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Show Wtvk l Rim&rka's T ADIES and gentlemen," be-I be-I gan the man, as the sight-J sight-J ' seeing bus lumbered across 'ey Bridge, "on your right may be een the home of Francis Scott Key, Ulustrlous author of The Star-Span-rled Banner,' after which Is named this bridge." Necks were craned, and the passengers pas-sengers were rewarded with the view of a drab building which proclaimed itself to be the quarters quar-ters of a hardware hard-ware store. Inquiring In-quiring glances were directed at the guide, but that worthy plunged Into a glowing description descrip-tion of Arlington Arling-ton cemetery. Francis Key and the house he lived in were left behind. History has been Impressed upon every street In the older part of Washington; and it Is the city of forgotten memories. Many historic1 his-toric1 landmarks have been swept away. Such is the fate which has befallen be-fallen the Francis Key house In Georgetown, now remodeled Into a store building. Shortly after 1800, Francis Scott Key moved Into the Georgetown house which was his home for thirty thir-ty years. It was from this house ttist Key started to rescue William Beans from death at the hands of the British, and by so doing witnessed wit-nessed the bombardment of Fort McHenry, which inspired him to write "The Star-Spangled Banner." When In 1833 the Chesapeake canal was dug directly through the center of his terraced flower garden gar-den stretching to the Potomac river. Key abandoned the Georgetown George-town home. In this evolution the old house suffered vicissitudes mostly unrecorded. un-recorded. About 1907 the owners decided the place must yield to the demands of trade. To save the ' dwelling a memorial association, whose ranks Included Admirals Dewey and Schley, was formed. Only $25,000 was needed to rescue the house, but the money, for some reason, was not forthcoming, in 1912 the house was largely torn down. Washington Post |