The Washington times., 1935-02-18

See' get lost in I'm the Dawn'S
Early Light" is because Francis
Scott Key, the young Maryland
poet, was stone deaf.
Victor Weybright, in his newly
published "Spangled Banner"
says that the author of our Ma
tional Anthem couldn't turn a
tune.
At this announcement, sew
eral billions of people who have
tried in classroom and meeting
to carry their noble emotions
and their voices through 1.-THE
Rockets Red Glare and the
Bombs Bursting in Air" to the
glorious moment when "The
Flag Was Still There" will rise
and shout, II told you sol"
Mr.. Weybright. who was wan
dering about Francis Scott
Keys haunts in Georgetown
last week, is a Baltimorean now
living in New York. AS a SEN
timental Marylander, he is
proud of the Star1Spangled
Banner and of Francis Scott
Key. AS an unbelieving New
Yorker, he finds the song diff
cult. as National Anthem. And
says so.
The tune of The Star-Span-
gled Banner"-the old English
drinking song, "Anacreon in
Heaven"-although the cause OF
years of national anguish, hand
some Mr.. Key loved from child
hood. Indeed, he used it for a
song of his ten years before he
was imprisoned on the British
warship in 1912 and gave birth
TO 1.-THE Star-Spangled Banner"
Young Mr.. Key was person
atty in his day. He was a
member of Andrew Jackson's
Kitchen cabinet" He drew mis-
brother-in-law, Roger Brooke
fancy, into politics, encouraged
his appointment as Secretary
Of the Treasury and later as an
associate justice of the United
States Supreme Court.
Incidentally (Which always
means primarily Mr., Henry
Morgenthau, when he became
Secretary of the Treasury, had
the portraits of all his predeceS-
sors stored away except that of
Roger Brooke fancy. This now
hangs behind Mr.. Morgenthau's
desk.
To return to Mr.. Key. Two
Of his descendants, Mrs. Arthur
Brice and Mr.. F. S. Key Smith,
now live in Georgetown.
Since this is the week for
patriotic thought, Friday being
whose birthday it is, a travelling
friend of ours reports that the
appraised hand of George Wash
ington on a statue in Richmond
points to the Jail.
At West Point, the Father of
His Country, so our friend
swears, directs warning fore
finger at the towns best hotel.
The gorgeous black and white
ball of the Netherlands Minister
and Madame de With was the
most dramatic event in the sea-
sons entertaining.
The extraordinarily youthful
appearance of the beautiful
Madame de With delighted the
guests. Mrs. S. Mathews Dick
was spectacular in white satin
and a white wig. Stellita Steple-
ton was enchanting in a black
gown with a wig-black on one
side and white on the other.
Isabella Greenway. handsome
representative from Arizona,
works late at night at her Capt.
tol office. Sometimes falls asleep
at desk, and is wakened by
frantic phone call from old
nurse in Georgetown-it's time
YOU come home, darlin. Lady
from Pennsylvania says why in
veStigate Numbers Racket with
washington callingcard game
what it is. Lady from Iowa
leaves card for husband. three
children and self at every good
looking front door in Washing
ton. And calls it a social season.
Confused parent phones So
ciety editor late at night about
wedding stand but stop presses
wededing stand but stop presses
and change name Of groom.
Csating committee for Annual
Stunt Party of Women'S Ma
tional Press Club, struggles to
find characters suitable for de-
butante list for prospective Len
ten Red Gross workers. White
House aides, beautiful young
men loaned from Olympus,
study segments of table-plan,
days ahead of White House din
ner. Guests must be escorted to
proper places without commo-
ton.
Mrs. Charles S. Hamlin, preSi-
dent Of Women's National Demo-
cratic Club, recites to luncheon
group La Fontaine fable about
the Pope's mule who saved up
his rage for years and then gave
such a kick that the Vatican
fell down.
Miss Mary w. Dewson, chair.
man advisory committee