davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1942-03-08
BENJAMIN Franl<lin-The Earliest Great American

guage that has a printing press. The
stove he invented bears his name. and
the lightning rod is forever associated
with it. He organized the United States
postal servics and instituted the dead
letter Office.
Things not so well known are that
he was the first notable American
athlete, published the first foreign
language newspaper in America, planned
the first American magazine, made the
original observations out of which the
Weather Bureau developed, drew and
printed the first American cartoon, in
vented a draft for fireplaces and was
a pioneer in the science OF ventilation,
was the first scholar to study the Gulf
Stream, saw the first men go up In
free balloon and was first to prophesy
that war might be made from the air.
and received the first letter carried
through the air, by balloon from London
to Paris. The oldest of the great
Americans of the Revolution, he saw
furthest into the future.
Among great American statesmen,
Franklin is the only one who has
great name in science, the only one who
wrote book that belongs to world
literature, the only one who was equally
at home in America, England and
France-at once intensely native and
perfectly cosmopolitan.
Far from sinking out of sight as time
passes, Franklin steadily emerges. like
a mountain which seemed no higher
than others when we were close to them,
but which as we move away rises above
them all, And yet there is nothing
overpowering in Franklin's eninence.
The more we learn about him, and the
more we wonder at him, the more also
we take a comfortable delight In his
serenity and good humor and candor
and charm. We are proud to belong
to the Nation that produced him. We
honor his talents and achievements.
But we feel that the man was more
than his works, and that while his works
have spread out into the broad stream
of American life. the man has somehow
managed to outlast them all, still him
self. still a delightful friend as well a.
a mighty hero.
Evening star., 1942-03-08
Wide word Photo,

resort to nearby brewery for this pur-
pose. After the bombsrdment, Col.
Armistead retained the flag as a me-
mento, and it still is the property Of one
of his descendants.
Previous to its being deposited In the
Museum, it was used upon a number Of
public occasions, principally when 1t
f1oated over Gen. Washington's war tent
at the time of the reception to Gen. La
fayette during his visit 10 the United
States in 1924, and again in 1880, when 1t
formed strikin, feature Of the celebra-
ton at Baltimore Of the battle Of Fort
McHenry. having guard of honor of 200
descendants of those who fought under it
when the Red Devil Of the Chesapeake"
as the British admiral was called, tried to
destroy Fort McHenry and take the city
Of Baltimore.
In the Museum, in the same case with
the flag. is a silver punch bowl given by
the citizens Of Baltimore to Col.
Armistead for his heroic defense. 1t is
in the form and size Of the largest bomb
shell thrown into the fort. The ladle is
in the form Of q shrapnel shell and the
goblets represent powder barrels.
1t was only in recent years that The
Star Spangled Banner" was recognized
as the national anthem, and to John
Charles Ltnthicum, a member of Con-
gresS from Maryland, Is due the credit Of
securing the passage of the act declaring
the composition consisting Of the words
and music - as the national anthem
of the United States OF America" The
act was signed by President Herbert
Hoover March 3. 1881.
When you motor through Upper Marl-
boro stop long enough to see the grave
OF DR.. BeaneS, and the next time you
drive through Frederick, enter that city
by the Clarksburg route from Washing
ton, and just on the outskirts you will see
Mount Olivet Cemetery and in circular
plot. carefully cared for. you will find q
monument on which is tablet inscribed:
Written BY
Francis Scott Key.
Born Died
August 9, 1870. January II, l543.
And then the lines Of The Star Span
gled Banner"
At the time of the writing Of this
anthem our country was at war with
Great Britain. But now, after the lapse
of century and quarter, we are fight
ing together, shoulder to shoulder. for
liberty, religious freedom and democracy.
Evening star., 1942-03-08

