The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-08-09
AMERICAN NATIONAL ANTHEM A SUBJECT
 OF CONTROVERSY

Whether s"rhe Star Spangled Ban-
 ner" or My Country, Iris of Thee, 2
 is the national song Of the United
 States has lately been a subject of
 controversy between United States
 Senator Rayner. of Maryland, and
 United States Senator Hepburn, of
 Idaho. MT. RAyner naturally jn-
 clines to 'The Star sSpangld Banner, J
 since that hymn was composed. and first sung in Maryland and it's author,
 Francis Scott Key, was native of
 that State. Key was born in Fred
 erick County, Md, 132 years ago to- day, Aug. g. 1780. and it was the pa- 1872 that led to his composition of
 what is usually referred to as the
 American national humn.''
 The Rayner-Heyburn controversy
 began some months ago. following the
 Maryland Senator's introduction of a
 measure for preserving and perpetual
 ing old Fort McHenry. The Rayner resolution recited that there the na-
 tional anthem, 'NThe Star Spangled Banner" was born. The Idaho Sen
 ator dida not deny that the fort was worthy of preservation. or that it was the birthplace of the famous song, but seriously questioned the state ment that 1t was the national an- them,' Senator Heyburn is probably right in declaring that "Tfle Star Spangled Banner has never been of hcially chosen as the national anthem but there is little doubt that it is generally accepted as such by the great majority of the people of the United Etates. My Country, Iris of Thee" is handicapped by being set to the Germanic air of God Save the King" When a British or. Canadian band seeks to compliment the United States, it necessarily plays '"The Star Spangled Banner" and that air is rec ognized as the official national anthem by the army, navy and militia of the United States. The one drawback to Keys song is that it's toprnost note is too high for any but the best trained of voices, and that the average singer screeches terribly when that note is reached.
 Francis Scott Key, whose birthday anniversary Americans will honor to- day, was lawyer, and for some time was district attorney for the District born and died in Maryland. When the British ascended Chesapeake Bay, in 1874, and captured Washington, Dr. William Beanes, one of Keys friends, was made a. prisoner Key sought to bring about an exchange whereby pr. Beanes could secure his freedom President Madison approved of the
 
 ner, agent for the exchange of prison CTS, to Gen Ross, the British com mander. The latter consented to the exchange, but ordered that Key and Skinner be detained until after the impending attack on Baltimore. They were accordingly placed on board the British frigate Surprise, but little later were permitted to return, under guard, to their own vessel, and from it's deck they witnessed the bombard- ment of Fort McHenry. By the glare of guns they could see the flag flying during the night, and when dawn broke the Stars and Stripes still float ed over the fort, and Baltimore was saved. The gallant defense so stir red Keys latent poetic powers that he wrote ''The Star Span gled Banner Key died in Baltimore in 1S43 A magnificent monument to his memory was erected in San Fran cisco with a fund of $60,O00 bequeathed tor that purpose by James Lick. The 1ir of the national anthem was not original, but was adapted from the song, "Anacreon in Heaven,c' com posed by an Englishman, John Staf- ord Smith in 1775