Evening star., 1922-06-15

set US all singing There's a Hot Time
in the Old Town Tonight which in a
day became the Army's marching and
fighting song. The world war pro-
duced a really remarkable group OF
the songs Of inspiration and patriot
We're singing them. There were many,
and they served well; but none has,
even fer moment, threatened the
throne which The Star Spangied ban.
ner' occupies as the royal anthem OF
American patriotism.
History OF Competition.
1.-THE composition Of The Star
Spangled Banner seemed. at the time,
a minor incident among major events.
The British government had sent a
great expedition to occupy the Chesa-
peake, and to drive out the pr1Vateers
which, from its waters, made thelr
tireless forays against British snip
which to drive a great military force
northward. simultaneously an army
was to advance from Canada south
ward through the Hudson valley. the
general plan being to split the coun-
try along the line of the Hudson. the
Delaware and the Chesapeake. 1t was
the same strategical conception
fundamental in the British program
of revolutionary years.
The campaign started of success
fully. The British occupied the lower
Chesapeake ana Potomac. captured
Washington. and then turned to re-
duce Fort McHenry, sentinel at the
gates of Baltimore. Then the way
would be open for the army's opera
ton in accordance with the general
design.
"One need not tell Maryland audi
ence how significant was the failure
of the night attack on Fort McHenry.
It spelled the failure of the most am
bilious project ever put forth for the
subjugation Of this continent: The
of regulars saved the Chesapeake.
and won for Baltimore the distinction
of being the only great seaport on the
Atlantic coast which has never been
occupied by an enemy. I trust that
for all the future Baltimore will have
to share that fortune with every
other seaport, but the fact remains
that when the British armada of 1914
retired, beaten, from Fort McHenry,
it left with Baltimore the eminence
of being the one great American port
over which no enemy nag had ever
waved.
Hymn Outshines Victory.
that September day, the victory has
proved of very minor interest in the
popular mind. compared to the fact
that the battle inspired The Star
Spangled Banner MFR. Key had gone
as a quasi official envoy on board
the British flagship to seek release
of an American prisoner. Admiral
Cock burn was unwilling to let him
return until after the bombardment,
lest some Of the plans should get
to the knowledge of the Americans
So: Mr.. Key and friend were de-
tanned on board a cartel ship, the
Minden. from which they saw the
bombardment. The rockets, red
glare, the bombs bursting in air
were watched all night long by the
two Americans. torn with anxiety
for the fate of their city and country.
THE poem was written on an en-
velope and other scraps of paper
during the bombardment and within
a few hours afterward. 1t was lit
orally the inspiration Of great mo-
ment and a moving experience. On
the retirement of the defeated feet
Mr.. Key was given. his freedom and
the poem was published at once, at
tanning instant popularity.
Did Francis Scott Key. during the
narrowing hours of that summer
night vigil in the storm of battle,
realize that he was producing an
immortal work? Is it possible that
to his poets soul came later realiza-
ton that he had written lines which
meant undying fame? There are evil
dences that he did conceive that the
great inspiration had raised him to
heights he had never touched before.
When the poem was printed and cir
culated in Baltimore he watched its