The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-07-16
LOVE AND LAUGHTER"

"Some Pr0ef"-Col. Joyce Replies In . Serio.
Comic Vein to Mrs. Ella Wheeler Wilcox.
To THE EDITOR: returned last evening
from weeks absence in West Virginia aud
found to my surprise letter in your paper
signed by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, denying that I
wrote my poem Love and Laughter" which
she christens Solitude"
The idea of these poems Is the same and the
words are almost identical. The letter states
that have no proof" that wrote the poem
i wrote and composed the poem " Love aud
Laughter" for the late Geo. D. Prentice in the
wine room of the Gait House at Louisville,
KY, in January, 1868, being then Adjutant of
the oath Ky.
The following "proof" was published in the
National Republican, of Washington city, last
October, and many other proof" articles that
went the rounds Of the press:
DENVER, Co.. Sept a. 1884
NJ DEAR JOYCE: Yours of the 10th inst. is here
have been neekdeep in politics, which. being new
to me. Is distracting As to your poem Love and
Laughter" am astonished that one of SO fair a
should claim 1t. remember very well when we were
soldiers together in old Co. i, in the Winter of 1862
or 3, in january think. that you wrote the
like them. that would have declared at any time
this poem was the same. have frequently seen it
since, printed anonymously. and have it pasted in
an old scrap-book, and have often shown it to
friends. telling them it was yours. and that you
were my friend in childhood manhood, and even
to this time, when your prov T" is white with the
Moreover, if had known nothing of the author
ship Of Love and Laughter" would have de-
clared 1t yours on account Of the expressions in it
peculiar TO yourself especially the echoes bound
to a joyful sound" and there are none to decline
your nectaredtTine." III e
However, to be very candid with you, think
Love and Laughter "is far Behind many other of
your poetic fancies which have seen. and in sew
eral OF which have been your attendant when the
VnrY
But. my dear boy, don't Quarrel with anyone
about such things Life Is to, Short and poetry Is
too plentiful and it is withal the most unmarked
able article in all the booths oEvanity fair.
Yours, faithfully and fraternally,
tE WILL l.. VIssCHER.
Coz. JoHN A. JOYCE Georgetown. D. G.
Comrade Visscher.. the writer of the above
letter, was the private anlanuensis Of George
d. Prentice for long time, and is a we'll
known journalist, lecturer, and poet Of con-
siderable renown, being at the present time
connected with the Cheyenne Democratic Leader.
Isubmit his letter as some "pro0f" of my author
ship of the poem in dispute
The author of Solitude" says it was writ
ten in February, 1883, and Judge Braley, of
Wisconsin, her friend, states that the poem
was written in his library, and inspired by the
"sad face and solemn black dress of young
widow" This was two years ago last Febru-
airy, while Love and Laughter" was written
by myself % years ago last January. slight
discrepancy In dates, a. you may observe with
out glasses; and the inspiration was little diff
ferent-one. the sorrow" that funeral en-
gendered, and the other, the "joy" that wine
inspires:
Hero is another bit of "proof" from gem
tlcman who wrote to the Washington Repabli-