The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-04-09

The following concerning the author OF
"Curfew Shall Not Ring Tonight may be
interesting to many of our readers. The article
is taken from the Chicago Tribune of March, 27:
Your reply to Inquirer under the title, - An
Author Wanted" walked me from the slumber
in which had INDUCED so long. You reply to
Inquirer g The author is not known, 80 far as
we have beel able to ascertain. Mrs. Siddons,
before reading IL, stated taat the author was
unknown
Is it possible, then, that the authorship OF
thus charming poem is still IN dispute? Per-
haps it was the accident OF birth which gave
me an intimate knowledge of this little rhetor-
zeal gem, and OF the circumstances surround
ing the author at the time when ii was written.
think it was il the summer OF so (my mem
o-y for dates is bad)-!. was certainly about
that time-when this poem was first published
in the Poets Corner OF a small local weekly in
Hillsdae, Mich. The paper-like the poem
was new then, and was established by VIII
Carleton in favor of the college students, who
were expected to furnish its columns with many
fine effuslons. | remember how we greeted
- The Curfew" when we heard it the first time.
Several OF the students were in my room when
the Business" Eyes, that was the name of the
paper) was brought in. One OF the boys picked
up the sheet and straightway began to read the
poetry on the first page.
Listen to tins, boys" said he; and we did
listen, for he was fne reader. We fell that
1t was genuine poetry, and at ITS CONCLUSION
SAID so. We praised II with the enthusiasm OF
students, and predicted brilliant future for
the young writer who had risen so unexpected
ly in our midst. The author, Rosa Hartwck,
was no stranger to us. She was one OF the
most popular and gifted young ladies in the
college, and precisely the person from whom
to expect all that is pure, and true, and noble
in literature. don't know who made this poem
famous. Many OF the tenderest truest poems
in our language are but wandering waits tossed
about on the restless waves their origin mys
terry and their authors name subject for con-
troversy Many sweet and pathetic little Ell
fusion, instinct with life and ripping with
rythm and rhyme, poetry as true and beautiful
as ever found its way into the volumes of costly
blue and gold that ornament our parlor tables,
poetry as fresh and generous as Nature herself,
first caught the eye and crept into the heart
through the medium OF the country newspaper.
They are oftentmes seeming trIfies, read with
a glow OF pleasure, until some critic more dis
cernIng than the busy reader chances to dis
cover in them something OF unusual merit,
when they are taken up once more Casually
without the humble authors name) and, per-
chance, go the whole rounds of the press. Sucll
is their ephemeral, occasionally perennial, ex-
Z istence; and such was the fate of the poem in
magnetic circuit OF the press. Critic after crit
ic eulogIzed and praised it,-in word, 1t be-
came famous, but It's author did lot. Volumes
. have been written concerning it, while the au.
thor remains comparatively unknown. Wha
an accident poetic fame is Had the first critic
who praised this poem been honest enough &c
give the author credit, her name would now bt
known in every cultivated circle IN the land
Bat the lady does not seem to need our sym
pathy Sac is widely known Tor her refine
i ment and culture; she has all chat IS woril
o seeking IN life, and is the .dol OF her friends.
It Rosa Hartwlct, like the author OF = Kismet,
h is native of Indiana, and was born at Mish
awake, in that State. Some years ago she mar
= ried gentleman named Thorpe, and has sine,
resided at Litchield, little village ten miles
north of Hillsdae, Mich. 10 the peace ant
tranquility OF beautiful home, her life is al
sunshine, devoid OF wearying care. She has
written many sweet little poems for variou:
periodicals, but nothing containing such stronf
dramatic intensity as Curiew Shall Not Rms
Tonight" "The Station keepers Story"
dialect poem from her pen, appeared last sum
mer and attracted some notice.
will she ever write anything else equal tC
the story OF Bessy and her Lover :? is ques
ton ] have often heard Who can answer?
think not. There was n time when 1T was pos
sible, but the conditions are not favorable now
Few really happy women rise beyond "verses'
into the sunlight OF a deathess repown. Lk
the tabled nightingale, they sing immorta
songs only when the fatal thorn OF physical o
mental agony is piercing their breasts Neet
1, in proof, cite Felicia Hemans, Mrs. Nortor
and the Cary sisters?
did Rosa Hartwick really write this poem
or did she steal il? 3" IS another obtruslve aues
tioD. She wrote-it. The poetry is assuredl
hers the incident came to her as legendar
heritage from her ancestors. ] entertain n
doubt on this subject / know the facts.
saw the original manuscript, and wonld a
readily doubt my own identity. have hear,
Mrs. Scott-Sdcons say she did not know tht
author, but always supposed the poem was o
English origin. Mrs. =. has possibly neve
sought the author. Why should she ? pret
ty little atmosphere OF mystery, such as sh
can develop so daintlly, serves TO enhance th
auditors interest in the recital. The fact
which have stated remain, and can be veufe
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