The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-09-27
5 NATIONS ANTHEM
"sTAR-sPANGLED BANNERp sE-
 LECTED BY NAVY DEPARTMENT.
Must Stand at Attention When It Is Heard.

| WASA ~ 48 k4EALNs |
 Chicago Record Herald, Sept. 13.
 Eighty-nine years after the seize of Baltimore when Francis Scott Key conn posed the "star-spangied Banner" it is | made the national anthem by order of the United States Navy Department. Within day of the anniversary of the memorable storming of the city which furnished the inspiration for the song that has been heard around the world, the Government at last pays official trfb- ute to Keys masterpiece. The order went forth from the Navy Department at Washington yesterday. IL directs that whenever the anthem is play ed all officers and men shall stand at attention. unless they be engaged on duty which will not permit them to do so It is required also that the same respect shall be observed toward the national air | of any other country when played in the presence of official representatives of such l country.
 l By this order the United States Navy is given an official anthem. which v1.i receive recognition in every port where the Stars and Stripes, which Key saw 'by the dawn's early light'' may float | Hitherto the fleets of other nations have heard America" the "Star-Spangled Banner and "Dix.s." without knowing which really was recognized by this coun. try as it's national anthem. France had Its 'eMarsellaise," England its God Save the King," Germany 1t! "wacht am Rhein," but the American sailor had no official anthem which hi could sing and know he was voicing thu words dearest to his countrymen. Hence forth he may demand that proper respec be shown not only to the American flat itself, but also to 1t as described in Key, "Star-Spangled Banner" The "Star-Spangled Banner was writ ten by Francis Scott Key on the nigh of Sept. 1s. 1894. while he and -lis com rades on board the cartel ship Minder were watching the storming of Baltin1ort by Admiral Cockrane. Key had been sent with John s. Skinner, of Baltimore. tc Admiral Cockrane to request the release of Dr. Beanes, of Upper Marlboro. who had been captured at Washington. The British Admiral consented to release Dr. Beanes, but would not let the Americans I leave the harbor, as he intenSed to at- tack Baltimore, and did not want the in- I formation to reach the city ahead of him.
 The Minden. on which Key and his friends were, was anchored within sight of Fort McTIenry. From it's decks the three friends watched the bombardment. 1t ceased before dawn. but 1t was impos- sible for the anxious Americans to sec whether or not the fort had fallen. They awaited daylight with painful suspense. In the dim light of the morning they saw through their glasses the Star-span- gled Banner yet waving in triumph over the fort, and soon learned of the defeat of the British. When the fleet was ready to sail Key and his friends were released and returned to Baltimore.
 It was during the bombardment. while pacing the deck between midnight and dawn. that Key composed the popular song, the first stanza of which expressed the feeling of thousands of eye-witnesses to the scene. The rude substance of the song was written on ths back of letter On the night after his return to Balti' more Key wrote 1t out in full and read il to his uncle, Judge Nicholson. one of the ] defenders of the fort. The pleased Judge had it printed by Captain Benjamin Edes Samuel Sands set the type and distributed the first copies. It was sung by Charles Durang at a restaurant next door to tht Holiday Street Theatre, Baltimore. tt an assemblage of patriotic defenders oi the city and after that nightly in tht theatre and everywhere in public ant private.
 Since its publication it has been heard throughout the world. It has been played by American bands in three wars. Eff forts have repeatedly been made to have the anthem nationalized., but Tor some reason they always were futile. The or der yesterday was the first official notice given to 1t.
 The words of the song are as follows: Oh. say, can you see by the dawn's early
 light.
 What SO proudly we hailed at the twi.
 lights last gleaming-
 Whose broad stripes and bright stars
 through the perilous fight.
 Der the ramparts we watched were SC | Rallantly streaming?
 And the rockets red glare, the bombs
 bursting in the air,
 Gave proof through the night that oul
 flag was still there;
 Oh, say does that star-spangled banner
 yet wave
 Der the land of the free and the home
 of the brave?
 On that shore, dimly seen through the
 mists of the deep.
 Where the foes naughty host in dread | silence reposes.
 What is that which the breeze. OCT the
 towering steep,
 As 1t fitfully blows. now conceals' now
 discloses?
 Now 1t catches the gleam of the morn ings first beam.
 In full glory reflected now shines on the stream;
 Iris the star-spangled banner; oh, long
 may 1t wave Der the land of the free and the home of
 the bravel
 And where are the foes that so vaunting- ly swore
 That the havoc of war and the battles
 confusion
 A home and a country should leave us no
 more?
 Their blood has washed out their toui