that often looked hopeless. Probably
every day Of the war Washington wished
he were back on his farm, Franklin that
he were back at his experiments. Each
of them for the sake Of his country had
turned away from what he liked and
valued most in private life. But there
they stood, throughout the long struggle,
like the towers or temples of an un-
shakable faith.
When Franklin at 80 left Paris for
America he looked forward to philoso-
piers retirement. But almost at once
he was elected President (Governor) of
Pennsylvania, and he was inevitably
delegate to the Federal convention which
formed the Constitution of the United
States. His temperate wisdom kept the
convention from breaking up into an
tagonistic parties. The finished Consti-
tuition was not altogether what he wished
1t to be, but without him there might
have been no Constitution at all.
Too old and feeble to be considered
for first President, Franklin lived only
long enough to see the first few months
of the new Government he had done so
much to bring into existence and to
shape. Then, like Moses ON Pisgah, he
looked into the promised land which his
people were to enter and enjoy. In one
of his last letters he summed up what
amounts to his blessing on this Govern
ment and every good government.
God grant that not only the love of
liberty but thorough knowledge of the
rights of man may pervade all the ma
tions of the earth, so that a philosopher
may set his foot anywhere on its surface
and say: This is my country"
What survives from Franklin's life
and work century and half after his
death? There are. of course, the be-.
quests to Boston and Philadelphia which
have grown into the most munificent
money gifts ever made by philosopher.
There are the library, the hospital, the
fire insurance company. the scientific
society, the academy Eventually the
university which he helped found IN
Philadelphia. His autobiography has
been more widely read than any other
and has been translated into every Ian
Evening star., 1942-03-08

also the leader among the men who were
changing Philadelphia from a little pro-
vincial town to the most important city
in the American Colonies and one Of the
important cities in the British Empire.
In 1883 he became Postmaster General
for North America and the next year
drew up his plan for a union Of the
Colonies which was to be, as it turned
out, forecast of the United States.
Franklin at first had no thought Of
independence. He desired only to unite
the Colonies in local affairs within the
larger frame of imperial government.
His vision for the future included both
sides of the Atlantic. If America de-
pended on Great Britain, SO did Great
Britain depend on America. Together
they might, he wrote a little later, set
up "the greatest political structure hu-
man wisdom ever yet erected"
For 18 years before TITS Franklin
spent most of his time in London as
agent of various colonies and, In effect,
Ambassador from America. Firmly hold
ing out for justice to his native country.
he was also faithful to his imperial vi
sion. Justice to America, he knew, was
in the long run necessity for the whole
empire What he proposed was sub
stantially what was long afterward to be
the basic principle of the British Com
monWealth of Nations. But the reaction
ary George III and his obedient min
isters were not prophets. Franklin's
plans were disregarded, and he was in
sultingly dismissed from Office.
During his voyage home the battles Of
Lexington and Concord took place and
the Colonies f1ared into rebellion. This
was something Franklin had feared and
had done his best to prevent. He might,
like most former crown officers in Amer
lea. have sided with the King. He might
have stubbornly persisted in his plans
for reconciliation. He might, at 10, have
withdrawn from the conflict and re-
turned to the scientific studies which
had made him famous. Instead, he took
his seat in the Continental Congress, the
oldest man in it, and therefore gave his
massive energies to the defense of Amer
lea and to American independence.
The only member OF the Congress who
Evening star., 1942-03-08

the Sons OF Anacreon, q jovial musical
society. Here is the first verse:
To Anacreon in Heaven. where no
sat in full glee.
A teD sons OF harmony sent a
petition.
That he their inspirer and patron
,oould be.
When this anSiDer drriDed from the
jolly old Grecian:
Voice, fiddle and fute
No longer be mute
I'll lend ye my name and inspire ye
to boot.
And besides. III instruct you like me
to entUine~
The myrtle of Venus NTH Bacchus'
Uine.
The first one in this country to write
a song to this air seems to have been
Robert Treat Paine, jr. This was first
sung in 1898. being entitled Adams and
Liberty" 1t has nine verses. the first
one being:
Ye sons Of Columbia who brapely hare
fought
For those rights Which unstdined
from, your sires had descended.
May you long taste the blessings your
palor has bought
And your sons reap the soil Which
their fathers defended.
Mid the reign OF mid peace
May your Nation increase.
With the glory OF Rome and the
tUtsdons OF Greece:
And ne'er shall the sons of Columbia
be SLAVES.
While the earth bears q plant or the
sea rolls its Ddpes.
Alexander H. Everett also wrote an ode
to the same air for the Russian festival
in Boston, March Is. 1918, and it Is be-
lieved that it was Everett's piece that
Mr.. Key had in mind when he penned
his own immortal song.
For his successful defense OF Fort
McHenry. Maj. Armistead was brevetted
lieutenant colonel though he survived
bu: few years to enjoy his well-earned
honors. He died April Is, 1918. and four
days later the National Messenger of
Georgetown tells of his death as follows:
1T is with feelings of the deepest sor-
row and regret that We perform the pain
full duty of announcing to the public the
death Of Col. George Armistead, the gall
liant defender Of Fort McHenry.
"On this melancholy occasion the recol-
lection of the ever memorable 14th Sep
tember naturally occurs to our mind
when the Star Spangled Banner waved
in proud defiance to a formidable foe.
and after furious bonbardment of %
hours. continued to float triumphant on
the ramparts-ther it was that Balti-
more was saved and a wreath Of never
Evening star., 1942-03-08

