Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-02
FRANCIS SCOTT Key

communication with any Of tho enemy
ships Key did not know whether the for;
had surrendered or the attack upon n
been abandoned. He paced tho deck for
the residue Of the night in painful sus-
pense watching with intense anxiety for
the return of day and looking every few
minutes al his watch to see how long ha
must wait for it. and as soon as IN
dawned. and before II was light enough
10 see objects at q distance his glasses
We're turned 10 the fort, uncertain
whether he should Sec there the Stars
and stripes tho flag Of the enemy,
~ length the light came and he saw
that our flag WAS still there And as
the day advanced he discovered from
the movements OF the boats between the
shore and the fleet. that the troops had
been roughly handled and that many
wounded men were carried to the ships
At length he was informed that the at
tack on Baltimore had failed. that the
British army was re-embarking and that
he and Mr.. Skinner and DR. Beanes
would be permitted TO leave and go where
they pleased soon as the troops were
on board and the fleet ready TO sail.
He then told me that under the ey-
element of the time he had written a
song. and thereupon handed me a printed
copy of The Star Spangled Banner
Wien I had read II and expressed nv
admiration I asked him how he found
time In the scenes he had been passing
through to compose such a song. He said
he commenced it In the fervor of the
moment on the deck 81 the vessel when
he saw the enemy hastily retreating 10
their ships and beheld again the flag lie
had watched for so anxiously.
He said he had written some OF the
lines on the back OF letter which he
happened TO have in his pocket. but for
the others. as he proceeded. he was
obliged to rely altogether on his memory.
He finished composing the song In tie
boat on his way To the shore. and wrote
IL out as ii now stands. at the hotel
that night, Immediately after he reached
Baltimore. He said that on the next
morning he took II to JUDGE Nicholson
to ask him what he thought of Il. and
that the judge was so much pleased with
II that he Immediately sent il to a print
er. and directed copies 10 be struck off
in hand bill form He believed. he said.
that it was favorably received by the
Baltimore public.
The air of "Anacreon in Heaven was
adapted to the words Of THE Star
Spangled Banner and SO II is sung to
this day. The music and words Of Ana
creon'' were current in England during
the revolutionary war and the song it
self was published in number of Amer
lean music books along about the first
of the last century and thereafter,
that it was commonly known in our
country. The music of "Anacreon' was
adapted to different popular sones, and 1t
can be traced through dozen or more.
beginning with 1877 and ending with
1913. The form and meter is practically
the same as that Of The Star Spangled
Banner" | give the first verse:
ITO Anncrcon in heaven, where he sat in full
glne.
4 few sons of Harmony sent a petition
That he their inspirer and patron would he.
When this arrived from the jolly old
Grncian:
Voice fiddle and flute
No longer be mute,
I'll lend ye my name, and inspire ye 70 boot;
Ard besides. I'll instruct you, Ike me, to en-
Irvine
The myrtle OF Venus with Bacchus' vine =
The song was published as a broad
side in September. 1874 and IL appeared
after that I'm many song books, although
it was not generally looked upon .
national air for some years thereafter.
FRANK G. CARPENTER.