The Irish standard., 1898-08-27
THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER
A Monument Recently Erected to
Its Immortal Author.
THE BAPTIST MINISTER'S HYMN
my Country, IT'S of Thee" Tuned
to God Save the King"

Hail Columbia was written Just 100
years ago this very summer. Then. as
now, the talk of war filled the air. In
July, II98, a war with France was
thought to be inevitable. Congress was
IN session in Philadelphia, celebrating
upon its action; hostilities had already
begun. England and France were at
war, and the people of the United
States were divided as to which conn
try should receive our support. Then
as now, there was talk of an alliance of
America and Great Britain.
One day young actor and singer
who was about to have a benefit at a.
Philadelphia theater went to joseph
Hopkinson, a popular lawyer of the
city. He told Hopkinson that 20 boxes
for the benefit remained unsold, and he
feared the performance would be a.
failure; but the day might be saved if he
could get good, patriotic song, adapt
ed to the Presidents March, then pop
ular air. This, he felt, would pack the
house. Would Hopkinson help him?
The kindly lawyer said he would try.
and on the day following delivered the
manuscript to the actor.
1t was announced one morning, and
on that night the theater was crowded
to the doors. 1t was continued night
after night for the whole season, and
was encored and re-encored, the audi
ence always Joining in the chorus. The
enthusiasm spread, and crowds sang it
at nights in the streets of the capital,
just 100 years ago. Hopkinson's one
idea in writing the song was "to get up
American spirit which should be indie
pendent of and above party interests,
passions and policy"
My Country, 'Tis of Thee was one of
the earliest productions of Rev. Sam
uel Francis Smith, for many years pas
tor Of the First Baptist church, of New
ton, Mass. He was born in 1908, and
died in 1895. 1t was of him that Oliver
Wendell Holmes wrote the much.quoted
lines in his The Boys:
And there's nice fellow of excellent
pith-
Faith tried to conceal him by naming
him Smith,
But he shouted song for the brave and
Just read on his medal, MY Country, of
Thee"
or his poem, DR.. Smith says, in
letter dated Newton, June II, 1861:
THE song was written at Andover dur
ing my student life there-I think in
the winter Of 1872. 1t was first used
publicly at Sunday school entertain
ment, July 4, at Park Street church,
Boston. had in my possession a
number of song books from which I
was selecting such music as pleased me,
and finding the hymn, God Save the
King, I proceeded to give it the ring of
American patriotism"
Columbia the Gem of the Ocean was
written by Thomas Beckett, Sr., and
the story is given thus in his own
words:
I'm the fall Of the year 1S43, being
then engaged as an actor at the Chest
nut Street theater, in this city, was
waited upon by D. T. Shaw (then sing
ing at the Chinese museum), with the
request that I would write him song
for his benefit night. He produced
some patriotic lines, and asked my
opinion of them. 1 found them un-
grammatical, and so deficient in meas
ure as to be totally unfit to be adapted
to music. We adjourned to the house
;. of a friend (R. Hartford, Decatur street,
and there wrote the first two verses in
pencil, and at Miss Harfords piano I
composed the melody. On reaching my
home I added the third verse, wrote the
symphonies and arrangements, made a
fair copy in ink, and gave it to Mr.
Shaw, requesting him not to give or sell
a copy. few weeks afterward I left
for New Orleans, and was much sur
prised to see published copy, entitled
Columbia the Gem of the Ocean, writ
ten, composed and sung by D. T. Shaw,
and arranged by T. a Beckett.
"On my return to Philadelphia I
waited upon Mr.. Willig, the publisher,
who told me he had purchased the song
from Mr.. Shaw. I produced the original
copy in pencil and claimed the copy
right, which Mr.. Willig admitted, max
ing some severe remarks upon Shaw's
conduct in the affair. 1 then made an
arrangement with T. Osborn, of Third
street, above Walnut, to publish the
song in partnership; and within a week
1t appeared under its proper title, viz:
Columbia the Gem of the Ocean, writ
ten and composed by T. Beckett, and
sung by D. T. Shaw. e. L. Davenport,