Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-01-31

Henry w. FaxOn TO the Authorship
OF the Poem.
From the Turf, Field and Farm.
Mr.. J. w. Watson Indignantly repudiatas
the idea that he is not the author Of 'Beauti-
full Snow" and all who have heard Mr..
Wstson's explanation frankly concede that
his story is a plausible one. We have no
desire to do him injustice; still years ago we
learned to regard another as the author of
the poem, and it is very difficult to get rid
OF that first early impression. 1t was on a
sweet May morning in the lovely CUmber-
land Valley of Tennessee that We first look
ed upon the face of a FaXOn. There was a
May-day coronation, and the writer Of this
article stood apart from the thrOng, a
silent observer Of the brilliant spectacle. He
was from the North, and naughty Southern
eyes did not look kindly upon the Federal
blue. One of those who marched under
arches Of evergreen and stood around the
floral throne, bedecked with garlands, was
q bright-eyed, fair-browed girl. The writer
was attracted by the face, and when be in
Quired the name, he was told that it was
the sister of Henry w. FaXOn, the author
of beautiful Snow" 1t was his privilege
10 speak kindly in print Of the coronation,
and these kind words being spoken under
the peculiar circumstances, won for him
many friends. Afterwards he was proud
TO be received as a frequent visitor at the
pleasant home of the FaXOns. He there
learned much Of the history Of Henry W.
Faxon, and became firmly impressed with
the idea that be was the author Of the dis
puted poem. All this may not have much
bearing upon the controversy now under
consideration, nevertheless the incident was
Q pleasant one, and as such We recall it.
We have frequently expressed the opinion
that Mr.. J. w. Watson was not the author
Of "Beautiful Snow" and every time We
have 30 expressed ourselves Mr.. W. has
grown indignant. Some few weeks ago
this gentleman had fresh cause for
grievance. The PetersOns had brought out
a handsome volume of beautiful Snow,
and Other Poems," with note appended
as follows: beautiful Snow was written
by Mr.. J. w. WatsOn-who has for twelve
years been known in the first literary circles
of New York, and who has held positions
on the daily and weekly press Of that city
while on a visit to Hartford in November,
1858, and published in Hdrper'S Weekly
Immediately afterward. The poem having
achieved a wonderful popularity in this
country and in Europe, and in its travelling
through the press become mutilated, we,
knotUing the real author, purchased through
him, of Messrs. Harper Brothers, the copy
right, and published it in this enduring
form" There was more Of the note, but the
portion we have quoted is sufficient for our
purpose. In a brief review Of the book We
alluded TO the fact that Mr.. WatsOnprOmised
topresent indisputable evidence to the world
that he was the author Of the poem, but
that he had failed to do so, and having so
failed, we could not regard him in any other
light than that Of appropriating property
not his own. Mr.. Watson promptly called
upon Mr.. Busbey, and expressed great sur
prise that he should persist in advocating
Faxon's claim. He also was frank enough
to declare that no man who valued his lit
erary reputation would attempt to revive
the old controversy and pronounce against
him. Mr.. Watson was reminded that the
only proof he had ever presented to the
reading world that he was the author OF
'sBeautiful Snow was his own statement,
and he was told that one assertion was as
good as another. Mr.. Watson's interview
was not very satisfactory to himself, but the
fault was his. Proof was what was called
for, but proof was not brought forward.
Briefly this is the history OF beautiful
Faxon wrote the poem in Tennessee. After
Is had been repeatedly published, he left
his native State, making his home in Butta-
10. During the war he joined one of the
regiments, and died in Washington City.
He retained the manuscript of the poem up
20 the time when he became a soldiesR then,
diving far from kindred and Southern home,
ali traces of it was lost. Geo. ID. Prentice,
- I nj
script before Watson ever put forward a
claim, and we have often heard him eX-
press the opinion that Mr.. w. was a
fraud. Once Mr.. Prentice wrote and pub
lished In the Journal: every few months
our paper has to come out and knock
somebody in the head for claiming Henry
w. Faxon's Beautiful Snow" At another
time he said: at would not be a surprise
TO hear that the poetic Watson had written
CTbe Raven claimed by Poe; Maud Null
Ter, supposed 10 have been written by one
Whittier: or 'Locksley Hail." alleged TO be
the work Of a party named Tennyson' All
of these poems show the marks OF WatSons
genius. His muse is Omniverous." All
who knew Mr.. Prentice are aware that he
was very careful in making statements
where literature was involved. IL he hau
not had pretty good proof that FaXon was
the author of the poem, he would not have
been so earnest in advocating his claim.
But we have more tangible evidence than
this. The sister Of Henry w. Faxon-
the fair-browed girl of the May-Day Coro-
nationals written a letter which Watson
will find a bitter pill to swallow. She
emphatically declares that she saw copy
Of the poem published in 1868; and she re-
fers to several gentlemen who Will testify
that they saw the poem in print as early as
1851. These gentlemen are well known,
and to say the least, their yeracity is not
less questionable than Watson's. 1t also
sppears that Charles 0. FaXOS, the brother
of Henry, made oath on his death-bed that
GsBeautiful Snow had been submitted to
him in manuscript In 1879 or 1850. Shall
NOT the sworn statement Of a dying man
outweigh the simple assertion Of Watsons?