La Junta tribune. (La Junta, Bent County, Colo.) 1881-1939, 1898-07-06
OLD clom.
Edward ?. Day. Author Of the Famous
Poem, Tells How Il Wss Written.

A special correspondent to the
St. Louis Globe Democrat gives
the following regarding the origin
of "Old Glory" which IS interest
ing as we'll as timely:
"Freeport, H., June 24--The
poem OF odd Glory which ap-
pears frequently in the press, was
written in IS45 by Edward P. Day,
a noted literary man, who now re-
sides at Brooklyn. Mrs. w. II.
Diffenbaugh, of this city, a niece
OF the gentleman, responded to
the toast 'Old Glory at the re
cent banquet of the Shakespeare
Club, and in doing SO read letter
she received from Mr.. Day, which
detailed the facts in connection
with the origin of the poe m. The
letter the gentleman wrote is as
follows:
Brooklyn, n. Y, June S.-My
Dear Niece: Replying to your
inquiry as to the origin of this
song | will state the circumstances
under which old Glory was writ
ten. In the year Is45 was resi-
dent OF Ithaca. Tompkins county,
N. Y, and occupied room IN the
boarding house OF the Ithaca Acad-
emy, which was kept by my par
ents, two of my sisters being teach
in that institution. Opposite this
building was the village park, in
which public meetings were held,
such as Fourth OF July celebra-
tions, general trainings and other
gatherings.
"From time immemorial the
trustees OF our village had voted
an appropriation for celebrating
our national hilidays, erecting a
stage, securing an orator, reader
OF the Declaration OF independence,
a band OF music, a company OF
singers and quantity OF fireworks,
not forgetting the time honored
custam OF raising the American
| flag, but on this occasion no such
action was taken. Why2 Well,
on the preceding year, through
the carelessness of some person in
charge of the fireworks, prema-
ture explosion took place and sew
eral buildings had been injured.
But young Ithaca did not consider
an accident Of the preceding year
to be geod reason for passing the
time-honored celebration. Ac-
cordingly meeting was held in
Academy hall, consisting princi-
pally OF the juvenile portion OF the
community, al which resolutions
were passed, committee appoint
ed and funds raised to celebrate
the coming anniversary in the us
ual manner. AT this meeting your
uncle, the writer of this letter, was
present and was solicited to com
pose a song for the occasion.
knew of no reason for this request,
excepting that during the political
campaign Of the previous fall |
had written some half score or
more of songs, which had been
sung by the democratic glee club,
been well received and had an eff
feet in the election Of 1874. But
it should have been considered that
there is wide difference between
composing patriotic song. fit to
be sung on our national holiday,
and scribbling off political effusions
to the tune OF the popular old
Dan Tucker like the verses here
with quoted:
oh! James X. Polk. he Is the man
To take the course instead of Van;
The way he II run twill be surprising
To Harry Clay and Frelnghuyscu.
Get out OF the way, old kentuckyi
Get out OF the way. old kantuckyi
Get out OF the way. old kentuckyi
You've run twice and you're unlucky!
at was in vain to give an excuse
or decline the proffered honor, for
the committee assured me was
just the one to compose song for
the occasion, and why should I dis