appropriated to the fund for the public
defense OF the city, under the direction of
the Committee OF Safety. On Wednesday
evening, OctoOer 18th, it was announced
that after the play MIR. Hardinge will
sing much-admired new song, written
by gentleman OF Maryland in commem-
oration of the gallant defense of Fort
McHenry, called The Star-Spangled
Banner"
1t was well received, but there is no
record OF IL again until the 18th of No
vember, when at a patriotic military and
naval entertainment the following was
mentioned as one of the attractions:
The new song written by gentleman of
Maryland, and second time sung here,
The Star-Spangled Banner" by Mr..
Hardlnge, an entire new scene represent
Ing the bonn bardment OF Fort McHenry.n
Inc statement IS often made that the song
was sung nightly, but there is nothing to
show that 1t was sung more than twice.
A curious result of its success was an
other song, written undoubtedly to su-
persede 1t IN popular favor. From the
local records it is found that on Novem-
Der 18th, After the play, a new song
written Dy gentleman of Baltimore,
and called Freedom, Home and Duty
by Mr.. Hardinge, was sung with great
applause" AS the unsuccessful rival to
what has since become Americas most
famous lyric. this song is worth quoting
for its historical interest. 1t is as follows:
High o'er Patapsco's tide
Swelled AIbions naval pride
Advancing on the gale:
AS fierce the embodied train
Form'd on the embattld plain
Yet not cheek was pale
Our yeomen marched their strong arrav
Saw the proud Lions streamers piay.
And thought of Home and Beauty,