Evening star., 1939-09-03

Glory. But When we nave been a
countries, where the stars and ST.
hold it, our entire being just becomes
thrilled. and our minds turn to home
and the grand Republic 1t repre-
sents. and we thank God we have
the privilege of living in a democ-
racy of the people, by the people and
for the people!
There have been numerous oc-
casions when American patriots have
looked upon the dear old flag for
the last time before closing their
eyes forever, and there have been
many others who have willingly
risked everything precious to them
for it. Numberless poets have sung
its praise, but no one has ever quite
equaled in stirring sentiment The
Star Spangled Banner" written by
Francis Scott Key during the early
morning hours of September IA
1914, century and quarter ago
Lived in Georgetown.
Key, Marylander by birth, whose
last resting place is in st. Aloysius
Cemetery. Frederick, Md, was, al
the time he wrote this famous piece
resident of Georgetown, then 9
separate municipality in the Dis
trict of Columbia, but now part OF
the City of Washington.
The story of the writing of this
song begins just prior to the cap
ture of the Capital City and the
burning of the public buildings by
the British on August "a, 1914.
The enemy had landed its forces,
on August 10. miles below Bene-
dict, Charles County, Md, and from
there the invaders had taken up
their march to the Capital, passing
through the village of Upper Marl-
boro Here lived prosperous and
well-known physician named Will
liam Beanes, whose home was Sc
lected as the headquarters of Gen
Ross. I mention this because DR.
Beanes was unconsciously the i'm
mediate contributing cause of. Keys
presence off Baltimore during the
memorable bombardment of 1914.
Beanes, it appeared. had played
host to the British officers while
they were occupying his residence
He had a large number of slaves
and horses and other valuable prop
erty, and most naturally thought
that discretion was the better part
of valor.
However, his courtesy to the Brit
ish seems to have misled them into
assuming that he was pro-British,
whereas just the contrary was really
the case, since DR.. Beanes had
served in the American Army dur
Ing the Revolutionary War and was
100 per cent loyal to his own country
Subsequent Events.
What subsequently happened was
this: On the day Gen. Ross passed
through Marlboro, after his tri-
umphant march into the City OF
Washington. where he destroyed by
fire 100000 worth of public prop
erty, including magnificent library
and valuable archives that money
could never replace, and while he
was returning to the British fleet
marauders appeared in the town
and were arrested and thrown into
the county Jail by a committee
headed by this same DR.. Beanes and
several friends.
One of those imprisoned escaped
and informed Gen. Ross of the cir
cumstances. He ordered the arrest
of DR.. William Hill, Philip Weems
and DR. Beanes. The first two were
released, but DR.. Beanes, at Not
tingham, was taken aboard one OF
the British vessels, which, with the
rest of the feet, weighed anchor
from Benedict on August %.
G. c. Magruder, jr.. in an article
written sometime since, tells us
that DR.. Beanes was forced to arise
from his bed after midnight at the
point of a revolver, scarcely per-
mitted to clothe himself, and made
to ride horseback on rough-gaited
cadaverous animal to Benedict, IS
miles distant. From here the fleet
proceeded toward Baltimore by way
Of Chesapeake Bay.
In. the meantime DR.. Beanes
friends we're active in his behalf
and it was upon the appeal of Rich
ard w. West that Francis Scott Key
was induced to seek the release OF
the doctor.
Relative of Taney.
Key was a member of the bar and
q brother -in-law of Roger Brooke
Taney, Secretary of the Treasury
and later Chief Justice of the United
States, who married Anna Arnold
Key. He was born on an estate in
Frederick County, Md, known as
Terra Rubra, August 8, 1880. After
graduating from St. Johns College
Annapolis. he married Mary Tayloe
Lloyd, who, 1t is said, showed such
Indifference to his sonnets that she
frequently made curl papers out OF
them.
Shortly after beginning the prac-