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


| Wa close tbis Main statement of disputed
case with The following straightforward let
ter letter full of earnestneSs, and when
carries conviction in every sentence
CIDIz. XIV, Jan. II, 1872.-Mr. Hamll-
ton Rusbev-Dear Sir: While at home In
CIarlIsyile. Tenn, in December, Iaccident-
alIv saw and read your letter to my mother
| in regard to the authorship of the "Beauti-
ful Snow" Ny inquiries as to whether it
! had been answered, being negatively re-
piled to. sent for your letter after my re-
turn. resolving to contend to the last for
nv dead brothers claim to the poem.
L have never known such daring presump
ton as Watson's. Such thieveTy! He
would steal the laurels from the brow of
one who was as much his superior, as re-
CARDS talent and genius, as the eagle above
the vulture. Every one who knew Henry
w. Faxon knew with what perfect ease he
composed and wrote. His very thoughts
as be spoke them, flowed like music from
his lips. A poetic vein ran like
thread of gold throughout his nature. Every
leading man nearly in Kentucky or Ten
nessee will testify to having seen "Beauti-
ful Snow" in print, repeatedly, during the
wears 1S51-'52-'53'54. 1t had never gone
Nv ally OJIGI HALLE IlldI1 EhCuI1 GdAOu .
Beautiful Snow" Now, the question is,
where was J. w. Watson during all the
years previous to 1858, the year in which he
claims to have written the poem? Proba-
" his knowledge of American journals and
literature was not very extensive during
those years, or perhaps he was travelling in
foreign countries. We can excuse and be-
lieve this, but his appropriation Of the poem
is as objectionable as it is ridiculous.
George D. Prentice knew, and acknowledge
ed Henry w. FaxOn's claims, also Henry
Watterson, and Albert Roberts, Of the
Nashville Banner. 200
Charles o. Faxon intended to substan-
tate these claims, up to the time OF his
death, but for more than eighteen months
was too feeble to hold pen. At times he
would feel so much stronger be would at
tempt to write, but never accomplished his
purpose. Hopeful, as all cOnsumptives are,
he never gave up the idea that he would
eventually be able to do justice to his gifted
brother. He took an oath previous to his
death that the manuscript of Beautiful
Snow" was submitted to his judgment by
Henry Faxon in 1S49 or 80. 1t is not |
likely that a man on the verge of the grave
would faint his soul with perjury! Another
evidence we have Hon j. NJ. Quarles !
sWeaTs TO having seen the poem in Henry |
Faxon's hands in 1851, and still another |
evidence, Hon. Hunter Nicholson, brother |
(son) of Hon. A. 0. P. Nicholson, testified |
in writing to G. o. Faxon, that be had |
copy pasted in an old scrap book, in 1851, |
which he cut from a Nashville, (Tenn,) |
paper.
testify myself to having had copy in |
my hands, cut from an old New York pa |
per of January, 1858. This was eight |
years ago. Just above the piece was "New
York, January, 1861" and was so old that |
it was fairly yellow with age. 1t was in
possession of friend of mine, Last week
l wrote to her, requesting her to let me
have it. She replied that she gave it to a
gentleman friend shortly after l saw it.
Could J. w. Watson prove this copy
forgery?
T. B. Peterson & Bro, Watson's publish
ers, say in their circular: "Mr. J. w.
Watson has for fourteen years been known
in the first literary circles of New York"
Very true, perhaps, yet this will not prove
bis claims. His friends and publishers, Of
course, believe what he tells them. In
another place it says, awe, knowing the
real author, purchased from him the copy
right" They are honest in their belief
hat he is the real author, but they cannot
know it.
The Louisville Ledger, in speaking Of
Watson's plagiarism, says: "The appropri-
alton Of this gem is a fraud upon the living
rs well as upon the dead, and the feeble i'm
tation of the masterpiece, with which the
book is filed, is even worse crime than
he original theft"
Though Watson convinces New Workers,
ne can never convince the people of Ten
lessee, Kentucky, and thousands Of others,
hat he is anything but an imposter. Let
him attempt to wear the stolen laurals! l
will with the assistance of others more COM
1etent, ever be ready and anxious to wrest
hem from his bold, unworthy brow. am,
Mrs. B. A. WHITLOCK.