Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-15
DONE IN PHILADELPHIA


larIty there usually appears on the untroubled
waters a controversy that is carried over from
one generation to another So 1t has been
with Keys song which, like Hopkinson's Hail.
Columbla!" did not originally bear the title by
which It is now known to countless millions.
The controversy in this instance, however,
does not reflect upon Francis Scott Key, but
RACES around the identity Of the composer OF
the music. Like many another controversy OF
similar character this one has been settled
good many times to the satisfaction OF some
OF the disputants; nevertheless, there seems
to be good deal needed to entirely clear the
atmosphere A Phlladelphian. too, has engaged
in this entertaining occupation, but 1t is not
about him that want to chat today.
1t was in the pages Of Philadelphia maga-
zine, the Analectc, which In its time was the
foremost monthly In this country, and not sur
passed by any in London, that Keys poem
first received a printed form that might be
called permanent. At that time also 1t still
was unnamed
Key wrote his poem, as is very well known,
while he was on a British ship that was en-
ged in the bombardment OF Fort McHenry
in September. 1914. 1t is descriptive of his
thoughts and feelings. aroused they were
to a high pitch of patriotism, and when he
returned to Baltimore after the unsuccessful
bombardment he gave the manuscript to a
friend. who soon had 1t put in type in one OF
the Baltimore newspaper offices.
It was entitled "The Defense of Fort Nc
Henry" hut this rather weak title for
so usty song could not destroy its influence.
II was by all odds the best poem produced
during the War of 1912. and. as usual, Key
did not know that he was doing the best thing
Of its kind ever penned. Genius nearly always
fails to recognize itself. Some has to place
the wreath Of fame on their brow before they
understand.
The poem was printed in nearly every news
paper of the time as It to the
EDITORS hand. But when the editor Of the
Analectlc, at that time Washington Irving.
saw the poem in the newspapers, he did the
best ne could to bestow the wreath.
He placed il Mt the head OF the poetry in the
November number of the Analectic, 1914, and
introduced it with a description of the crcum-
stances under which it was written. At the
same time he wrote that II far too valu-
able piece of verse to permit to be lost
Thus it came about that the first literary
recognition of the Star -spangled Banner came
from Philadelphia magazine.
But there Is another chapter to this.
The first man to sing the star-Spangled Ban
also Philadelphia, and his descend
ants have aroused a great deal OF controversy
because of slight remark he made about
the circumstances of this first public singing
OF the immortal song.
To be exact, there was not one who sang the
song first. but two, the brothers, Charles and
Ferdinand DuranE These young men, who
were the of n performer in the old Chest
nut Street Theatre, also were connected with
the theatrical profession. Charles Durang was
n dancing master here for years and wrote
history OF the Philadelphia theatres. Both OF
the DuranEs enlisted in the Harrisburg Blues
when there was call for volunteers to repel
the British. who going strong in the
neighborhood of the Chesapeake. They were
in camp near Baltimore and stationed at Fells
Point.
They were in Baltimore soon after the at
tack on the fort and there were handed copy
Of the poem. Now, here is where the con-
trovcrsy begins.
According to Charles Durangs version of this
event. he read over the song aud said to his
brother This would make good national
song" And thereupon he began to search for
a piece of music that would 1T the words. lie
said that he went through his trunk and pulled
forth n well-known song, then very popular.
entitled, "To Anacrcon in Heaven and de-
cided that It was just the thing
OF course the words did Mt. They fitted to
n nicely, because evidently Key had the meter
Of the drinking in his head at the time
he wrote It not the first time the same
music had been used to the words of an Amer
lean patriotic song, There was adams and
Liberty" written by Robert Treat Paine "A
years previously and at this time widely known.
1t is probable that Key knew it better than he
did the original ITO Anacreon in Heaven"
which was an English song sung by the Anac-
reonir Society, which he thought was the air
to which his song should he sung
Yet, ON the strength Of that remark about
finding piece Of music to fit, some attempts
have been made to belitte Durnug's version of
how the song WAS first sung in public
II Ia Wei to remember that those who would
deny Durang the honor he claims for bimseI,
and brother have not attempted to designate
any other place or circumstance under which
the song first received its public presentation
In his valuable treatise our so-called ma
tional songs Mr.. Sonneck, Of the Library NJ
Congress gives list Of more than 40 books.
articles and other material that refer IN tho
history OF that one song. Mr. =onnecl,'s bool,
was printed five years ago, and boIieva he
would now be compelled to even double the
length of his list.
As TO the real authorship of the r,,,st. ,,.
result Of the various controversies thus far b,.
been to even further obscure the point.
The Rev Dr. II. T. Henry. president of the
Catholic High School for Boys, and Dr. Graf
tan Flood have been engaged I'm one or ,ho
most elaborate controversies about the orrcin
of the air of the star spaugled Banner ,ha,
has yet been "aged. Both regarded highly
as authorities on general hymnology but so
far as l can CLEAN from their articles the oues-
tion OF the authorship OF the tune is sttI on
debatable ground.