Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-06-05
M1istellaueoas geadiug.

Mistellaueons @eaaiug.
ORIGIN OF POPULAR POEMS.
"sing many songs that thou mayest be remem-
bered."-Isaiah xiii l6.
This is rather satire than serious recipe
for securing fame 1t is more easy to remem.
Der single masterpiece than multitude of
splendid things, and great authors names gen
orally 60, in public mention, with the name
Of some single great work of theirs. lis sur
prising to find how many people Of real merit
have "sung one song and died" They saved
themselves world of useless labor for fame
by striking twelve the first time. Somewhat
like the following, the author and his best
production, have found lodgment in our
minds:
Henry Carey-God save the King.
Hopkins-Hail Columbia.
Key-Star Espangled Banner.
John Howard Payne-Home, Sweet Home.
Chas Wolf-Burial Of Sir John Moore,
Edgar A.. Poe-The Raven. 6
Tom Hood-The Song of the Shirt.
Julia Ward Howe-Battle Hymn of the Republic.
Bret Harte-The Heathen Chinee,
The history of some Of the poems which
have immortalized the authors will be found
interesting.
Hoods touching lyric, "The Song Of the
Shirt" was the work of an evening. Its au-
thor was prompted to write it by the condition
of thousands Of working women in London.
The effect of its production was foreseen by
two persons, the poets wife and Mark Lemon,
the editor of Punch.
"Now mind, Tom; mind my words" said
his devoted wife, "this will tell wonderfully.
It's one Of the best things you ever did"
Mr.. Lemon, looking over his letters one
morning, opened an envelope enclosing apoem,
which the writer said had been rejected by
three London journals. He begged the edit
or to consign tito the waste-basket if it was
not thought suitable for Punch, as the author
was "sick at the 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 comicjournal. Mr.. Lemon,
was so firmly impressed with its beauty that
he published it on December 16, 1843.
"The Song of the Shirt" trebled the sale of
the paper and created profound sensation
throughout Great Britain. People of every
class were moved by it. 1t was chanted by
ballad singers in the streets of London and
drew tears from the eyes of princes. Several
years after the authors death the English
people erected monument over his grave
The rich gave guineas, the laborers and sew
ing women gave shillings and pence. Scrip
tured on it is the inscription devised by him
self; "He sang the Song of the Shirt"
"The Old Oaken Bucket" was written fifty
or more years ago by printer named Saml.
Woodworth. He was in the habit of drop.
ping into noted drinking saloon, kept by
one Mallory. One day, after drinking glass
of brandy and water he smacked his lips and
declared that Mallory's brandy was superior
to any drink he had ever tasted.
"No," said Mallory, "you are mistaken.
There was drink which in both our estima-
tions far surpassed this"
"What was that p incredulously asked
Woodworth:-
"The fresh spring water we used to drink ddlgiiI
from the old oaken bucket that hung in the
well, after returning from the fields on sui
try day." 80
every true," replied Woodwork, tear
drops glistening in his eyes,
Returning to his printing Office, he seated
himself at his desk and began to write In
half an hour
"The old oaken bucket, the iron bound bucket
The moss-coverd bucket that hung in the well"
was embalmed in an inspiring song that has
become as familiar as household word.
Mr.. Kingsley's song of "Tbe Three Fishers"
was not the mere creation of his imagination,
but the literal transcript of what he had
seen of "men who worked and women who
wept," while he was a boy in the fishing vii
lage of Clovelly. His father was the clergy.
man of the parish, and such was his sympa-
thy with the fishermen that when the herring
fleet put to sea, he would hold short relig.
ious service on the wharf. "
The hardy men and boys, and their anx-
ious mothers, wives, sisters and sweethearts
would join in singing the prayer-book version
of the 2lst psalm;
"Sheltered beneath the Almighty's wings
Thou shalt securely rest"
1t was sung as only those can sing who with
stout hearts 60 out, because it is their duty,
to danger and to death.
1t was one evening after being wearied and
worn out by the work and trial Of the day,
that Kingsley wrote the song which repro
duced the scenes of his youthful days.
'"Three fishers went sailing out into the west,
Out into the west, as the sun went down."
Authors do not always appreciate their
good work. We all have enjoyed Campbell's
"Hohenlinden," and every school boy has
shouted:
seThe combat deepens on ye 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 re-
peated poetry. in order to beguile the time
At last Scott asked Campbell to repeat some
of bis own poetry. Campbell said there was
one thing he had written, but never printed.
1t was full of"drums and trumpets and blum
der. buses and thunder" but he didn't know
if there was anything good in it. Then he
repeated "Hohenlinden."
Scott listened with the greatest interest, and
when be had finished broke out with "But
do you know, that's very fine. Why it's the
finest thing you ever wrote, and must be
printed"
Mrs, Hemans' "The Boy Stood on the
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