Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-12-11
lancaster .gnrrlligenrtr.
sH EniDAr,s RIDE.
nov shs Poem wss wr,ifsn.

Murdoch
Murdoch said Soon after the battle of
Cedar Creek I came up to Cincinnati and
wsS visiting Mr.. Cyrus Garrett, whom we
called 'Old Cyclops.' He was 1. Buchan
ap Reads brother in.law, and with him
the poet made his home. The ladies OF
Clpcinpati had arranged to give me
reception, that finally turned into an
ovation. had given a great many read
inas TO raise funds to assist their soldiers
Aid society, and they were going to present
me with silk flag. Pixies opera house
had been secured, the largest place OF
amusement In the city, aud they had
made every arrangement to have the
reception q very dramatic event. The
morning of the day 1t was to take place
Read and | were, as usual, taking our
break fast late. We had just finished, but
were still sitting at the table chatting.
Mr.. CARAT, the brother in-law, who was
n business man aud guided by business
habits, came in while we we're thus louug
ing. He wore an air of impatience aud
carried a paper in his hand. lie walked
directly up to Read, untolded a copy of
Harpers Weekly and bel it up before the
man so sinRularly gifted as both poet aud
painter.
"The whole front of the paper was GOV
cred with striking picture representing
Sheridan ated on his black horse, just
emerging from cloud of dust that rolled
up from the highway as he dashed along,
followed by q few troopers.
There said Mr.. Garrett, addressing
Read, see what you have missed. You
ought TO have drawn that picture yourself
and gotten the credit of it; it Is Just in
your line. The first thing you know some.
body will write poem on that event aud
then you will be beaten all around.
g Read looked at the picture rather
quizzically, look which l interrupted by
saying 'Old Uyclops is right, Read, the
subject and the circumstance are worth a
poem
I" Oh no. said Read that theme has
been written to death. There is Paul
Revere's Ride, LOchinvar,' Tom Hoods
wild Steed of the Plains, and half
dozen other poems of a like character"
Filled with the idea that this was a
good chance for the gifted man, | said :
Read. you are losing great opportunity.
II had such poem TO read at my recep
tion to night, it would made a great hit. ,
But, Murdoch, you can't order poem
as you would new coat. | can't write
anything in lew hours that will do either
you or me any credit, he replied, rather
sharply"
al turned to him and said Read, two
or three thousand of the warmest hearts
in Cincinnati will be in Pixies opera house
to night at that presentation. Ii will be a
very significant affair. Now, you 90 and
give me anything in rhyme, aud | will
give it deliverance before that splendid
audience, aud you can then revise and
polish it before IL goes into print This
view seemed to strike him favorabIy, aud
he finally said well Well Wen see
what can be done, and he went upstairs
to his room.
ga half hour later Hattie, his wife, a
brilliant woman, who is now residing in
Philadelphia, came down aud said
''' He wants a pot Of strong tea. He
told me to get 1t for him and then he
would lock the door and must not be dis
turbed unless the house was atiTe.
'"Time wore on and In our talk on other
matters in the family circle, We had
almost forgotten the poet up stairs. Dlu-
ner had been announced aud We were
about TO sit down, when Read came in aud
beckoned me to come. When reached
the room, he said:
80 Murdoch, think have about wha
you want He read it TO me, and Wit
an enthusiasm that surprised him, | sal
it is just the thing"
"We dned, and at the proper time Rea
and ], with the family, went 10 Pike
opera house. The building was crowded
In every part. Upon the stage were sit
ting 200 manned soldiers, each with al
arm or leg off. General Joe Hooker WI,
to present me with the tiIg the ladies haU
made, and at the time appointed ",
marched down the stage towards tue foot
Hsxht ta nnnAnaI HnAly..r h..
and with my arm in his Such a storm
of applause as greeted the appearance.
never heard before or since. Behind auC
on each side of us were tbs rows of Grip
pied soldiers, in front the vast audience
cheering to the echo. Hooker quailed be
fore the warm reception and, CROWN,
nervous, said to me in an undertoue :
"' can stand the storm of battle, bu
this Is too much for me-
Leave 1T to me, said 4 am an ole
hand behind the fO0tlights. ! will diver
the strain from you So quickly drOpp
cd upon my knee, took a fold of the silke
flag and pressed it to my lips. This by
play created a fresh storm of enthusiasm
but 1t steadied Hooker and he presente
the flag very gracefully, which l accepte
In fitting words. | then drew the pOeu
Read had written from my pocket, an
with proper Introduction, began reading
to the audier CO. The vast assem- blag
became as still as a church during praye
time, and read the three first verse
without pause, aud then read the fourth
As this verse was finished the audienc
broke into tumult of applause. The
l read with all the spirit | could com
mand.
Tho Conclusion.
"The sound of my voice uttering the LAT
word had not died away when cheer afte
cheer went up from the great concours
that shook the building to its very found
alton, Ladies waved their handkerchief
and men their hats, until worn out wit
the fervor of the hour. They then dt
manded the authors name and pointe
to Read, who was sitting in box, aud |
Acknowledged the verses. In such a SO
ting and such an occasion as | have bse
able only family to describe to you, u
poem OF Sheridan's ride was given TO Il
world. 1t was written in about thr
hours, and not word was ever change
after read it from the manuscript, o!
cept by the addition of the third vers
which records the fifteen mile stage of d
ride.
But there's roai from Winchester town
good, broad highway, leading down
And there, thro' the fla OF the morni
A steed as black as the stseds OF night
Was seen 10 pass as with eagle flight;
As II he knew the tel r,ble need
He stretched away with the utmost speed
With Sheridan fifteen miles away.
sa xuk, A.. 4 i