CORRESPONDENCE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17064, 17 August 1917, Page 7

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE AMERICAN NATIONAL.

ANTHEM

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—Will you kindly allow me a space in your valuable paper to enlighten some of your readers in regard to the American National Anthem. The American National Association is named "My Country, 'tis of Thee," and th* others you referred to in your issue of the 15th inst., vis., "The Star Spangle.d Banner," "Down in Dixie," (iHail, Columbia," etc., are merely patriotic war songs. And I might state it has very nearly the same air as your British National Anthem; in fact there is very little difference. As far as "carrying the coals to Newcastle," to which you refer, they were carried there years jvgo by true Englishmen, and the English bands were never tired of playing the American National Anthem. And I am proud to say as an American, the American bands were never tired of playing "God Save the King," We are also pleased that both National Anthems have very nearly the same sir, as it draws ub closer together. 1 might a,ls« inform you that in school and at ail public functions we always wind up with "Th» Star Spangled Banner" (the chorus 1 mean). Why? Because It draws us closer, as legislation was passed year* ago in the United States never to do away with the "thirteen stripes in the American flag, which represent the first thirteen original colonies that England had. 'the stars represent the number of States admitted into the Union. If I remember aright, there ought to be forty-nine stars and thirteen fctripea in the American flag. Now, sir, I will write you the American National Anthem as I learned it in school in America:—-

My Country, 'tis of Thee. My country, 'tis of thee» sweet land

of liberty, of thee I sing; Long may our land be bright, with

freedom's holy light. Protect u« through th« nignt, Great God O,ur King.

My Father's <S«d, tv thee, Author of liberty, of thee I sing. I love the rocks and hills, the woods and rippling rills. My heart with rapture ihrills, thai sounds prolong.

Let all the hills awake; let mortal tongues partake, sweet freedom's song; Long may our land be bright with freedom's holy light. Protect us through the night, "Great God, our King."

We always wind up with a verse of /The Star Spangled Banner:— '

'Oh, long may shs wavej O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.' Yours truly, WM. F. GORMAN, Taihape, August 16.

P.S.—There is nothing in the National Anthem of America to take exception to.