The Washington herald., 1908-06-14
STARS And STRIPES
RAISED AT MANSION
Patriotic ExerciSeSat Francis
Scott Key Home.
GOVERNMENT FIRES A SALUTE
Guns Boom from the
United states steamship Dolphin,
Band Plays "The star SpangIed
Banner'-Guests Present.

With the booming of guns on the L.
$. steamship Dolphin lying in the river
below. and while the star SpangIed Ban
ner' was played by the Marine Band.
Miss Mabel Key Smith, a great-grand-
] daughter of Francis Scott Key, yesterday
raised a duplicate Of the flag which float
ed over old Fort McHenry in 1914 over
the Francis Scott Key home in George
town
Never was a peaceful mission more in
spring than that at the former home Of
one Of the most beloved OF American
patriots Francis Scott Key.
Long before the hour for holding the
exercises arrived, loyal sons and daugh-
ters Of followers OF the tri-coIored en-
blem OF liberty gathered at the one-time
home Of the famous Marylander. and re-
freshed their minds OF the many incidents
associated with the life Of the beloved
author
At o'clock the large platform erected
In front OF the building. In NJ street, was
filed with patriots holding high official
!
bic. loyal American citizens
Following prayer by Rev. Alfred c.
/ Harding, rector Of St Paul's Episcopal
( Church. the Marine Band. under the
| leadership OF Lieut.. Santelmann. played
the hymn. Lord, With Glowing Heart I'll
Praise Thee" composed by Mr. Key.
Commissioner II. b. +. Macfarland. pre-
siding, made the address of welcome
Address by mcfarland.
He said in part:
y gazed this morning at the original
Star Spangled Banner. the nag that
hoated over Fort McHenry VIGOROUSLY
in the bombardment OF September, 1874
More eloquent than any orator, as II
hangs silent In the National Museum,
loaned by a descendant OF the gallant
Col. George Armistead, who held Fort
McHenry against the enemy. it tells the
story Of the national anthem which Il
inspired and OF the heroic service which
81 represents. Every man. woman. and
child In Washington ought 10 see this
priceless remembrance Of the great past
II will thrill them TO reverence and stir
them 10 new patriotism. Without such
| sentiments as the flag sugKests-love OF
/ home. Of country, Of God-men are but
beasts. and life a bafilng tragedy. Wash
| ington Is fortunate In having here the
home of the immortal Francis Scott Key
| and there the Star Spangled Banner
| which flies forever IN his poem.
| Every patriotic American must want
10 see this house preserved and we can
count upon the patriots OF America 10
see that il is done. There are self-styled
practical men to whom this Will not ap-
peal As they say time and money spent
on sentiment are wasted. Such Grad
grind would probably convert this house
into a business place. and sell the tat
tered ensign OF Fort McHenry 10 the
! highest bidder. and spend this hour and
this day in getting some material advan-
tage 10 himself OF course. even such a
man does not escape the sovereignty Of
sentiment, for II rules all men. and deny
ing its power does not detract from g.
But he Will miss the wealth and beauty
which due regard for the nObler kinds OF
sentiment will give 10 any life.
/ He Is the poorer II the Star Spangled
Banner is nothing but bunting, and the
/ home OF Key nothing but a building.
and II his heart does not beat faster
when he hears the music OF the national
anthem"
Born i'm Betsy Ross House.
As the last strains of the Patrol Amer
ican," played by the Marine Band. were
heard. Master Charles Vexil Domus Weis-
gerber. the only male child ever born in
! the Betsy Ross House, where the flag
was also born. arrayed IN suit Of Stars
and Stripes" and a white beaver. a typi-
cal Uncle Sam" stepped upon a special
ly constructed platform with the flag. a
duplicate Of the flag which flew from the
halyards over Fort MCHenry, and pre-
| sented ii to Frances Scott Keys great
granddaughter, Miss Mabel Key Smith.
In presenting the flag Master Weisgerber
said:
Il present you en American flag May
It wave over the land OF the brave and
the home Of the free"
Miss Smith. after securing the flag TO
the halyards, slowly hauled it to the top
Of the new white flagstaff on top OF the
mansion. When the flag reached the top
OF the staff, the halyards were drawn
taut and the crimson and white folds
responded gracefully 10 the breeze. The
instant the flag became free. the guns on
the u. S. S. Dolphin doomed forth the
national salute OF twenty-one guns, and
the Marine Band played the "Star-Span-
| gled Banner"
! When the cannon were silent and the
| last strains OF the Star Spangled Ban
ner' had died away, the great crowd Of
| people, many with tears IN their eyes.
sent up n mighty cheer, at the close OF
which Commissioner Macfarand intro
| duced Mrs. Thomas c. Noyes, who sang
/ the Star Spangled Banner"
| Following the singing OF Mrs. Moves,
/ Justice Thomas II. Anderson, Of the Su-
preme Court Of the District. and Presi-
/ dent Of the Sons Of the American Revo-
/ ton. was introduced as the orator Of the
day.
Address by Justice Anderson.
Justice Anderson spoke as follows:
We are here to-day 10 commemorate
a notable event in our national history
and to pay tribute to the memory Of an
American patriot. Francis Scott Key-a
name so interviewer with the history Of
our flag that wherever il is unfurled his
name. like that Of John Howard Payne.
/ the author OF Home. Sweet Home.
| springs unbidden 10 the heart. and fills
it with emotions Of sincerest love and
! gratitude.
Nearly century has passed since
Francis Scott Key-then a temporary
prisoner aboard the English cartel-ship
Minten. anchored within sight Of Fort
McHenry-inspired by the stirring scenes
OF that memorable night OF September a
1914, wrote his immortal lines as he paced
the decks of the British ship and watched
with eager and painful solicitude the re-