Litchfield enquirer., 1881-02-17
WESTERN CORRESPONDENCE,
LYONS, Feb. Sd.


 Ed. Enq.-I see by the papers that the old question of authorship of the hymn II would not live alway" has been raised again by the editor of the Revolution, and again attributed to an old typo of Litchfeld, Henry Ward
 .''I WoULD Nor LIVE ALwAY."-Mr. c. E.. Moss contributes to the first number of his new monthly, the Repoiutioa, an interesting article op the authorship of the popular hymn, Il would not live alway." Ever since it's adoption into general Protestant hymnology this little gem has been attributed to Bishop Muhlenberg. of the Episcopal Church. Mr. Moss proves, as it seems to us concluslvely that it was written by 6 dissipated printer of Lltchaeld, Conn named Henry Ward. He says:
 Some time in the month of January, 1S37 while discussing the merits of several hymns in the standard Methodist hymn book, Ward informed the writer of this article that he was the author of the hymn in the Episcopal col lection commencing with I would not live al- way He said he composed il some time in the latter part of 1919, or the early part of 1890. and soon after copied it neatly and pre- sented it to the Rev. Truman Marsh, & cler- gYman of the Protestant Episcopal Church, of Lltchneld, who was SO we'll pleased with it that he presented it some time afterward to Dr Muhlenberg, who took it. and, some time thereafter. published it in Q religious paper at Philadelphia. He further said that a few years after its publication it was taken, altered and abridged by some one, and published in tlre Episcopal collection of church hymns. He still further stated that 8 large portion of the poem or hymn as he wrote it was omitted in the hymn published in the Aymnal the origi- nal having six eight-line stanzas, and the hymn in the hymnal only five four-line stan- zas. This statement was reiterated Tn the hearing and presence of the writer on two m oe. casions during the months of January and February, 1887. Being somewhat doubtful or the correctness of the statement, the writer LOOK no pains to inquire as to its truthfulness. In lo4O the writer became half owner, and the edltor or newspaper at Litchfield, and en- ployed Ward in the composing room. He soon after, in the course of 8 conversation re- specting the merits of several of the Ameri can poets, repeated his former statement rela. tive to the authorship of the hymn. The W.T. ter had then become acquainted with Wards aoiitty as scholar, writer and poet, and took upon himself the trouble of calling upon the Rev. Truman Marsh fer his statement of the matter. MT. Marsh stated that in the lat. ter part or lol9 or in the early part of 1920, or near that time, Henry, as he familiarly called MT. Ward, gave him the manuscript of apoem of such an easy elegance, and tenderness and purity or sentiment, that he became desirous of having it adopted as one of the hymns of the church. He said he kept it a year or two. submitted 1t to the criticism and inspection of several clergymen. and finally passed it into the hands of Dr. Muhlenberg, who, not many months thereafter, published it in religious paper. He stated further that four or five years after it's publication 1t was adopted by the church in revised, abridged and altered form, as one of the standard hymns
 This recalls to my mind an incident. Ward was still jour. printer" in LitchAeld in 1854 q forget whether in the Enquirer or Re- publican ofice) very poor in. purse and con. siderably broken down. One day he came into my store and asked me for ssthe cheapest pair of spectacles I had got"'' About that time was very enthusiastic over s'Scotch Pebbles" (haven't quite gotten oyer it yet) and after much persuasion induced him to buy pair. About a year after he told me that when he went home and told his wife what he had done, she sat down and had good cry over his extravagance, but he had never found pair that had given hlm so inucI, satisfaction and would not take ten dollars for them. That was a quarter of century or more ago, and Iipresume. as the question has again been raised in high circles, 1t would in terest more than the subscriber to know more of his history, not only as a member of the "craft" but the author of enc of the notable hymns of the times
 The ink was hardly dry from my pen as I wrote you that we had not been pleased with sleighing for nearly two years, when snow storm set in, and it has been most excellent sleighlng ever since and bids fair to last, for there has been but g few Lours since the 18th. Of Nov, when it has thawed in the shade. and the average temperature has been below ten degrees ss'54@ND @.'...s t'is s'''.''. la
 Lyons has been considerably exercised for . few days over, the prospect of. a Pork Pack. ing House, with $1OO O00 capital invested. The company ia formed of Lyons men with push and energy, and promises to be2a. be val uable acquisition to our city. s9fa sit" tks..i
 Maj. Burnham spent the Sabbath with us. last week. but will doubtless reach home e'er this is in print. His visits are highly appre.. . clated by us all A. B.
 A Galveston widow is about to marry her. fifth husband Her pastor rebuked her for,