Alaska sentinel., 1903-02-19
BIRTH OF NATIONAL AIRS.
Writing of "Yankee Doodle" and
 John Browns Body"

Johh .
 In one sense national music Is any music which Is beloved by a nation Under this head would come Home, Sweet Home" and "Suwanee Rlyer;' more tender lyric of home and of its memories than Stephen c. Eos ter's "old Folks at Home" of which about 500,0o0 copies were sold, would be hard to find. It was often under interdict during the civil war because 1t made soldiers down-hearted. An other kind Is of patriotic nature.
 Often a national song Is at first of local fame and interest and by merit becomes national. and may even be spread the world over Thus, as the voice of friendship and loyalty, Aud Lang Syne" Is known the world over, and the "Marseillaise." which began as a marching song for a corps of the universal cry of liberty in patri- otic struggles everywhere. The whole composition came to Rouget de llsle in one night, lI92.
 Two French songs sung during the reign of terror were In some degree induced by American events, and these form a preliminary to our American music. In revolutionary times and pre- viously there was but little music in America
 During the revolution there was no American composer of note. No Amer t,a, InviDu fhn rnvn1ntnn took root as the one which began and end ed the war, and existed In England in 1I75 or 1776-"Yankee Doodle The words were written during the French and Indian war by pr. Richard Shuck- burg, a British surgeon, In sort Of parody way on seeing some of the New England troops marching Into Albany, and set to an English dancing tune.
 In Europe Hail Columbia" Is con- sidered our chief national anthem. and has certain rights to be so considered, as 1t was composed on American soil, only they put the cart before the horse, and the tune was composed and played nine years before the words were nt- ted to 1t. The tune was known and immensely popular as Washington March," and played till 1t was thread bare
 Nine years after 1t was written GIL bert Fox. an actor, was to have a ben eft. He was announced to sing new patriotic song, and got Joseph Hop kins to write words for him to the tune of "Washington's March A new patriotic tune meant everything In those times The theater was crowded. Fox sang the song. and had to sing 1t over eight times. and then the audience sang the chorus. This was In 1T9S. and 1t was called the "The New Federal Song"
 The oldest Of our national tunes Is the English nat!o.ll anthem, God Save the King" even during the revolution people sang the tune with patriotic words. Several songs were sung to the tune with varying success, and in 1892 the melody was given in good earnest by the Rev. S. F. Smith at a ch.ldren's temperance celebration at the Park Street Church In Boston. and 1t has taken such root that My Country. 'Tis of Thee" became our national melody
 Now word about what we call our chief tune, "The Star-Spangled Ban ner." The words were formed here. the music abroad, and there Is much false history about 1t It began as a drinking song in 1785, of an English club which met at the Crown and Anchor Inn. on the Strand. Later. !n 1902, 1t was used as a Masonic tune, and In 179S Thomas Paine, at Boston, put words to it. called 1t Adams and Liberty" and 1t was sung everywhere. In the darkest part of the war of 1872 Francis Scott Key. watching the Brit ish lombard Fort McHenry, wrote. in moment of inspiration. this national song, "The Star-Spangled Banner"
 John Browns Body" was first sung In a purely local way at Fort Warren. but it became the chief march ing song of our army in the rebellion. and Julia Ward Howe set to the inspiring tune the great hymn. Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory of the Coming of the Lord" and thus was song of war transformed to a song