Spangled Banner I asked him
how he found time, in the scenes he had
been passing through. to compose such
a song He said he commenced 1t on the
deck Of his vessel in the furor of the
moment when he saw the enemy hastily
retreating to their ships, and looking at
the flag he had watched for so anxiously
as the morning opened: that he had
written some lines or brief notes that
would aid him in calling them to mind
upon the back of letter which he hap
pened to have in his pocket"
We are told 1t was first published in
the Baltimore American OF September
81, 1914, and few days later 1t appeared
in handbill form, and was first sung, SO
one account states In small, one-story
frame house next to the Holiday Street
Theater, Baltimore, and another author
ity says 1t was printed within week in
the Baltimore Patriot under the title of
The Defense of Fort McHenry" In
Washington we first come across it in the
National Intelligencer for September rs,
1914, and 1t is recorded as having been
first sung here at McKeown's Hotel, later
the Metropolitan, about December, 1914.
The history Of the old air is interest
ing.
AS far back as 1888 1t was printed in
Scotland, the composer having been John
Stafford Smith, the words, by Ralph
Tomhnson, being entitled ITO Anacreon
in Heaven" Parenthetically, Anacreon
was Greek lyric poet who lived around
500 B. c., and the meter of the verse is
attributed to him, or is in his style, and
therefore known as "Anacreontic." Web
ster tell us it is "a sprightly little poem
in praise of love and wine
1t was written for a musical club called
Evening star., 1942-03-08

fading laurel encircled the departed
heros brow.
Participating in the general grief, the
brigadier general ordered out the Sd Bri-
gade to attend the funeral which took
place yesterday Sunday afternoon.
with the honors Of war The procession
Of military and citizens was the most
numerous ever witnessed in Baltimore.
The Rev. Clergy announced the mourn
full event to their respective congrega-
tions at the conclusion Of the morning
service"
Strange as it might seem. compare
lively few people know that the original
Fort McHenry flag which inspired the
song Is now and has for some years past
Evening star., 1942-03-08
By Carl Van Doren.

Any great American is one of Americas
national resources, and to cherish his
memory is to make continuing use Of his
greatness. Even though his example
may seem from time to time to have
grown dim, it is still there, ready to be
drawn upon like forests and mines and
wells, farms and rivers and the ocean.
In dark days he can be trusted to be
a light out of the past, if he is remem-
bered for what he really was and still
remains.
Let us remember some of the things
too many of us have forgotten about
Benjamin Franklin, the earliest great
American.
When Washington was only 81, Adams
18, Jefferson 10, Madison and Hamilton
not yet born, Franklin in 1883 was al
ready a scientist of worldwide renoWn.
His discoveries in electricity had laid
the foundations of that science. His
experiments with lightning, and his in
vention of the lightning rod, had begun
to make him thought of. by the people
everywhere, as kind of wizard. Had
he not hit Upon q secret which enabled
him to catch end tame terrible force
which mankind had superstitiously
dreaded for thousands Of years? Here
was another hero of the human race.
But Franklin was no wizard hid in
cave. He was also humorist and wit.
He had created the character of Poor
Richard the year Washington was born.
and had ever since gone on annually
turning the worlds proverbs into Poor
Richards sayings, with new American
point and flavor Probably no man since
Solomon has given so many proverbs
the form in which they are most
familiarly known as Franklin gave.
Scientist and humorist, Franklin was
Evening star., 1942-03-08

been on exhibition in the north hall Of
the old building of the National Museum.
During the bombardment one shell
passed through it. but it is still well pre-
served. Originally 1t was 27 feet inches
by 80 feet 10 inches, but in the early
days some small pieces were clipped from
the end and presented to different peo-
pie. the result being that as the flag
stands today its length Is reduced to
about its original height.
1t was made as garrison flag for Fort
McHenry by the wife of Col Henry s.
Pickersgill of Baltimore, who expert
enced difficulty in finding room large
enough for the purpose of putting 1t to-
gether and consequently was forced to
Evening star., 1942-03-08

