The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-07-14
THE KEY MONUMENT.
IN HONOR OF THE WRITER OF THIS
GREAT NATIONAL ANTHEM.


No Organization to Push 1t AIong-Its
Name and Music Wait, f.e Soul to the
Skies. ~
It was Fletcher Of Saltown who said:
Give me the making of nations
songs and I care not who makes its
laws" 1t is perhaps the irony of
fate that this saying was destined to be
contradicted in the circumstances of
Keys case. Sympathy remained
barren abstraction untranslated into
action. For eighty-four years while
distant California raised a monument
10 Francis Scott Key his own Mary
land was silent and unready or failed to
see the merits and genius of her indus
trious son. At the entrance of the
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, there
has been these many years a splendid
monument rising to height Of fifty
one feet to commemorate the services
of the author of Americas great ma
4ional lyric. 1t cost 100000 and con-
sists of double arch, under one Of
which is seated bronze figure of Key
with the manuscript Of the "Star
Spangled Banner" folded in the hand.
However late in the day, therefore,
Maryland honors herself and contrib
utes to the qualification of the national
feeling, by observing the obvious pro-
prieties in respect of her national
songster. Five thousand dollars was
recently appropriated by the Maryland
legislature. and the balance of the pres
ent monument was subscribed by the
generous and patriotic hearts that were
quickened by the famous song which
has now become the national anthem
Of America. 1t is usually sung at the
close of public meetings and never
fails to awaken in audiences that in
tense thirst for the spirit of freedom
which is the country's chief safeguard.
The present monument is to be erect
ed in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Balti-
more. 1t Is the design of the famous
New York sculptor Alexander Doyle,
and 1t is design BETTING the subject
and the solemn environments. It con-
sists OF circular pedestal of granite
bases. Its height will be thirteen feet,
and at the base fifteen feet. 1t will be
devoid of floral Celebrations but will
throw into strong relief the figure of
Key who is represented on shipboard
with that anxious look upon his
gathering brow indicated by the first
line of his immortal poem-"Oh, say
can you see by the dawn's early light"
His attitude is one of exultation and
of Joy, as with his right arm he proud
Iy points to the flag, manifestly re-
ioiced to find that it is still there"
and with the other waves aloft the pa
uer on which he Is writing the poem
that thus records the inspiration Of his
enraptured discovery.
The chisel of our American Praxiteles
has eloquently perpetuated the beauti-
full and patriotic inspiration which
Keys lyric awakens in every Ameri-
can breast. At the base of the pedestal
ia a bronze group enplamaticnl OF pa
triotism. The figure CT Liberty is seat
ed and Is in the act OF teaching the les
son of patriotism to a youth standing
on her left, with the American flag
resting on her shoulder. and upon
which the youth reverently lays his
hand. Liberty's left hand extended,
grasps the sword of defence, while her
arm embraces the figure Of little
child, indicating at once disposition
10 protect the weak against the strong
and that martial readiness to defend the
flag which Is ever the duty OF free
people. Beneath the group on the face
OF its base Is carried the seal OF the
State of Maryland, while under the cor
nice is cluster Of stars. In the rear
OF the monument and resting on Its
base, is tablet bearing the text OF
Keys poem. Upon the whole there
fore the Baltimore memorial Is more
realistic work and more symbolic of
the circumstances and better calcu-
lated to inspire the observer, than the
earlier and more expensive monument
In the far western city, and which owes
its existence to the philanthropist
James Lick. Maryland has redeemed
herself by this timely and beautiful
work and thus does much to crystalize
the principle for which the song stands
in the living memorials of to-day.
Francis Scott Key was the son or a
Revolutionary officer whose father
came to this country with the poet
Dryden's brother. When the British
forces jnva1ed Washington in 1914,
Key was taken prisoner on board the
frigate Surprise" from which he wit
messed an attack upon Fort McHenry.
Owing to the rrsition the flag of
Fort McHenry vas distinctly seen
Through the night by the glare of the
hattie, but before dawn ihe firing
ceased and Keys feelings when he
found that the British had not
triumphed, and that the Stars and
Stripes had not been hauled down,
found expression in the Star Spangled
Banner."
There are other great national songs.
but the one which seems intended to
xupercede the Star Spangled Banner is
America" and which being the work