The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1884-01-11
Sheridan's Ride How the Famous Poem
Game to be Written.

Ihttddephid DreSs, u very interest
ing story of how the poem "Sheridan's
Ride came to be written. Burr
had 1t from the veteran actor and elo-
cutionist, James f Murdoch
Murdoch said "Soon after the bat
tie of Cedar Greek came up to Gin
cinnati and was visiting Mr.. Cyrus
Garrett, whom we called "Old Cy-
clops' He was L. Buchanan Reads
brother-in-law and with him the poet
made his home. The ladies of Cincin
natl had arranged to give me a recep-
ton, that finally turned into an ovation
L had given a great many readings to
raise funds to assist their soldiers aid
society, and they were going to pre-
seut me with silk flag, Pixies opera
house had been secured, the largest
place of amusement in the city, and
they had made every arrangement to
have the reception very dramatic
event The morning of the day it was
to take place, Read and l were, as
usual, taking our breakfast late. We
had just finished, but were still sitting
at the table chatting. Mr.. Garrett, the
brother-In-law, who was business
man and guided by business habits,
came in while we were thus louuging.
He wore an air of impatieuce and car
ried paper in his hand. He walked
directly up to Read, unfolded a copy
of Hayper's Weekly and held it up
before the man so singularly gifted as
both poet and painter. .ti
''The whole front of the paper was
covered with a striking picture repre-
senting Sheridan seated on his black
horse, just emerging from cloud of
dust that rolled up from the highway
ae he dashed along followed by few
troopers.
"'There, said Mr.. Garrett, address
ing Read, see what you have missed
You ought TO have drawn that pic
ture yourself and gotten the credit of
it it is just in your line. The first
thing you know some body will write
a poem on that event and then you
will be beaten all around
'Read looked at the picture rather
quizzically, look which | interrupted
by saying "Old Cyclops is right,
Read, the subject aud the circumstan-
ces are worth poem.
"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 like charac-
ter.
''Filled with the idea that this was
a good chance for the gifted man, |
said : Read, you are losing great
opportunity. If | had such poem to
read at my reception to night, it would
make a great hit
'But Murdoch, you can't order a
poem as you would new coat. /
can't write anything in few hours
that will do either you or me any cred
it, he replied rather sharply"
81 turned to him and said "Read,
two or three thousand of the warmest
hearts in Cincinnati will be in Pixies
opera house tonight at that preseuta
ton. 1t will be very significant af-
tar. Now, you go and give me any
thing in rhyme, and will give it de-
liverance before that splendid audi
ence, and you can then revise and pol
lsh it before it goes into print This
view seemed to strike him favorably,
and ne finally said well! Well
Wen see what can be done, and he
went up stairs to his room.
"a half hour later Hettie, his wife,
brilliant woman, who is now residing
in Philadelphia, came down and said
''He wants pot of strong tea. He
told me to get it for him and then he
would lock the door and must not be dis
turbed unless the house was atire.'
"Iime wore on and in our talk on
other matters in the family circle, we
had almost forgotten the poet up stairs.
Dinner had been announced and we
were about to sit down, when Read
came in and beckoned me to come.
When l reached the room, he said:
Murdoch, l think | have about
what you want He read it to me,
and with an enthusiasm that surround
ed him, | said it is Just the thing.
1--WE dined, and at the proper time
Read and | with tie family. went to
Pixies opera house. The building was
crowded in every part. Upon the
stage were sitting 200 manned soldiers,
each with an arm or leg off Gener-
al Joe Hooker was to present me with
the flag the ladies had made, and at
the time appointed we marched down
the stage towards the footlghts, Gen
eral Hooker bearing the flag. and |
with my arm in his. Such storm of
applause as greeted the appearance, |
never heard before or since. Behind
and on each side of us were the
rows of crippled soldiers, in front the
vast audience, cheering to the echo.
Hooker quailed before the warm re-
ceptlon and, growing nervous, said to
me in an undertone;
81 can stand the storm of battle, but
this is too much for me-"
leave it to me, said | Il am an
old hand behind the footlights. / will
divert the strain from you. SO quickly
dropped upon my knee, took fold of
the silken flag and pressed it TO my
lips. This by-play created fresh
storm of enthusiasm, but it steadied
Hooker and he presented the flag very
gracefully, which accepted in fitting
words. | then drew the poem Read
had written from my pocket, and with
proper introduction, began reading it
to the audience. The vast assemblage
became as still as church during
prayer time, aud | read the three first
verses without pause, and then read
the fourth. As this verse was finished
the audience burst into a tumult of
applause, Then | read with all the
spirit could command.
"The sound of my voice uttering the
last word had not died away when
cheer after cheer went from the great
concourse that shook the building to
its very foundation. Ladies waved
their handkerchiefs, and men their
hats, until worn out with the fervor of
the hour. They then demanded the
authors name, and / pointed to Read,
who was sitting in box, and he ac-
knowledged the verses. In such a sit
tinOr and Such an ncoaSion no / hoya