The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-04

our patriotic songs is "Ye Sons of CO.
lumbia," written about "A century ago
by Robert Treat Pains. one writer said
of this poem that he would rather have
his name linked with IL than with 'any
pther American paper, save and except
the Declaration OF independence" 1t
was written for a festival in honor of
the national anniversary, and was orig
inally called Adams and Liberty"
Paine received $3.50 for the song. IL is
said that after he finished il he showed
the poem to some gentlemen at the
house OF a friend. The host said IL was
imperfect because it did not contain the
name of Washington. and declared hat
the author should not approach the side
board Cwhere wine was being placed in
order hat the success Of the song
might be pledged) until he had written
an additional stanZa. Paine unused for
a few moments, then called for a pen
and wrote:
should the tempest of war overshadow
our land.
Its bolts could ne'er rend Freedoms
Temple asunder;
For unmoved at its portal would WASH
ington stand.
And repulse, with his breast, the assault
of its thunder:
His sword from the sleep
OF its scabbard would leap
And conduct, with it's point, every fash
to the deep!
For ne'er shall the sons of Columbia be
slaves
While the earth bears a plant or the sea
rolls its waves!"
The poem which, perhaps, as much as
any other single patriotic expression has
been detained by generations OF
young Americans, and has never failed
to stir and thrill the hearts Of Ameri-
ans Of any age, is The American
Flag" by Joseph Rodman Drake. Prob
ably nine out Of ten native born male
inhabitants Of these United States have
either recited or pinned 10 recite in
clarion tones these lines, beginning:
When freedom from her mountain
height
Unfurled her standard to the air,
She bore the azure robe Of night
And set he stars Of glory there"
Poor young Drake! who died when ne
was only 20 and did not know that he
had already gained fame and lasting
honor. When the young writer was on
his deathbed, a friend asked him what
he would Ike 10 have don with his
poems.
oh, burn them!" he said. they are
quite valualess.'
The poem was written between Ma
20 and May %, 1919. and was the last
Of the Croakcr Pieces written for a New
York paper, the Evening Post. Drake
wrote the first fOu alone, but after that
he C0llaborated with Fitz Greene Hal
leck and the pieces were signed "CrUak-
eT a. Co" The poem originally conClud-
ed with the following lines.
"As fixed as yOnder orb divine,
That saw the hammered blaze unfurlcd.
Shall thy proud stars Respondent shine
The guard m glory OF the world"
The author was not satisfied and
said 20 HalleCk.
"Fitz, ant you suggest a better
stanza?
W~hereupon Halleck sat down and
wrote the four lines which Drake adopt
ed and which appear in the poem now.
The story Of the writing OF The star
SpaEgled Banner is too well known To
be given here II is said that the SONG
was first sung. when fresh from the
press, in a small one-stoTy frame house
occupied as a tavern next 10 the Holt
day street heater in Baltimore. The
tavern had been kept by the Widow
Berling and later by a Captain Mac
Cauley. IL was "a house where play
ars most did C~ongregate" 10 prepare for
the daily military drill in Jay street.
every able man being at that time a
soldier. Captain Edes, the printer who
struck Of the copies n the song for
Key. dropped In at the tavern one day
in the latter pars Of September, not long