The Rejected “National Hymns.”
Washington, D.C., June 30th, 1861.
Immediately after mailing my last to you, I secured a short furlough, and proceeded to New York, to examine into the affairs of that venerable committee which had offered a prize of 500 dollars for the best National Hymn.
Astounding and distracting to relate, the committee announces the reception of no less than eleven hundred and fifty “anthems!”
And all these “anthems” are rejected by the venerable committee! But must they all, therefore, be lost to the world? I hope not, my boy,—I hope not. Having some acquaintance with the discriminating rag-merchant to whom they were turned over as rejected, I have procured some of the best, from which to quote for your special edification.
Imprimis, my boy, observe this
NATIONAL ANTHEM
By H. W. L——, of Cambridge.
Back in the years when Phlagstaff, the Dane, was monarch
Over the sea-ribbed land of the fleet-footed Norsemen,
Once there went forth young Ursa to gaze at the heavens—