of his plight, hastened to the British commander to endeavor to have his friend released. The enemy was about to attack Fort McHenry, so refused to allow Mr. Key and Dr. Beans to return until after the fort was captured. All through the night of September 13, 1814, the bombardment was kept up, and in the light of "the rockets' red glare they could see the American flag still waving over the old fort. When the first rays of dawn showed that the flag was still there," Francis Scott Key was inspired to write the lines of the wonderful song, "The Star-Spangled Banner." 66 O say! can you see, by the dawn's early light, What so proudly we hailed, at the twilight's last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming; And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there; O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave? After going ashore, Key showed the lines to a relative, who declared that they must be printed. This was done, and an old English air, "Anacreon in Heaven,” was adapted to them by Ferdinand Durang, a musician. The first time the song was sung was in a Baltimore theater, and it took the audience by storm. Soon it was being sung all over the land, and young Key found himself famous. 38. James Whitcomb Riley was the author of "The Book of Joyous Children." 39. Owen Wister, the American novelist, is the grandson of the famous actress, Frances Anne Kemble Butler, better known as 40. John Greenleaf Whittier termed Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe, the husband of Julia Ward Howe, "the Cadmus of the blind," writing of him thus in a poem entitled "The Hero," which he dedicated to Dr. Howe. This was because of Dr. Howe's work among the blind children of Boston, and especially because of his wonderful work in teaching the mute, Laura Bridgman. 41. Julia Ward Howe was the author of the stirring war song, "The Battle Hymn of the Republic." In December, 1861, Dr. and Mrs. Howe, with a party of friends, made a trip to Washington. Everything about the city spoke vividly of war's disorder. The railroads were guarded by piekets, the streets were full of soldiers, and all about could be seen "the watchfires of a thousand circling camps." One day the party drove several miles out from the city to { see a review of the Northern soldiers. An attack by the Confederates caused much excitement and delayed their return. Finally they started back to Washington under an escort of soldiers, and to while away the time they sang war songs, among others," John Brown's Body Lies A-mouldering in the Grave." 66 One of her friends suggested to Mrs. Howe that she write a real war song for the soldiers. Acting upon this suggestion, Mrs. Howe retired that night thinking of the song, and at dawn she awoke with it singing itself in her brain." She immediately seized pencil and paper and began writing. The famed "Battle-cry" was the result. The poem was first published in the Atlantic Monthly, in February, 1862. The verses were published without the author's name and she received five dollars for them. 42. William Hickling Prescott graduated from Harvard College when but eighteen years of age, notwithstanding the fact that an accident had destroyed the sight of one of his eyes. This accident happened while he was a student in Harvard. One day as the students were leaving the dining-hall young Prescott, hearing an uproar, looked back and was struck in the left eye by a crust of bread thrown by some boisterous student. He fell senseless to the floor. The missile destroyed the sight of this eye, and through sympathy his right eye became very weak. After a severe illness, he returned to Harvard and completed his course. He had expected to fit himself for the bar, but this accident changed all his plans for the future. His great historical works, notably "The Conquest of Mexico" and "The Conquest of Peru," made him famous. His "History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella" was successful at once and was translated into five European languages. 43. William Ewart Gladstone said of the ConIstitution of the United States: "As far as I can see, the American Constitution is the most wonderful work ever struck off at one time by the brain and purpose of man." 44. Lord Byron owned a famous dog named "Boatswain." The poet himself directed the building of a tomb for this animal, and it is more magnificent than the one that marks the last resting-place of the poet himself. 45. At Avonmouth we find the Norton Bury of "John Halifax, Gentleman"; also, the old inn where Dinah Craik lived while writing this popular tale. 46. The characters of literature named are found as follows: Maggie Tulliver, in George Eliot's "Mill on the Floss"; Lizzie Farm." 47. Tabard Inn was the starting-place of the pilgrims of Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales." 48. Skelton Castle was the home of John Hall Stevenson, author of "Crazy Tales." Here Sterne visited him and wrote his famous letters from "Crazy Castle." 49. Sir Walter Scott was termed "the wizard of the North." 50. James Hogg was called "the Ettrick shepherd." He was born in Ettrick, in southern Scotland, in 1770. Until he was thirty, he had but a half a year's schooling, save that given him as a shepherd boy among the beautiful hills and along the streams of his native country. After his |