rlght Yale university Press.
had large European reputation, Frank
lin was sent to Paris to try to win France
as an ally There his triumph was due
perhaps less to what he did than to what
he was. For to the French, as to all the
rest of Europe outside of England, he
was not merely a shrewd diplomat work.
ing against many odds. He was a great
sage, wise and good and smiling, VINO
spoke for the new Nation Of Americans
because he was so completely one Of
them while being citizen of the world.
If America could produce great phi
losopher 1t was not, as 1t was represented
by its enemies, noisy rabble in wilder
ness.
Franklin with his outward ease and
grace, Washington with his unmistak-
able gravity and fortitude in America;
these were, without question, the two
masters of the Revolution, each of them
wita the qualities supremely needed in
his place What they had in common
was the deep stamina which for eight
years kept them from giving up cause
Evening star., 1942-03-08
THERE WERE GIANTS n
THOSE DAY

This is the frst of q series Of articles
about men who worked, fought and died that
America might live; men who made Amer
lea great by contributing their own greatness
TO country which was founded and has
the pursuit of happiness as the right Of every
man. The second article in the series will
appear next Sunday.
Evening star., 1942-03-08
The Star Spangled Banner
BY John Clagett Proctor.

Now that SO many patriotic songs are
being written. it might be well to say
something about our greatest. The Star
Spangled Banner" 1t was written by a
Maryland native, though an adopted son
of the District of Columbia. Indeed, he
was a resident Of this city at the time
the words of the national anthem were
written, a fact Of which we are naturally
very proud. Perhaps, If you are not
already very we'll informed on the sub
ject, you would like to know just how,
and under what circumstances, Francis
Scott Key came to pen the lines which
today mean SO much to every true
blooded American. When you consider
the tragic and inspiring conditions under
which the words of this anthem were
written, it is quite certain that the next
time you sing this song it will be with
added fervor and enthusiasm.
The public buildings in washington
had been burned by the enemy on Aug
ust "a, 1914, and with this purpose in
view, the enemy had, on August 10.
landed its forces eight miles below Bene-
dict, Charles County, Md, and from there
the invaders had taken up their march
to the Capital, passing through the vii
lage of Upper Marlboro, where lived
prosperous and well known physician
named William Beanes, whose home was
selected as the headquarters of Gen.
Ross. incidentally, this DR.. Beanes be-
came the immediate contributing cause
of Mr.. Keys presence off Baltimore dur
ing the memorable bombardment of Fort
McHenry, September 1914, 1914.
DR.. Beanes, so it appears, had played
host to the British officers while they
were occupying his residence short
while before. He had a large number of
slaves and horses and other valuable
property, and, most naturally, thought
that discretion was the better part of
valor
However, his courtesy to the British
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
during the Revolutionary War and nat
urally was 100 per cent loyal to his own
country.
Nevertheless, the doctor did, seemingly,
become somewhat involved, for when the
British were returning to their fleet at
Benedict, through Marlboro. marauders
appeared in the town and were arrested
and thrown into the county Jail by a
committee headed by DR.. Beanes and
several friends.
Evening star., 1942-08-21
| Marlboro Casts
only Seven Votes,
Elects Shugort

BY Staff Correspondent OF The Star.
MARLBORO, Md, Aug N.-
Seven votes yesterday elected Gard
r.er G. Shugart one of the three
town commissioners who govern
about 3,lO0 residents.
Mr.. Shugart, himself, was away
on vacation. and apparently most
of the other voters were at the
Marlboro race track, which opened
yesterday.
He was elected to succeed Will
liam T. Davis, who resigned. Mr..
Shugart is former principal OF the
Upper Marlboro High School and
is now assistant superintendent OF
Prince Georges County schools
A telephone call to the court
clerks Office to get the election re-
suits got this answer:
WAS there an election? I didn't
know; l was at the races yesterday
Call me back in an hour and I will
try to find out what happened"
An hour later the answer still
was, Sorry, can't find a voter who
knew there was an election yes
terday."
Finally Judge T. Van Clagett
chairman Of the town commits
sioners, said seven ballots had beer
cast, all for Mr.. Shugart.
Evening star., 1942-08-21
D. {. Regional Group
Change Of
AZ T. Bus Tern,il
Routing to 18th Street
Will Aid Patrons and
Traffic, Members Soy

