A bill has been introduced into Congress proposing. officially to declare The Star-Spangled Banner og America's national anthem, Immediately a storm of pro's and con's swept the country, The Star-Spani= Jed Banner was declared to have had a lurid past. Some said that it is a bacchanale, others" that it was originally a avinking song, lustily roared in British taverns." Others declared that it has a bad fi fluence children, makes them warlike, with its "bombs bursting in air" and tends to warp their patriotism to one side. Singers decided thut only experts can sing the song properly as itis in a. dificult and changeable key. And those who could not find any definite reason for protest just declared it flat and boring on general principles. Ax a substitute America the Beautiful, by Katherine Lee Bates, was off mainly because it is serenely po ful, and America fikes to be thought of as peaceful, That idea was also promptly seenied on the ground that the song was boastful and. that other countries were as beautiful as America, Some Americans declare that their country has no permanent national mood, They are proud that she is too young to have traditions, fixed aspirations. So they argue that Congress is wasting time decreeing a national anthem for America will probably not keep it ive either by command or by de-
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