To the west lay the silent fort, the white vapor heavy
upon it. With eager eyes Key watched the distant shore, till in
a rift over the fort he dimly discerned the flag still proudly
defiant. In that supreme moment was written "The Star-Spangled
Banner."
The British ships slowly dropped down to North Point. Dr. Beanes
went home to Upper Marlborough, very thankful as he saw the
yard-arm of the Surprise melt out of sight, unburdened.
Of all national airs, it breathes the purest patriotism. Those
of England, Russia, and Austria are based upon a sentimental
loyalty long outgrown by this agrarian and practical age. The
"Marseillaise" is a stirring call to arms, and upholds only the
worst--the passionate military--side of a nation's character.
"The Star-Spangled Banner," while it is animated, patriotic,
defiant, neither cringes nor boasts; it is as national in its
spirit as it is adequate in the expression of that spirit.
Believing, then, that Key's poem will be the national air of
succeeding generations of Americans, the facsimile of the
original draft is here reproduced by the kindness of Mrs. Edward
Shippen, a granddaughter of that Judge Nicholson who took the
first copy of the poem to the "American" office, and had it set
up in broad-sheet form by Samuel Sands, a printer's apprentice of
twelve. He was alone in the office, all the men having gone to
the defense of the city. It is written in Key's hand. The
changes made in drafting the copy will be seen at once, the
principal one being that Key started to write "They have washed
out in blood their foul footsteps' pollution," and changed it for
"Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
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