The proposal that the Arlington
d Fairfax Motor Transportation Co
establish its District bus termina
on the west side of Twelfth street
between Pennsylvania and Consti-
tuition avenues NV. on the approva,
yesterday of the Washington Re.
gional Committee of Defense Trans
portation.
Buses would be routed up Four
teenth street, east on E street to
Twelfth and Pennsylvania avenue
and thence to the Twelfth street
side of the new Post ONCE Building
The change from the present ter
minal met the approval of the full
committee, which is composed OF
District Traffic Director William A
Van Duzer as local co-ordinator OF
the Off1ce Of Defense Transporta
ton; Milton E. Diehl, Virginia ad-
ministrator, and Benjamin G. Will
kinson, Maryland representative.
Statistics show that most Ar
lington- Fairfax passengers are dis
charged on the south side of Penn
sylvanla avenue, statement of the
regional committee pointed out
More, therefore, will be accommo-
dated than inconvenienced by the
changed route" members declared
Mr.. Van Duzer estimated that the
change OF route would save 28,3O(
bus miles a year, that 1t would re.
duce vehicular and pedestrian traf.
f1c on busy streets north of Penn
sylyania avenue, and that the bu,
company would be able to operate
on faster schedules.
The line now operates north or
Twelfth street to E and east on T
to Tenth street where it shares q
crowded block between E and Z
with the Alexandria, Bancroft &
Washington Bus Line. Over this
route buses must cross Pennsyl-
vania avenue.
The regional committee recently
proposed the rerouting of another
line, the Washington, Virginia &
Maryland Coach Co., suggesting
that 80 per cent of these buses
that now operate over the Key
Bridge be routed by the Pentagor
Building in Arlington during morn
ing and afternoon rush periods.
Such diversion would force q
great reduction in service to its
regular customers, the company has
maintained. This proposal is still
in the study stage.
Evening star., 1942-08-21
Fairfax Lists Locations
For New Raid Sirens
Special Dispatch to The Star,


FAIRFAX, Va, Aug. 21.-Robert
3. Walker, director and co-ordinator
of civilian defense in Fairfax County,
yesterday listed the locations recon-
mended by the Communicat tions
Service of the Defense Council for
additional AFRAID sirens approved
by the Board of Supervisors.
Proposed locations are: E
Dranesville, home of S. r. Gard
ner; Floris, home Of H. H. Bear =;
Pleasant Valley, Rector's store;
Navy, home of Charles Emory;
Forestville, tower 300 feet from
crossroads; Kenmore, home of E. E.
Lyons: Tysons Corner, home of AL
bert Watson.
Chesterbrook, 200 feet west of
Route 695. near Chesterbrook
School; Oakton, McAtee's garage;
Hunters Station, home of Early
Caudle; Fairfax Station, Wyckoff' S
store; Burke, airplane spoilers sta
ton on property of John T. Blincoe;
Centerville. Payne's store; Clifton
home OF Elmer T. Ayre.
Bull Run, home OF w. c. Harri-
son; Dunn Loring, Dunn Loring
School; Falls Church, home of War
rem Hall; Baileys Cross Roads, Bail
eys Cross Roads School; Seminary,
Episcopal High School grounds; Lin
colnia, Lincolnia School.
Franconia, Fitzgerald's store;
Penn Daw, Penn Daw Hotel; Gum
Springs, Open Air Theater; yelling
ton Villa, home Of w. S. Douglas;
Pohick, Norman Shepherds store.
Evening star., 1942-08-21
Mrs. DeIma B. Nichols
Will Be Buried Sunday

Funeral services for Mrs. Delma
B. Nichols, 81, wife of Clinton r.
Nichols, who died yesterday after
a long illness at her home, 1921
Auburn avenue, Bethesda, will be
held at 2 pm. Sunday at the
Humphrey funeral home, Bethesda.
The Rev. H. F.. Chandler, pastor
Of Central Methodist Church, will
of1iciate and burial will be In Mono
cacy Cemetery. Beallsville, Md.
Besides her husband, Mrs. Nichols
is survived by daughter, Mrs. Will
liam H. Ward, and four sons, James
c., Ira S., Harold M. and Charles
Bernard Nichols, all OF Bethesda;
two brothers, Harry Cosgrave OF
Adamstown. Md and Snowden
Cosgrave, Washington, and three
grandchildren.
Mrs. Nichols, a native of Freder-
ick County, had lived in Montgom-
cry County about 10 years. She
was an active member of the Cen
tral Methodist Church.