| Share page | Visit Us On FB |
|
The National Music of America. 239
almost all of these brave men were eventually saved, although there seemed to be not the slightest chance of escape at the time of their cheering the Englishmen.
This noble deed of peace deserves as high a niche in history as the triumphs of war. Thanks to the efforts of an American newspaper,— The Scranton Truth* — a song, entitled "The Banner of the Sea," has been written by Homer Greene, and set to music by Fr. H. G. Ganss. One can cordially reecho its opening sentiment:
" By wind and wave the sailor brave Has fared to shores of every sea;
1 Scranton Truth offered a prize, very soon after the news of the event reached the United States, for a poem to fittingly celebrate it. John Boyle O'Reilly was the judge, and commended the verses of Mr. Greene for the award. Harrison Millard was the judge of the musical settings and awarded the prize, as above intimated, to the Rev. Fr. H. G. Ganss. It is seldom that a prize contest brings forth so good a result. During the Civil War the offer of a large prize for a national hymn was barren of all result |
||