The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-02-11


The late James T. Fields said that
-Longfeliow's Psalm Of Life came
into existence on bright summer
morning in July, 1928, in Cambridge.
at . small table in the corner of his
chamber. II was q verse from his in
most heart, and he kept it unpublished
for long time. It expressed has own
feelings at that time, when recovering
from deep affection. and he had 1t in
his own heart for many months. The
Light OF the Stars was composed on o
serene and beautiful summer evening,
exactly suggestive of the poem. The
Wreck of the Hesperus' was written
on the night after violent storm had
occurred, and as the poet sat smoking
his pipe the Hesperus came sailing
into his mind. He went to bed, but
could not sleep, and wrote the celebrat-
cd verses. 1t hardly cost him an eff
fort, but flowed on without let or him
drance. On q summer afternoon In
l649, as we was riding on the beach,
Tho Skeleton of Armor' rose as out OF
the deep before him, and would not be
laid.
"The single word excelsior happened
to catch his eye one autumn evening in
lS4l, on torn piece OF newspaper,
and straightway his imagination took
IRE at it. Taking up piece OF paper
which happened to be the back OF q
letter received that day from Charles
Sumner, he crowded it with verses.
AS first written down, Excelsior diff
fers from the perfected and publ shed
version, but it shows rush, glow
worthy of its author. The story OF
sEvangeline' was first suggested to
Hawthorne by a friend who wished
him to found romance on it. Haw-
thorne did not quite coincide with the
idea, and he handed it over to Long
fellow, who saw in it all the elements
of deep and tender idyl."
The lines placed at the head of Gar
fields coffin at the time of the funeral
services at Cleveland:
Life 9 race we'll run.
Lies work we'll done.
Lfe's crown well won.
Now comes rest
were written by DIR. f. Fl. Parker. OF
Poughkeepsie. At the time they we're
first published, Prof. VIM. Crosby
made q Latin translation OF them,
which was afterward translated back
into English by some one ignorant of
the original. From II gentleman's note
book they were then copied for the
Garfield ceremonies, and afterward
chosen by the Princess of Wales for
the monument of faithful servant
and friend" There followed naturally
much inquiry and good deal of cor
respondence before the author was
discovered.
Gen. Sheridan, on being questioned
about the origin of the poem, "Sheri-
dams Ride," says it was suggested to
the author, Buchanan Read, by Muir
dock, the elocutionist, who was at that
time ON actor III one of the Cincinnati
theaters.
@The Song of tho Shirt" that touch
ing poem by Tom Hood, was sent to a
London paper called Punch, after
three other papers had rejected it.
Hood inclosed note to the editor,
Mark Lemon. asking him to throw it
in the waste-basA et If he could not use
it, as Hood was tired OF having it sent
back. At the weekly meeting of the
editorial staff of Punch the poem was
read and objected to by several; but
Lemon was so impressed with it that
he insisted on publishing it. At once
it attracted attention from all parts of
Great Britain. 1t became favorite
with the nobility, and was sung about
the streets Of London.
After the death of Hood the English
people raised a monument over his
grave; rich and poor had contributed
to 1.-THE Song of the Shirt" had
reached all hearts-and the inscription
which he desired was cut upon that
monument: He sang the song of the
shirt. Treasure Iroue.