CHAPTER LXXII

"MARYLAND, MY MARYLAND"

IF IT is true that more depends upon the songs of a country than upon its laws, then Maryland can never cease to honor the name of Nicholson, for not only is the name of Judge Joseph Hopper Nicholson forever to be associated with the publishing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" and the choosing of the tune which sent Key's song ringing through the city at the opportune moment, but that of his granddaughter, Rebecca Lloyd Nicholson (Mrs. Edward Shippen), should have the recognition of having had Randall's stirring song, "Maryland, My Maryland," published at a time when brave men dared not risk the results of standing sponsor for what has been termed "the 'Marseillaise' of the South." Believing that the history can best be told by the one who was so vitally interesested, I have the following unpublished account of what is certainly a charming incident in the history of our late war: The facts regarding the setting to music and publishing of the song "Maryland, My Maryland."

"It was early in the month of July, 1861, that a party of young girls known as "the Monument Street girls" met one morning, as was their habit, at the residence of Mr. James Carroll, 105 West Monument Street (now 225 West Monument Street), to sew on garments for the use of the Confederate soldiers. Mrs. Winn, the daughter of Mr. James Carroll, resided there also, with her three daughters, Misses Achsah, Ida and Mary Winn, and here gathered

daily their young friends, all of whom were united in sympathy with the South. Many of the young brothers and friends of these girls were shortly to leave their homes to enlist in the Southern cause. Mrs. William Henry Norris, the mother of Mr. Samuel and James Lyon and Mr. Owen Norris, of Baltimore, was a near neighbor and frequently joined Mrs. Winn and these girls in their work. Mr. H. Rozier Dulany, of Baltimore, one of the handsome beaux of the day (a son of Mr. Grafton Dulany, a noted lawyer of the same city), was deeply interested in gathering news of the South, and likewise came daily to bring whatever news of interest he had collected to these Southern sympathizers; and on this particular morning he came in very much pleased with some verses that had been given to him by someone on Baltimore Street, and he proceeded at once to read them, and my pen is inadequate to describe the enthusiastic reception given by all present to the reading of these verses. Mr. Dulany himself proposed they should be set to music, and with one accord everyone agreed with him. A Yale book of songs which was lying on the piano near by was immediately searched for a tune to which these verses could be sung. One after another was tried. Finally Mr. Dulany exclaimed: "This one will suit," selecting one called "Lauriger Horatius" (the German "Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum"), and then while one of these girls sitting at the piano played this tune Mr. Dulany sang it, all present joining in singing the verses he had read to it, but at the close of the first verse it was found that two more words were needed to make it fit perfectly. After a moment's pause Mr. Dulany exclaimed, "I have it! Let us add 'My Maryland,'" and then and there this was done, and

Mr. Randall's verses were then found to fit exactly the tune of "Lauriger Horatius," to which tune it is still sung, and these enthusiastic young people proceeded to sing it with a will. After quiet was somewhat restored someone suggested that it should be published as a song, and Mr. Dulany was asked if he would not have it published. But these were the days when mothers even had to look for their babies, who wore red sashes and shoulder knots with their white dresses, at police stations, and Southern sympathizers were too often taken off to prison at Fort McHenry nearby, so Mr. Dulany replied to this eager throng: "Oh, thank you, no; I do not care to be put in prison. Fort McHenry is too near." To his utter astonishment, I think, came from every girl's voice there the unexpected taunt, "You are a coward." But he felt, notwithstanding this, that he was among his friends, and so he only repeated: "I am sorry, but Fort McHenry is too near, and I am afraid to have it published;" whereupon one of these young girls impulsively exclaimed: "I am not afraid. My father is a Union man, and if they put me in prison he will get me out." This remark met with warm approval from all present, and Mrs. Norris said: "If you will have it published, do it at once. I will copy the verses for you if you will copy off the music." And this young girl agreed at once to do so and take them to the publishers. She then took the Yale book of songs to her own home, a few doors from Mr. James Carroll's residence, where she had some books in which she copied music, and taking a leaf, she wrote off in a very short time the music and returned with it. Mrs. Norris had copied the verses, adding the two words "My Maryland" after each verse, and that same morning in July, 1861,

this young girl herself took the music and the verses to the publishers, Miller and Beacham, who kept a music store on North Charles Street, west side, below Fayette Street. Mr. Miller, whom she knew, came forward, and she explained her errand and asked if he would publish it for her. If so, she would give him the copyright. He said at once that he would publish it, much to her delight, and then asked what he should do about stating who set it to music and had it published. Remembering how much Mr. Dulany had objected to publishing it, she said, "Oh, use any letters but 'R and D,' hence her own initials were left out, and Mr. Miller selected "C and E" as being far away from "R and D." Thus Messrs. Miller and Beacham published this now well-known song in July, 1861, at the request of this young girl, Miss Rebecca Lloyd Nicholson, and they sent her six copies, with their compliments, one of which she has still in her possession, together with another copy, which was a proof sheet. Ever afterward this firm sent her copies of the different Southern songs, with their compliments, until they were arrested for publishing the same. Thus this song was sung many times in the summer of 1861 with those very "Maryland boys" headed by Captain Willie Murray before they left their homes to join the Southern cause.

CHAPTER LXXIII

THE MURAL PAINTINGS IN BALTIMORE COURT HOUSE

Not Historically Correct

IN ACCEPTING the mural painting having for its subject the burning of the Peggy Stewart, the mayor of Baltimore laid stress upon the educational value of this and other mural paintings, which are intended to instruct the youth and perpetuate the history of our State on the walls of her municipal buildings. This being the declared object of these paintings, their teachings should be so clear that he who runs may read. Therefore in the sole interest of historical accuracy, and as an earnest student of Maryland history, I take the liberty of giving my dicta on both of these superbly executed mural decorations.

The pity is that our gifted son of Maryland should not have studied the details as to the ages of the persons represented and appropriateness of costume.

The anachronisms of "The Burning of the Peggy Stewart" are, however, few in comparison with the painting on the opposite wall.

No one can deny the fine conception of the picture nor criticise its execution, but in certain details the artist has failed. For example, in the foreground of the group before the Stewart house he has painted a young lady of strikingly Scotch type, whom he states is meant for Margaret (or Peggy) Stewart, the daughter of Mr. Stewart, for whom the vessel was named. In reality Peggy Stewart