The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-17
LETTERS TO EDITOR
A Truly National Anthem

l To the Editor of The Age-Herald: | While both a national anthem and na- tional prohibition are being so widely dis cussed, it is interesting to- some of us 1 to note the ever present comical side to even some of our most serious national 1 problems, for our public is about to,I
 strain at gnat and swallow camel" l The verses of My Country, 'Tis of | Thee,' being set to an English melody, cause many to refuse it as our American national anthem. Many others agr.e | upon the "Star-Spangled Banner" as our 1 one and only national anthem The mel 1 ody to the Star Spangled Banner is not only English, but it is the melody to an English drinking song. While we aie i discussing nationwide prohibition, and a | truly American national anthem, we are 1 about to adopt the melody of az English drinking song for our national anthem. Louis Elson, the historian, has in his pos session a copy of this English drinking song, the music of which Francis Scott Key used for his "Star-Spangled Ban ner." It was published in the eighteenth century. Bison states that the words were written between 1770-1775 for a jo- | vial club called "The Anacreontics, which met in the Strand, London, and that the tune was probably written by 1 Dr. Samuel Arnold. This tune was known l all over America before Francis Scott | Key appropria ted it for his famous words. Tt was used" writes Bison, ''at a banquet of the Massac chusetts Charita l ble association, in Boston,, June l, 17S, | with words by Robert Treat Paine then l known as Tom PaineO in praise of the | President, and entitled, Adams and Liberty This version became famous | throughout the country. It was subse i! quently altered into Jefferson and Lib- l erty' in Philadelphia version. On March 25 1873, it was sung in Boston with l new words in honor of the Russian vic l tories over Napoleon, and it was prob l ably in this guise that Key remembered l 1t when writing his famous verses" Keys verses of the -Spangled Ban 1 ner'' were first published in the Baltimore | American. Following are the verses of the English drinking song, entitled, ITO | Anacreon in Heaven," and sung by the l club called ''The Anacreontics:" Words by Ralph Tomlinson. Melody 1 probably written by pr. Samuel Arnold: gro Anacreon in Heaven, Where he sat in full glee, 1 A few sons of Harmony sent petition | That he their inspirer and patron would | be. When this answer arrived from the jolly |
 old Grecian Voice, fiddler and flute,
 I'll lend you my name and inspire you I to boot, And beside I'll instruct you. like me. to 1 entwine
 The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus
 vine.'
 It is a great pity that Key selected the | music of a drinking cong as a setting | for his famous verses. Especially is 1t to | be regretted that this music accompanies | such ioble ideas expressed in his fourth | stanza, which can be recalled, alas by | too few of us, when it is being played: "Oh, thus be it ever when free men shall |
 stand
 Between their loved homes and wild |
 wars desolation;
 Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the
 heav'n rescued land,
 Praise the pow'r that hath made and
 preserved us nation!
 Then conquer we must when our cause
 it is just,
 And this be our motto, Tn God is our
 trustv
 And the Star-Spangled Banner in tri-
 umph shall wave
 Der the land of the free, and the home
 of the brave."
 Is it not possible for such a glorious nation as is ours to have truly Amer ican national anthem? Very truly.
 DAISY WOODRUFF ROWLEY.
 Birmingham, April IS. 1917