Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-07-01


nortant mail official, but at that time Pro
lessor of Music at Ysle-for him to set 70
music. This Mr.. Hubbard did ut a single
sitting, and the manuscript was sent "a
New York for publication. A copyrigh:
was then secured by filing in the office OF
the Probate Court in each county. Hub
bard took proofsheet of the song, and
handed il with the fees to MIR. Cieve-
land. who was clerk in the office OF Pro
bate Judge Blackman, and gavs no more
tbnught TO the matter for some time. Inc
song spread from college 10 college, and after
a wear or two the author found that 1t was
being published all over the country with
out either credit or pecuniary beneht TO
himself.
On Fastening to claim his royalties, Mr..
Hubbard was defed, and told that he had
no copywright, which, on investigation,
proved TO be the fact. The friend to whom
the music and fees had been given had
fallen dead the day after the trust had
besn committed to him. Ten years after
ward the identical proof-sheet given to
Cleveland was found-stili rolled up and
covered with dust-thrown up ont OF
sight upon the top of bookcase In the
probate clerks office in New Haven.
Over 1000, 900 copies of the song had
been sold by one Boston firm alone, who ad-
mitted that they had made the largest pro-
fits they had ever made on single sheet OF
music: but neither the author of the words
nor of the music ever realized penny from
this, the most popular college song ever
written.
One of the most curiously written of COM
positions is the celebrated song, "Evangel-
ine," by Will S. Hays, the prolific song
writer, author of "Mollie Darling" Mora
O'Neill," aud some 200 other melodies.
'Evangeline" is without doubt the first
song on record to be penned upon plank
fence. 1t was one of Hays earliest lyrics,
aud was the result of frolic, being writ
ten when he was quite young.
The author was one of party who one
evening CHANGED to attend social gather
ing in small village in Kentucky. Among
the ladies present was one who 80 strik-
ingly resembled the ideal portrait of Long
fellows 'Evapgeline" that she was atonce
given that nickname by the young COM
poser.
The company had organized quartet
and had given large number of popular
selections during the evening. 1t was a
bright moonlight night when they started
to return home, and "Evsngeline" sug'
gested that they try some new song.
~ will write you song" said Hays,
"if you will promise to sing it before we go
home"
This was enthusiastically agreed to. 1t
so happened that there was a new white
plank fence just opposite them at that
time. A fire had recently been built near
by and number of charred sticks lay
scattered around. Picking up several of
these Hayes walked over to the fence and
proceeded to write the first verse Of his
song ON the top plank, and the notes for
the quartet of voices on the four planks be-
meath. As all could read music, they
stood back short distance and had no
difficulty in singing it.
The girls insisted on having chorus,
and the author went to the end Of the
fence and there wrote out the chorus. The
party suGg it over and over, and at last
went home with it on their lips.
The following day Mr.. Hays was re-
quested by Evangeline" to write out a
copy on paper, but no laughingly told her
that she conld ~ down TO the fence and
copy it off. The young lady took him at
his word, and, though IL was raining hard,
she started out and returned with the
words and music complete.
To reward her Hays then added another
verse, and soon after the lady returned to
her home in St Louis, taking the sony with
her. On her singing it there it attracted
much attention, and che finally sent 1t
back to the author to have it published.
The manuscript was sent to nearly every
publisher in America; but, like Dexter
Smiths song, was probably regarded az too
good, and was returned untilit was nearly
worn ont. The only Off4r made for it wss
one Of $40, which the writer refused, but
indignantly made the publisher a presen.
of the song, saying that it would teach him
how little music publishers know OF the
real value of compositions.
true, hut not to hls own profit as he re-
ceived no remuneration whatever, while
the lucky Publisher disposed of not less
than 300, 600 copies.
1t is safe TO say that, after this exper-
fence, the talented writer was somewhat
more busiuess-like in his methods, since
he has realiz.d we'll on his many latter
compositions. The owner of "Evange-
line however, was never able to obtain
another lyric frem his pen, though he af-
forwards offered as high as $500 for single
song.