The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-06-20
why. sure" thought they, ''the DEVILS


'Mongst folks above the water"
The kegs, tits said, tho strongly made
OF rebel slaves and hoops, sirs,
Could not oppose the powerful foes,
The conquering British troops, sirs.
From morn to night these men of might
Displayed amazing courage,
And when the sun was fairly down
Returned to sup their porridge.
A hundred men with each a pen,
i Or more-upon my word, sirs,
1t is most true-would be too few
Their valor to record, sirs,
Such feats did they perform that day
Upon those wicked kegs, sirs,
That years to come, if they get home.
They'll make their boasts and brags,
sirs.
In 1888 Hopkinson published group
of seven songs which he dedicated to
His Excellency, George Washington"
Whether or not this had anything to
do with his appointment as United
States district judge in Pennsylvania
is a matter for conjecture. At any
rate in 1890 Washington named him
for that position. He did not live long
to enjoy the new honor, however, for
he died of a stroke Of apopleXy on
May 9, 1891.
His son, Joseph Hopkinson, born in
Philadelphia November u, 1910. fol-
lowed closely in his fathers footsteps.
Graduated from the University of
Pennsylvania in 1856, he also studied
law and began practice in Easton.
Pa, in 1871. But he soon returned
to Philadelphia and rapidly rose to
a position of prominence at the bar.
He was elected to congress in 1914
and at the close of his term moved to
Bordentown where he remained until
1922. He then resumed the practice
of law and in 1928 President John
Quincy Adams appointed him judge
of the United States court for the
eastern district of Pennsylvania, the
same Office held by his grandfather,
Thomas Hopkinson, under the British
crown. Hopkinson died in Philadelphia
Jonuary Is, 1912.
In addition to his distinction as
jurist, Hopkinson was for many years
president of the Philadelphia academy
of fine arts, which he helped found,
and vice president of the American
Philosophical society which his IA
Their had helped establish. He was a
writer of wide renown on legal, edu-
cational and ethical subjects but he is
best remembered for the patriotic song
which he wrote in 1898.
Conflicting stories are told as to the
reason for Hopkinson writing Hail
Columbia" According to one version
he wrote it in honor of President John
Adams because of Adams protest
against the shameful attempt of the
French government to exact brides
from American ministers sent to
France to make treaty which would
smooth out the difficulties between
that country and the United States.
Another version is that it was writ
ten in order ito get up an American
spirit which should be independent of
and above the interests, passions and
policy of both belligerents" in the
threatened war between France and
Great Britain.
Whatever the motive back of it, it
seems pretty definitely established that
Philadelphia theaters went to Hop
kinson and tried with his help to put
words to piece of music called 1.-The
Presidents March," which was an ar
rangement of an old German folk song.
Fox had been unable to find words
that would adequately express the ma
tional feeling, but HOpkinson and his
wife wrote such song and Mrs. Hop
kinson played it on the clavichord.
Fox sang the song in the theater, ad-
vertising it as the new federal song"
and it gained instant popularity. 1t
was not known as Hail Columbia"
however, until it was first sung in a
New York theater some time later,
but for the next 10 years, until Fran
els Scott Keys "Star Spangled Ban
ner" swept the country. it was regard
ed as the only national song of the
new republic.
tA 1880. western Newspaper UniOn.l