Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-04

ner" music was originally an old Ger
man song and later an English~drink-
ing song called TO Anacreon in HeaN-
en- composed by DR.. Samuel Arnold,
later new lyric called Adams and
Liberty was set to the music by Rob-
crt Treat Paine, and 1t was not until
Sept. Il, 1914, that the present words
We're written by Francis Scott Key.
and they~were inspired by the war of
1872 with England, the very country
who supplied the original melody.
.'Yarkee Doodle" originated as far as.
melody is concerned way back in the
reign OF Charles I. of England and was
a part of Il song used to deride the
"Roundheads" Its strains are also
identical with those of "Danza Els
parta' of old Riscay. vintage song of
France. an old Dutch song and untold
number OF other old songs OF various
countries. It's first American version
was written by DR.. Setback of the Brit
ISL army in 1865 in derision Of the
American portion of the army then
fighting the Canadian French. AS for
America it is nothing more or less
than "God Save the King" the national
anthem of England. So it can be
readily seen that badly as we hate to
confess it, our country has no real
patriotic song of its own. The words
of "The Star Spangled Banner are as
obsolete as far as a stirring national
anthem goes, as those of ANNE
Rooney as applied to popular song.
The tune is almost impossible for the
average unframed voice to sing, and
few singers can reach the top notes,
Everyone has observed, when a large
assemblage of our countrymen, imbued
With patriotism, as in the case of the
late Spanish American war, have gath
cred together, and attempted to sing
the song, the pitiful breakdown of the
majority before the finale was
reached. While they have started off
bravely enough, but few haze been
able 10 finish About One-half of them
could not recall the words, while fully
two-tnirds of the remainder could not
Stag the higher or lower notes. The
result has invariably been lame and
shamefacel finish of what should be a
thrilling and inspiring chorus. Anoth-
err thing to be said against the song is
that its melody is written in three
quarter time, which can only be over
come by QouDllilS llie ltiiilo VI ii'hiNh
ing. Who ever heard of soldiers
marching to waltz time. Surely 1t
lacks inspiration. The subject of the
suitability of new national anthem
has been discussed most thoroughly In
recent years by the press and pubic,
ard various suggestions have been
made by patriotic societies. one OF
then, being that a congress of our pest
cornuosers and lyricists be jointly en-
gagged to compose a new one mat
would emhodv all the essentials. rms
was Immediately found to be lmpractl-
cal for several reasons, among them
that a national anthem is not made by
Nero deliberate intent, but should pc
an Inspiration which cannot be had
for hire nor could a number of COM
poScrS ever reach an agreement pc
tween them. 1t remained for the
National Song Society" to solve the
problem Or at least it appears so at
presant After thorough canvass OF
the modern patriotic songs they have
selected "My Own United States"
beautiful and inspiring song both as
regards words and music and by
unanimous vote of their five thousand
members, have adopted it as suitable
national anthem. A systematic cam
paign of Introduction has been promul-
gated by them and SO far their efforts
have been attended by the most en-
cOuraging results.