Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-01


longed was known as the "Tenth Legion" because
of its brilliant successes After leaving college he
read law in the Office of jeremiah Townley Chase
who was one of the judges of the General Court
of Maryland at that time After his admission to
the bar, Mr. Key returned to his native county
and in the year 1901 he began the practice of the
law at Frederick City, Maryland. In short time
however, he removed to Georgetown, in the Dis
trict of Columbia. Here he rose to eminence as
a lawyer in the Supreme Court of the United
States. as well as in the courts of Maryland and
the District. In the year 1914 Francis Scott Key
made himself famous the author of the world
known song "The Star Spanged Banner" Accom-
panied by Colonel John S. Skinner, on board the
cartel ship Minden.
Protected by the fair white flag that floats
In times of war, the silent pledge of peace,
Mr.. Key went to ask the release of several
prisoners, one among them being Dr. Beares of
Upper Marlborough, in Maryland. These two gen
tlemen were detained on board the ship Surprise,
yet were treated with courtesy the while. They
transferred again to the Minden which was
anchored in view of Fort McHenry. While the
conflict ragged, Mr. Key remained in captivity, not
knowing through the long night of September the
18th whether victory smiled on the American
the British forces. Aroused to agony by sus-
pense Mr.. Key gazed through the msts of dawn
in search of his country's starry flag. When day
broke he behed the flag floating in proud defiance
dDOVe the QdTk OuJllHeS OIL Cne IOrC. In LnaC mo-
ment the words of Libertys triumphal song rose
from his patriotic heart. 1t was hastily written
in pencil on the back of an old letter. taken from
his pocket. On the night after his arrival in the
city of Baltimore, he wrote the words out in full
and showed them to his brother-inlaw Judge
Nicholson, who was one of the defenders of Fort
McHenry. Judge Nicholson proved his recognition
of the worth of the poem by taking it to the Office
of "The Baltimore American" where he ordered it
to be printed in small hand bill form for general
circulation. The typesetter of "The Star Spangled
Banner" was Samuel Sands, apprentice boy in
American Farmer" valuable contribution to the
agricultural interests of the country.
The song was first sung by Charles Durang, in
a restaurant next to the Holiday Street Theater
1t next sung by the Durang Brothers at the
Holiday Street Theater. 1t received and re-
echoed with enthusiasm. 1t had rum of sew
eral weeks and was greeted each night with un-
tagging interest. From this introduction the
Holiday Theater won national reputation, while
it's stage moved the most renowned actors of
the period "This patriotic offering of an incor
ruptible soul penetrated the hearts of the people,
the mournful note of its death wall! 1t rang
like an exultant laugh throughout the land of its
birth"
Although Mr.. Key possessed considerable liter
ary ability and the soul of a true poet "The Star
Spangled Banner" is the only poem left to us (his
sacred songs excepted) that does credit to his
name or fame. Mr. Key was man Of great refine
ment and culture and won universal esteem.
In the year 1888, Mr.. Key was appointed to the
OF Columbia by President Jackson He was re-