Evening star., 1932-02-21
*Hail, Columbia" Refers to First President

11d1lo WI
~ ECAUSE Hail Columbia" refers directly
to Washington himself because its
* stirring lines were set to the music OF
THE Presidents March," compost
ton prepared in honor of Washingtons
first Inauguration, and because Wash
1ngton wrote q letter Of thanks to its author,
Joseph Hopkinson, this patriotic poem holds .
place Of distinction among Americas national
anthems.
The last stanza of the song directly eulo-
gizes Washington In the words:
Behold the chief ,pto no,p connands
Once more to serre his country stands.
The rock on tphich the storm tD1s beGti
The rock on tohich the storm ,oas beatl
But armed T. pirtue, firm and true,
His hopes are NDaE on heapen and you.
When hope toas sinking In disnsay,
When gloom obscured Colunabia's day,
His steady mind. from changes free.
Resolves on death or liberty
Hail, Columbia" was written for actors
benefit performance held In the Chestnut
Street Theater, Philadelphia, April Is. 1898.
Joseph Hopkinson the brilliant young lawyer
who was asked to prepare a song for the oc-
casion, wisely set enthusiastic words to the IN
spring measure of 1.-The Presidents March,"
which for more than eight years had been the
popular melody Of the country. Patriotic lines
combined with the beloved tune had the effect
OF setting the audience ''on fire" with delight.
The applause was overwhelming. The masses
took up the song Immediately. It swept the
country and had q helpful influence on public
affairs A serious crisis In our affairs with
the French government was impending. An
Army had been raised and washington. al
though in his sixty-seventh year, had again
been appointed commander in chief, hence
the timely reference in the poem, the CHIEF
once more to serve his country stands"
DHIIADELPHIA was then the National Capt.
tai Its streets rang with the song which
had taken such hold on popular favor. Pres
ident Adams and his entire cabinet attended
the theater to hear it sung. One historian
tells us that Its lofty expression Of high
idealism was splendidly adequate and In
sured the melody an endearing popularity. It
appealed to courage and mingled sentiment
with the patriotic theme. The tune
helped to make it universally appreciated"
Another says: "Our war songs have come
from the hearts of their writer's. The public
welcomed and sang them with delight be-
cause they expressed the feelings of the
masses. Some critics have called our anthems
crude but great composers have said their
genius was In their utter simplicity" Set,
as was Hail, Columbia" to the famous air
OF the day, it is little wonder that the pop
ulace caught it up with fervor and sent it
echoing through the land and across the At
lantic with the war slogan so popular and
appropriate at the time: Millions for defense,
but not one cent for tribute" The words
LET independence be your boast, ever mind
full what it cost, ever grateful for the prize,
let its altar reach the skies made q direct
appeal to pride of country and love Of home.
Joseph Hopkinscn submitted a compliment
ary copy of his production to Washington,
under date Of May 9, 1893, and said, aluding
to the song: "As to the song, it was a hasty
composition and can pretend to very little
extrinsic merit-yet believe its public re-
ception has at least equaled anything Of the
kind.
THE theatres here and in New York have
fesounded with it night after night, and men
and boys in the street sing it as they Co."
IN reply Washington addressed the young
] poet-lawyer from Mount Vernon Sunday,
May 81, 1893:
IAN absence Of more than eight days from
home, on a visit to our friends In the Federal
City, is offered as an apology for my not
giving your polite and obliging favour Of the
9th instant an earlier acknowledgment. I
pray you now, my good sir, to accept my
best thanks for the song"
This letter IS a striking example of what
one biographer Of washington explains in the
following sketch: 1.-The virtuous simplicity
hgton, though less known that the dazzling