Evening star., 1903-07-28
OUR NATIONAL AIRS
SOME HAD THEIR ORIGIN TOO
FAR BACK TO BE TRACED.
Nobody Knows When and Where the
Tune of yankee Doodle"
Originated.

The tunes or ankee boouie aHo
America are so old that Their origin is
unknown today. In a very interesting ad-
dress at the Buffalo Historical Society
building Miss Harriette Sumner. teacher
at grammar school No 49, who has devoted
a years 8 research TO learn the history OF our
national songs. gave some surprising infor-
nation about Yankee Doodle and Amer
lea" Though the words of both were. OF
course, written in this country, the tunes
were borrowed from other nations, and
Miss Sumner said the music of our chief
national hymn may be traceable away back
to the ancient Egyptians.
The history of American national airs,
said Miss Sumner. begins with a breezy
good-natured sort of tune, which IS often
laughed at, but which has been a conquer
ing power in five wars. 1t is the familiar
tune of Yankee Doodle When and where
the tune first came into use nobody knows.
1t is n good deal like Topsy; it grew. 1t
Is really a song without words, several
hundred years old, and had it's origin in
either England. Span. Hungary or Holland.
1t brought to this country from Eng
land in 1865 during the French and Indian
war. The story goes that the militia that
was called to aid the British regular army
was strangely clad in many colors. some
wearing long coats, some short ones, and
some with no coats at all. This greatly
amused DIR. Shankburg. a British officer,
wiz, lIiHhIiS ~ n Joke upon the
militia because of their grotesque appear
anCe. presented to them the words and mu-
SIC of Yankee Doodle commencing the
tune as one of the most distinguished in
martial music. The British officers were
very much amused, but it proved a failure
as joke. for it soon became the battle
march of the revolution. and by the
strange irony of fate the coon:stS made the
redcoats keep step to the thrilling tune
when twenty-fi five years later. Lord Corn
wallis was compelled to surrender his sword
and army to Gen. Washington. while the
band played Yankee Doodle
Popular With Colonists.
Compared with later songs of the Union,
1t sinks into an aggregation of senseless
stanzas, but Its remarkable popularity at a
time when the American colonists were
making the supreme effort for Independence
closely links II with imperishabIe historic
associa ations, and 1t Is still a paean of vic
tory"
Miss Sumner told this story of "America,'
the words of which were written by DR..
Smith: In 1892 a friend of DR. Smith
turned from Germany and brought a lot Of
German music books. Being unable to read
German he sent them to Dr. Smith. One
gloomy day In February of that year the
doctor was looking over the books and came
across the air Of God Save the King" He
liked it and glanced at the German words
at the bottom of the page Under the in
SPiA d'ioi VI tIc moment ne wrote, In less
than half an hour America" substantially
as IT is today. 1t is difficult to trace the
origin OF the tune. and when few years
ago, the New York Sun essayed to follow 1t
down the centuries. 1t found that the tune
had been used by the Germans, who got 1t
from the Norsemen, who captured 1t from
the Firms who heard it from the Huns
who doubtless brought 1t from Asia 1t was
iound 1t was perhaps sung by the Jews in
the first temple, and they may have bor-
rowed II from the Egyptians
America.
The song did not have wide popularity
till the civil war began and the flag was
shot down at Fort Sumter. Since then it
has been used more frequently than any
other so-called national song and is recog-
nized the world over as great national
hymn. 1t Is strange that the words Of
America are unknown to so many Ameri-
cans"
Miss Summers review was lengthy ara
covered many other songs Some of the
points about them are as follows:
Hall Columbia is the first national song
wholly original with this country. The
words were written by Joseph HopkinsOn
in 1893, in response to a request by Young
singer who was in financial straits and for
whom a benefit performance was to be
given In Philadelphia theater. The young
man asked him to write some patriotic
words that could be sung to the tune Of tie
Presidents March. composed in honor CT
Washington and first sung at his Inaugural
ton The song made the entertainment a
pronounced success. President Adams and
all the heads of the government depart
ments attended the theater to hear il
Star spangled Banner.
''Of all the songs inspired Of patriotism
and born In the fierce passions of war the
Star Spangled Banner has the strongest
hold upon the people" said Miss Sumner
III Is product of one of the most thrilling
events of our national history Its author
was Francis Scott Key a young LAWYER
who left Baltimore on September 13 1911
while the war of 1912 was yet going on
and, under nag of truce, visited the Brit
ish fleet to obtain the release of a friend
who had been captured at Marlboro
After his arrival at the feet he was COM
PEELED to stay with it during the lombard
ment of Fort Mclienry. He remained on
deck all night. watching every shell and
listening with hrea thleSS interest to hear ~
an explosion followed The firing suddenly
ceased. but from the position of the shin
lie could not learn the result of the conflict
lie paced the deck the remainder of the
night In painful suspense watching with
intense anxiety the return of the day in
the stirring enthusiasm of the occasion and
at dawns early light. when the stars and
stripes rose above the smoke of conflict
and seemed to wave in triumph from the
very hattlements of heaven. Mr.. Key CON
ceived and wrote the song which should be
as deathless as the nag itself"
columbia. the Gem of the Ocean" al
though sometimes credited to David T.
Shaw, was written and composed in 1S43
by L. Becket an actor, who wrote 1t for
a benefit performance In Philadelphia
The author Of the words and music of
John Browns Body has never been
traced. 1t sprang into being at the open-
ing OF the civil war, and sung by Web
sters regiment when 1T left Boston for the
front. on July IS. 1861.
Battle Hymn of the Republic.
THE Battle Hymn of the Republic" sung
to the tune Of John Browns Body" was
written by Julia Ward Howe under an In
sptration that seized her one night while
she was journeying to Washington, in De-
cember, 1851. She awoke. and sprang
from her bed and wrote them down by can
die light, then returned to bed and fell
asleep" They We're first published in the
Atlantic Monthly, and Mrs. Howe received
s. for the poem.
The Battle Cry of Freedom was writ
ten. words and music. by George Root au-
thor and composer of more than a score of
songs.
We Are Coming. Father Abraham" was
written by ]. S. Gibbons in 1862 Just after
President Lincolns call for 300 600 volun-
teers to fill up the stricken ranks of the
army. 1t once was published as the latest
poem of w. Cullen Bryant" The words