The Portland daily press., 1866-06-28
Crock Me to Sleep, Mother"

"hocK NE to Sleep, Mouner'
The following correspondence, published in
the New York Erening Post, explains itself
and somewhat amusingly exhibits the latest
| phase of a still disputed question:
When an item on the authorship of this
song was read from your newspaper at ouI
bachelor table the other night, considerable
| Indignation was manifested, and committee
was appointed to examine the records. prepare
defence, and submit report to the editors
of the EOening Post. As friends of the au-
thoress of this beautiful song we ask who has
pretended to settle this question in favor OIL
Mr. Ball, and then we would lik. to hear what
Mr. Balls claims are?
In the Boston Post of the 18th ult, appear
ed an item, stating that "the widow OF Paul
Akers, the sculptor, whose song, 'RCck Me to
Sleep, Mother was so well known, has mar.
ried again, her new husband being a Mr.. Allen
OF Washington city,"
In the same paper of the 2Sd, this appears
The authoress of "Rock Me to Sleep, Moth
er,"ls ayoung lady OF New York, who has no
present intention of changing her name, a
newspaper paragraph to the contrary notwith-
standing.
In the Boston Transcript of the Path ult.,
an article appeared, crediGing Mrs. Allen oil
Washington, with the song, and in the same
paper OF the 10Th we find the following:
An item in recent issue of yoar paper gave
to the widow OF Paul Akers (who was lately
married to a Mr.. Allen, of Washington) the
credit of having written that beautiful song,
Rock Me to Sleep, Mother" In justice to the
authoress OF that piece miss Anger, of New
York;, / beg you will make a correction. Like
the controversy over the authorship OF "NoGh-
ing to Wear" this has been long since decided,
and whatever the private circles of others
friends may desire, no claims but Miss Alger s
have been allowed by the public.
The boston Gazette, in its Sunday issue,
said:
A QUESTION of AUTHoRsHR.-Ac orrespon-
dent OF the Transcript claims for Miss Alger of
New York, the authorship of the song, "Rock
l1e to Sleep, Mother" song the real author
ship OF which is well worth a moderate battle
to support. Mrs. Akers was, unquestionably,
the author of it. It appeared in the Portland
Transcript when Mrs. A., we think, was con-
nected with that office, and when the question
OF authorship was mooted in Washington a
Jew months since, the editor of the Transcript
showed US the original manuscript, previous to
copying for the press, with all its alterations,
Interlineations and transpositions, giving in
disputabte evidence, we conceive, OF author
ship; we, at least shall regard it so till the
original aud date of the other is produced for
comparison. +
=. )
To which reply was made that Miss Al
gers poem was published two years before
airs. Akers's," and that a view.of what pur-
ported 10 be original manuscript was not very
conclusive evidence OF authorship, since no
less than four other parties would share the
same thing. The Gazette writer thinks the
question worth moderate battle" but we
are wiling to indulge in the biggest kind of a
fight in support OF the side which we consider
that-of right and justice.
Now MIR. Ball, speak upl s.,
Chairman of Committee.
Fifth avenue, June "a, 1855.
FROM ANOTHER CORRESPONDENT.
Not Settled" yet Gin favor" of any genNe-
menl for now have before me letter from
our good and trustworthy Shillaber, of the
Boston Saturday Eoening Gazette, written
last year, in reply to my inquiry respecting
the authorship Of the song, Crock me to
sleep, Mothers-and he says s'it was written
by Mrs. Akers." This lady is a personal friend
OF Mr.. s., and has long been known as writer
under the nom de plume of "Florence Percy.n
Yours, in behalf Of my sex,
SoPHY W. KENT,