Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-04-18
Poets of One Song.
THOSE WHO AVE SUNG ONE SONG
AND DIED-ORIGIN OF SOME
POPULAR POEMS.

"Sing many songs that thou mayest be remem
bercd. ''-Isaidh rriai: Ii.
This is rather satire than serious re-
cips for securing fame. 1t is more cas-,
to reir EN- Der single masterpiece than .
m multitude of splendid things, and grea1
authors names generally 20, in public
mention, with the name. OF some single
great work of theirs. It is surprising tt
find how many people Of real merit hav'
t'sung one song and died." They savef
themselves a world of useless labor fol
fame by striking twelve the nrst time
Somewhat like the following. the author
and his best production have found 8
Judgement in minds:
/ Henry Carey-God Save the King.
Hopkins-Hail Columbia.
Key-Star Sp tnglsd Banner.
John Howard Payne-Home Sweet
Home.
Charles Wolte-Burial of Sir Johr
Moore.
Charles Kingsley-The Three Fishers.
Edgar A. Poe The Raven.
Tom Hood-The Song of the Shirt.
Bret Harte-The Heather Chinee.
The history of some of the poems which
have immortalized their authors will be
found interesting.
Hoods touching lyric, "The Song of the
Shirt" was the work of an evening. Its
author was prompted to write it by the
condition Of Thousands of working women
Of London. The effect of its production
was foreseen by two persons-the poets
wife and Mark Lemon, the editor OF
punch"
CHOW mind, Tom; mind my words,''
said his devoted wife, ''this will tell won-
derfully. It's one Of the best things you
ever did,"
Mr.. Lemon, looking over his letters one
morning, opened an envelope inclosing a
poem which the writer said had been re
jected by three London journals. H.
begged the editor to consign it to the
waste paper basket if it was not thought
suitable for ''Punch'' as the author was
''siek at tie sight of It," The poem was
signed Tom Hood, and was entitled the
''Song OF the Shirt
1t was submitted to the weekly meeting
Of the editors and principal contributors,
several of whom opposed its publication as
unsuitable to the pages of comic jour-
nal. Mr.. Lemon, however, was so firmly
impressed with its beauty that he publish
ed it on December 16, 1s4..
''The Song of the Shirt" trebled tile
sale Of the paper and created , profound
sensation throughout Great Britain
People Of every class were moved by it. 1,
was chanted by ballad singers in the streets
of London and drew tears from the eyes
of princes. Several years after the au.
tbor's death the English people erected q
monument over his grave.-The rich gave
guineas, the laborers and sewing women
gave shillings and pence. Sculptured IN
it is the inscription devised by himself:
s'He sang the Song of the Shirt"
The Old Oaken Bucket" was written
fifty or more years ago by a printer named
Samuel Woodwork. He was in the habit
of dropping into noted drinking saloon,
kept by one, Mallory. One day, after drink
ing glass of brandy and water, he smacked
his lips and declared that Mallory's brandy
was superior to any drink that he had ever
tasted.
"No," said Mallory, s'you are mistaken
There was drink which in both our esti-
nations far surpassed this"
"What was thatY" incredulously asked
Wood worth.
"The fresh spring water we used to
drink from the old oaken bucket that hung
in the well, after returning from the fields
on sultry day"
VERY true" replied Woodwork, tear
drops glistening in his eyes.
Returning to his printing Office, he seat
ed himself at his desk and began to write.
In half an hour
1.-THE old oaken bucr ct, the iron bound bucket
The moss covered bucket which hung in the wel.''
was embalmed in an inspiring song that
has become as familiar al q household
word.
Authors do not always appreciate their
good work. We all have enjoyed Camp
BELLS ''Hohenlinden," and every school
boy has shouted:
"Ihe combat deepens; on 70 brave,
Who rush to glory Or the grave!'
Yet Campbell did not know whether this
fine ballad was worthy Of publication. He
and Sir Walter Scott were once travelling
in stage coach, and, as they were alone,
they repeated poetry in order to beguiIe
the time. At last Scott asked Campbell
to repeat some of his own poetry. Camp
bell said there was one thing he had writ
ten, he never printed. It was full of
''drums and trumpets and blunder-busses
and thunder" but he didn't know if there
was anything good in it. Then he repeat
ed "Hohenlihden."
Scott listened with the greatest interest.
and when he had finished broke out with
but, do you know that's very fine. Why
it is the best thing you ever wrote, and
must be printed"
Mrs. Hemans' "The Boy stood on the
Burning Deck'' ID familiar to every school
boy; but the history Of the little hero thus
immortalized is not generally known.
Owen Cassabianca, native OF Corsic a.
was born in 1858. His father was a dis.
tinguished French politician and naval
and his mother a b. sutitul
Jorsicaa lady. But abe died young, and
lite Owen went with his father IN a wxr
vessel, and at tho early age of ten he par.
5icipated with his father IN the battle Of |
The Mile.
The ship caught fire during the action.
and Capt. Cassahianea fell wounded and |
nsensible upon the deck, while the brave /
BOY unconscious Of his fathers Fate, held :
lis place at the battery. The flames ragged