Evening star., 1927-04-30

Long may it wave.' is the popular
verdict on the announcement from the
National Federation Of Music Clubs
that "The Star Spangled Banner"
holds an unrelaxed grip on the title
of National Anthem" The associated
clubs conducted a $1,500 contest to
obtain a musical setting which would
create Americas S song out of Kath-
crime Lee Bates poem. America the
Beautiful" The judges decision that
no contestant was successful appar-
emily causes little sorrow, for the
Nation loves its present anthem. Some
feel, however, that, in a moment of
inspiration, a future genius will pro-
duce a song with the spirit of a new
age.
when Francis Scott Key wrote the
verses that he called The Star
Spangled Banner, =" says the Portland
Evening Express, "he had no more
idea that he was composing his coun-
try's national anthem than he had
that he was a second Milton or
Shakespeare. But the stirring lines
and the wild strains of the music to
which they were set thrilled the heart
of America as no words or air had
done before, and soon the whole
Nation rang with the song"
Recalling the history of The Mar
seillaise," the Allentown Morning Call
says that is the spirit in which the
greatest songs have been composed.
There has been some tremendous emo
tional urge back of them an and the
Call is convinced that 1.-THE Star
Spangled Banner will remain our
national anthem until, if ever, some
new song spontaneously is composed
and grips American imagination and
tongues"
Our present anthem, in the opinion
Of the New Orleans Tribune, holds q
place in the national affections that
no new anthem, however inspiring and
beautiful it might be. could take.
Long may it waver And it possibly
will. For habit is master that
keeps a tight rein on u.s." And the
San Francisco Bulletin holds that
hymns of any kind are not written
to order and far less are those Sc
lected by the people to voice their love
Of country" The Bulletin also OBJ
serves that genius is shy of compe-
titions, and even when tempted is apt
to be overlooked"
X X
'The truth of the matter is that
national anthems cannot be deliber-
atcly planned" concludes the PhilaA
delphia Record, and the Lynchburg
Advance offers the comment: 1T is
doubtful if any hymn can take the
place Of the national anthem. The
Star Spangled Banner is not easy to
sing, nor do great many Americans
know the words, but there Is a history
associated with the hymn which every
III, ic ~ NI,j
Daily News testifies that Ito Amer
leans whose musical sense is not too
much refined and whose emotional pa
triotism is all that it ought to be, The
Star Spangled Banner when we'll
played or we'll sung, imparts a thrill
that makes it seem inspired
Charging that for 20 years, taking
time out during the interruption of
II and '18, the musicians of the
country have been trying to torpedo"
the anthem, the Fort Worth Record
Telegram remarks: They should be
glad that we cling to something it
takes a graduated musician to rem
der. 1t doesn't seem too
much TO ask them kindly to let our
good old Star Spangled Banner con-
sinue 10 wind up their programs, so
we win have something to carry away
with us that reminds us of the home
liness of democracy and makes us like
it, If we don't care that we can't
sing it. why should they?" The Kala-
mazoo Gazette adds that "the chances
are that it will continue to be far
more acceptable as a national anthem
than any song carefully and studi-
ously composed with a 81 500 prize In
view."
X 4
Works of art created in response
to the temptations of a contests re-
wards are usually little more than