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

Of the Tooth anniversary OF the writing of Keys
immortal song, let us glance moment at Phila-
delphias share in popularizing that anthem.
Whenever a song achieves enormous popu-
larity there usually appears the untroubed
waters controversy that is carried over from
one generation to another. SO 1t has been
with Keys song, which. like Hopkinson's Hail,
Columbial" 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 has been settled a
good many times to the satisfaction Of some
of the dsputants; nevertheless, there seems
to be a good deal needed to entirely clear the
atmosphere. A Philadelphan, 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 Analeotlc 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, It stlll
was unnamed.
Key wrote his poem, is very well known,
while he was on n British ship that was en-
gagged in the bombardment OF Fort MoHenry
in September, 1914 1t is descriptive of his
thoughts and feelings, aroused as they
to 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" but even this rather weak title for
so lusty song could not destroy it's influence.
during the War of 1912, and, usual, Key
did not know that he doing the best thing
Of its kind ever penned Genius nearly always
fails to recognize itself. Some one 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 soon as It came to the
editors hand. But when the editor of the
Analectic, at that time Washington Irving,
saw the poem in the newspapers, he did the
best he could to bestow the wreath.
He placed 1t at the head of the poetry in the
November number of the Analectc, 1914, and
introduced 1t with description of the circum-
stances under which 1t was written. At the
same time he wrote that 1t was far too vau-
able a piece of verse to permit to be lost.
Thus it came about that the first literary
recognition OF the Stars -spangled Banner came
from n Philadelphia magazine.
But there is another chapter to this.
The first man to sing the star-Spangled Ban
ner also was a Philadelphia, and his descend
ants have aroused 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
were the sons of a performer in the old Chest
nut Street Theatre, also connected with
the theatrical profession Charles Durang was
a dancing master here for years and wrote a
history of the Philadelphia theatres. Both of
the Durangs enlisted in the Harrisburg Blues
when there a call for volunteers to repel
the British, who were going strong in the
neighborhood OF the Chesapeake. They were
in camp near Baltimore and stationed at Feu's
Point.
They were In Baltimore soon after the at
tack on the fort and there handed a copy
Of the poem Now here is where the con-
troversy begins
According to Charles Durang's version Of this
event, he read over the song and said to his
brother, This would make n good national
song" And thereupon he began to search for
piece of music that would ht the words He
forth a well-Isnown song. then very popular.
entitled, "To Anacreon in Heaven" and de-
cIded that it was Just the thing.
OF course, the words did IT. They fitted to
niccty, because evidently Key had the meter
Of the drinking song in his head at the time
he wrote. 1t was 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 IA
years previously, and at this time widely known
1t is probable that Key knew 1t better than he
did the original "TO Anacreon in Heaven"
which was an English song sung by the Anac-
rconiic Society. which he thought was the air
to which his song should be sung.
Yet, on the strength Of that remark about
finding a piece OF music to ht, some attempts
have been made TO belittle Durang's version Of
how the song was first sung In public
It is well 20 remember that those who would
deny Durang the honor he claims for himself
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 on our so-caIIed ma
tional songs Mr.. sonneck. Of the Library or
Congress gives a list Of more than 40 books
articles and other material that refer to the
history OF that one song Mr.. Sonnecls bool,
was printed five years ago and believe he
would now he compelled to even double tho
length Of his list.
AS TO the real authorship Of the music. the
result OF the various controversies thus far has
been to even further obscure the point
Ihe Rev Dr. II. T. Henry, president Of the
Catholic High School for Boys, and DIR Cr,+
tan Flood have been engaged I'm one of Tho
most elaborate controversies about the ORIGIN
OF the air OF the Star-Spanged Banner that