The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1899-06-08
Frederick, Maryland.
correspondence of The Journal.

Forty miles west from the national capt.
| tai and fifty miles west from Baltimore
"The clustered spires of Frederick stand
Green walled by the hills of Maryland
This conservative and little talked about
town has been signally generous in con
tributions to our most permanent history.
1t is a natural center for a prosperous
farming community, and has accumulated
in a century ten thousand souls. The
stern and inspiring climatic and scenic
conditions where tradition delights to
cradle heroes and poets are all missing.
1t is simply peaceful town in western
Maryland
General Braddock was here joined by
George Washington during the French
and Indian War, and on an abrupt eleva-
ton named in honor of the General, just
outside the city, Washington, merely a
boy planter from Virginia, but student
of the red man, is said to have explained
the perls of Indian warfare and volunteer
ed advice which called forth the celebrat-
ed rebuke from Braddock, "What, teach
British soldier how to tight?' History
recalls that the General stubbornly pur-
sued his elaborate plan, replete with en-
gineerng feats and approved maneuvers,
| only himself to fall moltally wounded in
the first engagement. 1t was then with a
fallen leader and under a disastrous fire
that the English army turned imploringly
to " ashington for leadership.
In revolutionary days Washington was
| in Frederick under very different cond-
tions. The ally is now the enemy. An I'M
pretentious house i'll back alley is now
pointed out as his headquarters. What
grander offering has beer made the ma
ton than that of Francis Scott Key, author
at the age of thirty two Of the Star Spangl-
ed Banner, the soldiers inspiration, the
civilians security. Born ID 1850, and in
conformity to his repeated request here is
he buried. A beautiful ten thousand
dollar monument marks his grave. The
base is granite, while life size bronze
statue of the soldier poet crowns it. On
the front Liberty is teaching a boy and
girl patriotism. A tablet contains the
verses complete. AT the side the American
flag tuitills the poets promise,
l"And the star-spangled banner
In triumph shall wave
Der the land OF the free and
The home of the brave"
In Frederick the quaker poet finds Bar
bara Frietchie His description of the sur
roundings are perfect, and all old citizens
tell us the heroine's hut is portrayed with
wonderful precision. Marylanders were
about evenly divided in sympathy between
the north and south, still all cherished the
memory of loyal Barbara Frietche. Her
house has disappeared, but many relics re-
main among her relatives, choicest of
which is the very flag ''that the men haul
ed down" owned by niece, Mrs. John
Abbott. Nothing outrages the pride of
the citizens more than the suggestion that
Barbara is a myth, child of an abolition
poets brain.
Henry Nixdortf, venerable Dutchman,
hastily assured the writer that he is the
only known citizen who saw the old flag
Haunted in the face of Stonewall Jackson
and his gray clad warriors.
Frederick is not compelled to look into the
grave for distinguished representatives;
fresh honors crowd upon her. On a farm
just outside the corporate limits, Admiral
Schley, the true and accepted hero of San
tiago was born, and when mere child the
town was made his home.
Far in the Orient at the head of COL
umn of blue, defending the Star Spangled
Banner sung of by Key, and glorified by
Barbara Frietchie, is another Frederick
boy-none less than Major General Otis,
born and reared in an unpretentious home
in the center of this historic town. Schley
and Otis, barefoot playmates of Frederick,
masters of sea and land, bearers of new
national honors from extremities of the
globe; and Frederick great in all wars,
contented and law abiding in peace, who
can fail to bow in admiration?
CARTER B. KEENE.