Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1919-04-11
MaryIand's Contribution To
Americas Literature.
A PAPER READ BY MISS EDITH GLENN LAMAR,
AT The ROCKVILLE HIGH SCHOOL On
MARYLAND DAY,

On March 25th we all celebrate, and pay
tribute to, many historical characters who
helped to make our dear old State famous
but do we really and truly realize how
many things we have to be proud Of
There is one thing that REGRET to say hat
been neglected by both schools and indi.
viduals; that is the valuable contribution
which Maryland has made to American
literature. This. of course, is only one
phase of prominence out of the many in
which Maryland has taken large part
| wonder if we ever stop to consider where
some of the poets and prose writers. whom
we love so. came from. and where they
did most of their writingS
OF course. any comparatively short &C.
count would have to be incomplete. but
shall mention some of our greatest liter
airy leaders and some of their writings.
Edgar Allan Poe. whom we all love to
study, is rightly considered Marylander
although there has been great uncer.
tainty as to his birth place. He. however
is buried in Maryland, and many of his
masterpieces were written here. | wish
that might 60 more fully into the vicissi-
tudes Of his life, for it is, in my mind, one
the most interesting and appealing be-
cause it shows his struggle to obtain sue
cess. though handicapped by hereditary
tendencies. No one should miss reading
some of his stories and poems. ! might
mention "Annabel Lee" and THE Raven
as being two of his masterpieces in poetry
And now we come to our State anthem
Maryland. My Maryland" which we al
know, hope. and sincerely love. This was
composed by James Ryder Randall, and has
been declared by Holmes to be the greatest
war lyric of any nation. Randall's life
was not given wholly. however, to litera-
ture.
Sidney Lanier must not be left out Of
this, for we value the honor of his being
numbered among our noted Maryland writ.
ers. Maryland. however. cannot claim the
nativity of this brave genius. but she car
claim the entire portion OF his life that was
given to literature. and. with the excep.
ton of few. his poems were all written
in Baltimore. and he is buried in Baltimore
His lode to Johns Hopkins University" i:
one of note.
Then Richard Malcolm johnson. the
author of "Dukesborough Tales. is classed
with Maryland writer's. because most Of
his literary work was done in Maryland
He is noted for his Southern courtesy anC
dignity as well as his contribution to liter
allure.
out the women. We have many, but
shall mention only a comparatively small
number. Some of them are: Amelia B
Welby, Mary Eliza Lafimer, Anna Eli
Carroll. May Ireland and Estelle Lewis.
Our State is still contributing to Ameri
can literature, for we find some well-knowl
writers in our midst. in the present day
Folger McKinsey. better known as tn
Bentztown Bard, gives daily contribution
TO the Baltimore Sun.
William Tyler Page. of Frederick county
is the author of THE Americans Creed +;
and we surely must be proud to acknowl
edge that one of our own patriots has con
tributed so beautiful creed to the people
of the world.
And now. saving the best for the last
we proudly come to our beloved forefather
Francis Scott Key. who was the author o
our national anthem. Does it not thrill u
to know that one of Maryland's sons CAV
to America its anthem. THE Star Spangle,
Banner?" He was born in Maryland an,
was buried in Maryland. We all know tn,
story of how. in 1914. while detained on
British war vessel. just outside of Balti
more. he wrote our national song. whic
is too well known to repeat now. We a
can proudly predict that. so long as ther
exists our beloved country, his memoir
shall always be cherished throughout 9TH
land of the free and the home of the brave.