The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-02

written how he as boy. having spent
al! his holiday money on root beer
ginger snaps and oysters at cele-
bration on Boston Common on his way
nome marched with other children into
Park Street Church and there heard
the hrst singing OF the hymn Amer
lea"
The main objection raised against
America" is that it has the same air
as God Save the King" and that
there are other national airs to tho
same music. Long before the hymp
was written the air was used in such
songs as God save America" God
save George Washington" and God
save the President" a song was made
oy Dutch lady at The Hague for the
sailors of Ave American vessels at
Amsterdam IN June. 1873, which was
entitled God Save the Thirteen
states. and that air was employed a,
patriotic meetings in our country for
years before America" was written.
Hail Columbia, Happy Lind"
AS to Hail Columbia" that song
was written by Joseph Hopklnson In
ltss. II was penned when u war be-
tween France and America was
thought to be inevitable, and when
Congress was deba ting the possibili-
ties during one OF its sessions in Phil
adelphia. The poet thus describes how
lie came to write IT,
The contest between England and
France was raging. and the people OF
the United States were divided into
parties for the one side or the other,
some thinking that policy and duty
required us TO espouse the cause OF
Republican France as she was called.
while others were for connecting our
selves with England. under the belief
that she was the great preservative
power OF good principles and safe
government.
The viola ton of our rights by both
beligerents was forcing us from tho
Just and wise policy of President
Washington, which was to do equal
Justice to both. but TO part with
neither. and TO preserve an honest and
strict neutrality between them The
prospect OF rupture with France was
exceedingly offensive to the portion of
the people who espoused her cause.
and the violence of the spirit OF party
mas never risen higher than it did at
taat time upon that question.
Written for a BENEFIT Concert
me theatre was then open In our
CITY young man belonging to II,
whose talent was high as a singer, |
was about 10 take a benefit I had !
known him when he was at school. On
one saturday afternoon, his benefit he |
ing announced for the following Mon.
DAY. HIS prospects were disheartening, |
put he said that II ne could get a |
patriotic song adapted to The Presi- |
uents March he did not doubt of a |
fuli house; that the poets of the |,
theatrical corps had been trying to
accomplish it, but had not succeeded. !
told him I would try what could |
n nr Ia II
noon and the song, such as II is. was !
ready for him.
The object OF the author was to |
got up an American spirit which should |
be independent of and above the in |
terests. passion and policy of both |
beiigerents, and look and feel OK |
clus'veiy for our honor and rights. No !
allusion is made to France or Eng
land. or the quarrel between them, or |
to tho question which was most in
fault In their treatment of us. OF |
course. the song found favor with !
both parties, for both were American:
at least neither could disown the SEMI
timents and feelings 1t Indicated. Such
is the history OF this SONG. which has |
endured Infinitely beyond the expec.
tation OF the author. as 1t is beyond
any merit II can boast of except that /
OF being truly and exclusively patriotic
IN. ts.sentiment and spirit"
"Hail Columbia" Ruined the Singer.
The, young man here referred to
was Gilbert Fox. The song written
for him made such success that II
is said to have ruined him by the
many places he was asked to sing II
and by the excessive demands OF
convivial!ty." "a, f.ss,5,,. "a
The first night II was sdHtEaSast
80 si1l5 Il1'