The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-16
ORIGIN or FAMOUS POEMS.

Gray's immortal "EleeyT occupied him for
even years
Bryant wrote "Thanatorsis" in The shade
Ct grand old torest--a fitting spot forsnch
& theme.
Cowper v,Jte one Of the drollest and
quaintest English ballads. John Gilpin
Ride when h. was under one Of those tern
ble fits Of depression So common to tin
Gen Lyle wrote his beautiful composition
"Antony and Cleopatra" which begins,
II am dying Egypt. dying on the Night
before his death lie had n premonition that
be was going to die the next day.
The noted poem THE Falls Of Niagara
was written by its author, J g c Brainard-
the editor Of a small paper in Connecticut, IN
fifteen minutes He wrote 1t under pressure
IN response TO a call for more copy
AFTER the Ball. the little poem which
made the name Of Nora Perry known IN the
world OF letters, was jot ed down on the back
Of ali old letter. with no idea Of the POPULAR
ity it was to achieve IN the pages Of noted
Inaga7,-c.
Thomas Moore, while writing "Lalla
KoOkb, spent 30 many months in reading up
Greek and Persian works that he became an
accomplished Oriental scholar, and people
found 1t difficult 10 believe that is scenes
were not penned on the spot instead OF in a
retired dwelling in Derbyshire.
Poe first thought Of The Bells when
walking the streets Of Baltimore on win
ters night. He rang the bell " n lawyer
house ia stranger to him, walked into the
gentleman library, shut hi1self UP and the
next morning presented the lawyer with "a
copy Of bis celebrated poem.
Tie "OM Oakon Bucket was first sug-
ge-ted 20 the author, Samuel Woodwork, 90
bar room 4 friend wi,h whom be- was
drinking said that when they We're boys tic
old oaken bucket that luns n Inns father s
well was good enough Tor them 20 drinks
from. WoodNorth Immediately rcnt home
and wrote the famous poem.
"Oid Grimes, that familiar "ittie felicity
in verse" which caught the popular fancy
ms far back as ls.j was q sudden inspiration
Of the late Judge Albert G. Greene, Of FroNi-
dence. H. l.. who found The first verse In q
collection Of old English ballads, and. enjoy
ing ~ humOr, built up the remainder Oh iAe
poem IN the same cOncot.
IL Is now definitely settled that tho roman
tie incidents narrated in Winters Barbara
Fritchie" had little foundation in fact, but
that the story chiefly cmanated from the
fertile brain OF the popular novelist, Mrs. l..
ID. y. Souihworth, is not gengnly known
That such was the case however, We have
Mr Writers own assurance.
The verses which lifted Brete Harte into
notice were careiessiy written, and thrown
into drawer Of his editorial desk IN san
Francisco as unworthy Of publication. One
day, IN search OF copy for the magazine ne
was then editing, be found the forgotten
lines, which, as "The Heather Chinec made
one Of the most remarkable hits IN American
literature.
Wordsworth wrote 1--WE Are Seven" bacl,
ward When he hal finished all but the liz
stana. Coleridge, whom be wos visiting, told
him 70 90 IN and get bis tea and he would
finish II. ColeridCe did So Tho idea
Of the dead men pulling the ropes
ia the Ancient Mariner" which would sceiu
more ike Coleridge than Wordsworth, was
nevertheless suggested by the latter.