Evening star., 1922-06-15
Elements Of Greatness


terest: he wrote of his qualification
that it was so well regarded.
Elements Of Greatness.
'Tf one, forgetting the music, will
ponder that poem of battle and vic
tory and thanksgiving, I think he
win comprehend the elements that
have made it great-great as song
Of patriotism and exaltation. great
merely as a piece Of poetical por-
trsiture. The frSt stanza tells the
anxiety with which, after the bonn
Dardment had ceased tbe a1shor 1ssr
and asked the one question whose
answer would tell the fateful story:
".:' can you see. by the dawn's early l.5ht.
What % proudly we hail'd at the tN1light's
last cleaning.
I'm the second stanza he glimpses
the banner. and bursts Into song Of
rejoicing. The third stanza Is a. de-
fiance of the oppressor. and then. in
the note Of thanksgiving. the prayer
that the victory may be justified in
the conduct of race OF freemen:
O.. thus be It ever. when freemen shall stand
Between their lov'd home and the wars des-
-olatioE
THAT was the poets prayer. We
may fairly claim. in pride for the
brothers, the prayer has been grant
ed. The faith has been kept.
"It is the hope of every American
heart today that it will continue to
| be kept. The intervening century
has brought our country power and
burdens Of responsibility. making US
share the difficult problems of world
| in the turmoil of new time. We
! need all the inspiration and faith
which fired his glowing soul Of
patriotism. No generation Of men has
| path smoothed. or to find its prob
lens solved for it in advance. Solu-
tion is the fit price we pay for our
great Inheritance of liberty and op-
portunity.
Exaltation I'm Trial.
"The outstanding and the reassur-
ing thought Of today is the supreme
| exaltation of Key. in the hour of
great trial. to reveal the soul Of a
! patriot. in the night of surprising
! anxiety and devotion to country.
NO concern for self narrowed his
ridual marred his vision. No pur-
suit Of fame set his soul ablaze. No
| personal advantage hindered his pen.
| His country and his concern for its
| safety wore combined in his all-con-
! suming thought; the nation was the
great. uplifting and exaltinE love: In
this fmpassioned. anxious. self-sacrific-
| ing, exalting and eXulting love Of coun-
/ try. transcending all else, Key reached
f; the sublime heights. and wrote the
! poetic revelation Of an American soul
af1ame.
"If our generation is called to
shoulder unprecedented burdens. it
| may rejoice in unexampled strength.
. Everlastingly right in the great
| fundamentals, we may face the future
| with every confidence, providing men
| public and its righteous institutions.
and give first thought and unfailing
devotion to the nations perpetuity.
| s"An American citizenship of the
| high and simple faith of Francis
[ Scott Key. aflame for defense, and no
| less devoted in meeting the problems
| Of peace, will add to the luster of the
| banner he so proudly acclaimed
| Every glittering star is fixed. every
| worthwhile procession is the more
impressive for its bearing. every pas
sion for country is refined by its un-
folding. On ships of mercy or yes
, the memorials Of peace. in rejoicing
| procession or flying from the staff
| over the simple temples of the school
! ing youth of America--everywhe it
! pleases the eye. and reassures the
| heart and stirs the soul. until We sing
! in all confidence with the poet
| patriot:
The Star spangled Banner in triumph Shall
DER the land of the free and the home Of
/ the brave