The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-08-10
IN MEMORY OF
FRANCIS SCOT KEY
A Monument Reared to Him in His
Native City.
THE SONG WHICH GAVE HIM FAME
Henry WattersOn Tells i'm Eloquent
Language ofthe Inspiration Which
Produced the Song Which Fires
the American Heart.
THE SONG WHICH GAVE HIM FAME

handsome monument erected TO hts mem,
Dry.
The preliminary ceremonies included "A
parade in which military and civic or
carnations from all parts OF the state
took part and which was witnessed Dr.
thousands Of residents and visitors. The
buildings along the line OF march were
ghly decorated with The national cOiors
and festOoned with bunting
ORDER or THE EXERCISES.
When the procession reached the foot
Of the monument the order of exercises
was proceeded with. This included
prayer. vocal and Instrumental music
an Grafton by the Hon Henry Waiter
son. OF Kentucky. AN address by MIS-.
Donald Mclean. OF new York. ana am
ode hy Folger McIIinscy. OF Baltimore.
The cord which released the dranery
uncovcring the monument was then
drawn by Miss Julia McIfenry Howard
granddaughter Of Francis Scott Key.
THE MONUMENT
The monument consists OF circular
pedestal of gray granite ON n series ot
wide spreading bases The height OF TINS
pedestal is fourteen feet nine inches, ANA
its breadth at the base IS fifteen feet.
making the base fOriy-hve feet IN cir
cumference.
it is exceedingly simple iu design save
for band Of carving around the base
Of the die and band o. stars under the
c0rnice. the sculptor having devoted more
time and study 10 the simplicity and
harmony OF its outline than 20 horid ela-
borstion Nevertheless the whole effect
Of the design is one of elaboration owing
10 its sculptors. These consist Of
bronze statue. nine feet high. surmount-
ing the granite rcdcstal-a portrait or
Francis Scott Key.
At the base Of the pedestal. I'm "a mas
sive granite block Of five tons weight, IS
a bronze group cmblcmatic Of patriotism.
Beneath the group on the face Of its
base is carved the seal Of Maryland. SUR
rounded by laurel and resting on "a palm
branch that extends across the face OF
the stone.
I'm the rear OF tho monument. resting
on its base. is a tablet bearing the text
of THE Star Sp1ngled Banner
THE CORNER STONE
The cornerstone of the monument was
laid on Flag Day. June l4th last. with im-
posing ceremonies. by the Hon. Thomas
j. Shryock Grand Master of Masons Of
Maryland and the other State officials of
that body In honor of the occasion
grand street pageant was held. particle
pated in by civic and military organiza-
tions.
In crypt deeply sunk i'm tho eight
foot foundation Of the monument repose
tho remains of Francis Scott Key. and
his wife Mary Taylor Key. They were
removed from their former resting place
In an obscure section of the cemetery 10y
tho Association hy permission of his two
daughters Mrs. Howard and Mrs steele.
prior fe their death. which occurred only
recent.
In Mr Wdfors0n's Grafton. which was
n gem of oratorv hc gave The following
history of the song which made the name
of Francis Scott Key famous:
THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER.
"The Star-Spanglcd Banner owed very
little 20 chance. 10 was The emanation of
a patriotic fervor as sincere and natural
as il was simple and noble 10 sprang
from one of those glorious inspirations
which. coming 90 the author unbidden,
sezes at once upon the hearts and minds
OF men The occasion seemed TO have
been created for the very purpose. The
man and the hour were met ANA the
song came: and truly was SONG never yet
born amid such scenes. We explore the
pages OF FOLKLORE. We read the story OF
popular music I'm vain % find the Ike.
Even the authorship of the English na-
tonal anthem is i'm dispute. The Mar
seillaise" did. indeed. owe lis beginning
TO the passions of war ana burst forth
I'm profuse strains OF melody above the
clang of arms. but Ii was attended by
those theatrical accessories which pre-
side over and minister 90 Latin emotion
and seem Indispensable 90 IT'S develop
ments. and il IS believed 10 have derived
as much of It's enthusiasm from me VINE
cup as from the drum beat Key song
was the very child Of battle. II was
deep It's swaddling clothes were the
stars and Stripes its birth proclaimed.
It's coming was heraldcd by shot ana
shell and from IT'S baptism of fire MAJ
,ion of freemen clasped it % its bosom.
IL WAS to- be thenceforth and forever
freedoms Gloria i'm EXcelsis.
THE STORY OF THE song.
THE circumstances which ushered u
into the world hardly less than me
words of the poem arc ,hl OF pg ,l.,.'i,
exhilaraton. 10 was during me o@i-rN'
DAYS cf our second war of Independence.
An English army had invaded ana oc-
cupied the seat of the National Govern
ment and had burned the capitol or me
nation An English squadron was Odd
undisputed possession OF the Chesapeake
hay. There being nothing Of interest. or
value left within the vicinity Of Wash
ington to detain them, the British were
massng their land and naval forces Tor
other coquests. and. ass their ships ealta
down the Potomac. DR.. William Bednos.
a. prominent citizen of Maryland. who
had been arrested al his home boo upper
Marlboro charged with some offence.
real or fancied was carried off pris-
oner.
ut was to secure the liberation Of this
gentleman. his neighbor and friend that
Francis Scott Key obtained leave of the
President TO go 10 the British Admiral
under a flag Of truce He was conveyed
bv the cartel boat used for the exchange
Of prisoners and accompanied by the
flag officer Of the government lhey
proceeded down the bay from Baltimore
snd found the British fleet az the mouth
Of the Potomac.
"Nlr. Key was courteously received by
Admiral Cochrane; but he was not en-
couraged as 20 the success OF his mission
until letters from the English officers
wounded al Biandcnsburg and left I'm the
care of tie Americans were delivered To-
the friends on the fleet 20 whom they had
been written These bore such testimony
10 the kindness with which they had been
treated that IL was finally agreed that Or.
Beancs should be released; but. as an adj
vance upon Baltimore was about % be
made IL was required that the party OF
Americans should remain under guard on
boars their own vessel until these operas
tions we're concluded. Thus 10 was that
the night Of the llth OF September. lSli
Kew witnessed the bombardment Of Fort
NcHenrv. which his song wassto render
| ilustrious.
AN ANXIOUS VIGIL.
.,,, ,ta -. cuff the deck the lonr