Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-19
OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM.

An EngltShman now III Nhis NVu"''S
seeks TO learn from a northern paper
why II is that our national anthem Is so
seldom rendered at public entertain
ments. He says that in all the time he
has been in America he has not once
heard "Hail Columbia" although on
twenty-five separate occasions his ears
have oeen delighted by the familiar notes
~ God Save the Queen" And what IL
more he has frequently heard the French
national air and the German anthem. AT
ana entertainment, where twenty-five
patriotic" songs were sung, the audience
arose when God Save the Queen ana
"Rule Britannia were given, but strange
10 saw. the American anthem was omit
ted altogether from tho programme. the
Erglishman asked a young woman 10 eA-
plain this singular state OF affairs. bat
she did not even know what the nationh
anthem is.
The paper thus queried has not an
svered the questions propounded' pu'
several correspondents have undertaken
10 enlichten the Englishman through itS
columns. One writer suggests that Goa
Save the Queen" is popular hgihi
ture which the Sunday schools nave
foisted upon the land. giving 1t patrlotic
words" Another reminds tho searcher
after knowledge that our grand sohs'
America" has the same air as the MI
than which invokes divine blessings on
the respected Queen, and warns MIN tha'
ba must not take too much for grantee
u,ben he hears It in America. This writer
furthermore adds that the air was WITT
ten bv De I.isle TO fit a poem composed
bv Mime. de Maintenon, welcoming hlhs
Louis on his first visit to her little TOY
conyent This was subsequently trans
lated into English and sung in a coffee
house IN London in 17a9, and was soon
thereafter adopted as the English anthem
A third contributor, commenting on the
Briton's question. says that he ID no'
alone in his perplexity, and asks why the
1obnnv Rul,s are so fond Of MY Coun-
try, IT'S Of Thee"
So altogether we have good natured
little tempest in a teapot, to say nothihg
~ o,r doubts as to the main issue--"Hail
Columbia" This, the Englishman says
WAS adopted by a committee Of Congress
in 1898 for the second Inauguration oil
George washington. Another writer as
serts. however, that 1t was written IN
honor Of Washington in 1879, by the leader
az the orchestra of the only theatre then
in New York, Fyles. and that it was
first called 1.-THE Presidents March"
Hopkinscn afterwards wrote words TO
that tune, and the air and words were
first used as a national anthem on public
occasions by order of John Adams.
Whatever the origin of our national
anthem we confess that It is not alto
gether popular and that there are times
when il has been neglected for more
"catchy" airs, which. though having
some bearing upon our nation, are frlYo-
lous. If not altogether undignif1ed- But
Americans. it must be remembered, are
q neculiarly irreverent people They are
NOT inclined TO bother themselves with
outward manifestations of patriotism
The English. on the other hand, are most
punctilious about such matters and never
fail 10 show their national PRIDE on
all occasions. In their own domains they
invariably rise when God Save the
ouean" and "Rule Britannia are
rendered, and the stranger within their
gates who fails to fall into this habit is
looked at askanee.
our own people, when abroad are
much more demonstrative of their pa
triotism than when on their native heath,
and American tourists never fail TO 'et
their nationality be gnown. They are
rarely obstrusive in this respect, put at
heart they ever feel that America is
"good enough for them" We have all
heard of the rugged old westerner who
travelled the Continent but found no
thing which quite equalled the sights
of his own dear Nebraska His only
comment on the Alps was, that them
huff sartinly do need Gradin. ms
man may not have been graceful IN the
expression of patriotism, but anecuon
for his native land was deep within him.
There are many others like him-yea'
millions who need but the tap Of drum
n remind them that Columbia asks
homage and needs their moral support
And. Furthermore. we might say to our
English guest that were he to come south
and hear the band play Dixie
he could no longer doubt that part OF
our people, at least, are deeply imbued
with the love of country and are wildly
demonstrative. He might venture to
hundred entertainments and the prooa-
bilities are that at every one where he
heard this tune he would see the same
enthusiasm. Perhaps, too, he might be
SURPRISED to learn that for over three
decades young and old, big and little,
have given vent TO their Joy when this
merry air was rendered, and that they
have never lost their sense OF pleasure
at it's notes.
So. after all, there is no need to offer
explanations for our supposed lack OF
patriotism, though 1t may be well to eX-
plain to "enquiring friends that we do
not invariably wear our national hearts
on the lapels OF our coats.
~--------------
THE CARTOON.
In Davenports cartoon, which Is print