The Washington herald., 1909-07-18

ten, but they have never come into
general use. In 1851 Oliver Wendell
Holmes wrote a verse. which opened
with these lines.
When our land is nlumined with
L1berty's smile.
IT Ioes from within strike a blow
at her glory;
Down. down with the traitor that
dares 10 defile
The flag Of her stars and the page
Of her story.
The story as to how the words
were fitted TO music IS related bv
Chief Justice Taney. a brother-in-
law Of Key. Key read the words
aloud once. twice, three times. until
the persons present were electrified
by its pathetic eloquence An idea
seized Ferdinand DuranE. who was
present Hunting up a volume OF
old flute music. he impatientIy whis-
tied snatches Of tune after tune as
they caught his eve One called
'Anacreon IN Heaven struck his
fancy and riveted his attention. Note
after note fell from his puckered
lips until with a leap and a shout.
he exclaimed. Boys, I've hit it,
and. fitting the tune 20 the words.
there rang out for the first time the
song Of The star SpangIed Ban
ner.'"
Durang was born IN Harrisburg.
Pa His father was a Freuchman
and a fair musician.
The tune "Anacreon in Heaven"
was composed by John stafford
Smith between 1870 and I775 20 the
words by Ralph TomIinson. presl-
dent Of the Anacreontic Society.
which held its meetings at the
Crown and Anchor Tavern. strand.
London.
The father OF Francis Scott Key
was Revolutionary soldier by the
name Of John Ross Key. and lived
on farm in Frederick County. Nd.
where young Key was born in Au-
gust Of the year 1870. He was edu-
Gated to the law, and after being
ad 1itted 70 the bar. he began prac-
ticing in Georgetown. Nd. He quick
" made a reputation for being a
hard student and eloquent speaker.
1t is said that President Andrew
Jackson valued his opinion so high
~ that no matter Of Importance was
acted upon by him without first hav-
ing had d consultation with young
Key, who was at that time only
about thirty.
Key wrote many other poems. and
his book OF verse published in 1855.
a number Of years after his death.
which occurred in 1s4s, contains
some good ones. His remains were
at first placed in the Howard vault
in Greenmount Cemetery. Baltimore.
but subsequently they were removed
to Mount Olivet Cemetery. near
Frederick, Nd
Eighty-nine years after the siege
Of Baltimore CSeptember u. 1910.
The Star Spangled Banner" was
made the national anthem by order
Of the United States Navy Depart
ment, principally through the in
strumentality and persistent effort
VI TNNN al II liIAeturl pNi& ldQleS. Inc
Navy Department order directs that
whenever the anthem is played all
officers and men shall stand at at
tention, unless they be engaged on
duty which will not permit them TO
do so. Previous to this order. the
fleets Of other nations had heard
America" 'The Star SpangIed Ban
ner," Dixie" and many Others
without knowing which really was
recognized as the national anthem
by this country.
France had its 'BIarseillaise," Eng
land its God Save the King" and
Germany its ''Wacht am Rhein." but
the American sailor had no Official
anthem which he could sing and
know he was voicing the words
dearest to his cOuntrymen. Hence
forth ne may demand that proper
respect be shown not only 10 the
American nag itself, but also to
Francis Scott Keys Star Spangled
Banner"
e Press Company