Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-07-19
STORY OF A SONG.

STORY OF A SONG,
Perhaps the most popular song ever written
was Ever of Thee"
1t is not untrue to state that no song ever
had such sale, and certainly no publisher
ever reaped SO much profit from song as
did Mr.. Turner from the publication of Ever
of Thee" But there is romance attaching
to it which until now has not been written.
1t happened in this way: On cold day in
the January of 1850 the door of Mr.. Turner's
music shop, in the Poultry, London, was ner-
vously opened and most unclean, ragged
specimen of humanity dragged himself in.
He looked as though he hadn't been washed
for months His beard was unkempt, and
dirty, and matted. For boots he wore some
folds of filthy rags, and in all he was speci-
men of the most degraded class of the COM
munity.
One of the clerks said to him: "You get
out of here"
Two ladies who happened to be in the shop
noticed his woe begone look, and were about
to offer him some money, when Mr.. T Ia
clerk in the establishment, seeing the poor
fellow shivering with cold and apparent
hunger, pitied him and brought him into the
workshop so that he might have ''warm
up" by the stove A few minutes after, Mr..
Turner, the proprietor, came in, and, seeing
the ragged individual, asked what he wanted,
and ''who allowed him in?'
81 did, said Mr. r; ''the poor fellow
looked so cold and miserable | couldn't send
him out in this piercing wind without giving
him a warm, and, besides, he says he has got
some business with you"
Business with me?'
eyes, sir; 1 have a song should like you
to listen to-"
Turner eyed him from head to foot, and
then laughed outright.
The miserable looking object at the stove
began to grow uneasy, and begged to be
allowed to play the air of his song, which he
then unearthed from his rags and handed to
the music publisher Turner looked at it and
said:
'Who wrote this?'
~ did, sir" came from the rags.
"You! Well, I'll have it played over, and
if it's any good I'll give you something for
itn
81 beg your pardon, sir; I'd prefer to play
it for myself"
''Whatl you plays Well, bring him up to
the piano room when he gets warm and Well
humor him."
In few minutes the bundle of rags was
seated at the concert grand piano, and "Ever
of Thee was played for the first time by its
composer, James Lawson
His listeners were electrified when they
heard this dilapidated looking tramp make
the piano almost speak His touch was
simply marvellous and his very soul seemed
to be at his finger tips. When he had fin
ished he turned to his little audience and
said:
'srd like to sing it for you, but have a
terrible cold. I haven't been in bed for five
nights. I'm hungry, sir, and feel could
not do it justice"
Turner was almost dumb with amazement.
The air would take; he knew it would be a
success and he decided that this man had a
history which, perhaps, might advertise the
song So he determined to cultivate him,
and in fiattery las he thought pressed him to
sing "just one stanza" Lawson protested,
but finally agreed, and if Turner was amazed
when he heard him play, he was positively
enraptured when that hungry voice, hungry
with love, hungry physically, poured out in
the sweetest of tenors the first stanza of the
song in which his soul lived.
1t was the story of a lost love, but he cher
ished it, and as he sang it was easy to see that
he lived and breathed only for that love.
"Ever of Theen has never been SO sung since.
But that trial verse made its success, and to
the experienced publisher, Mr.. Turner, it was
decidedly apparent that he had secured a
great song.
Addressing Mr.. +, he said: ''Mr. T,
take this man along; get him bath, a share,
some decent clothes; in fact, fix him up like a
gentleman, and then bring him here and we
shall see about this song"
T 'took him along" He took him to a
bath, and while the unclean was being made
clean, he bought for him a shirt, a pair of
shoes, some socks, collars cuffs and under
wear. Then he had him shaved Then they
HE'D to clothier's, and having removed the
rags, Lawson was quickly clad in fine raj
ment. The change was beginning to tell.
Already the tramp seemed to be the guide
and treasurer. He was a splendid looking
fellow and had quite distingue appearance.
But the hat was still there, and mirror like
chimney pot was purchased to complete the
make up. T laughed when all was fin
ished. He was in his working clothes, and
this unfortunate looked like a duke. The
good clothes fitted him, and they suited him
and his appearance MUCK too well to continue
the assumption that Mr.. Lawson was q
tramp. He was gentleman all over, and
"Mr. Lawson, wish you would go into the
shop before me. They won't know you, and
it will be such O joke"
II don't mind that, Mr.. T, but won't
you let me have drinks I want it-please
let me have drink"
T refused to stand the drink; he told Mr.
' Lawson that if he wanted dinner he could
:, have it, but drink he could not have. Finally
the two went into the Ship and Turtle din
ing rooms, and over chocolate and sirloir
steak the author of ever of Thee told the
following story:
81 was once rich, Mr.. T. You know
, what l am now. You were astonished tt
> hear me play the piano so well. That little
song has been the only companion from
I which | gained any comfort for tie past
twelve months. 1t brought back to me the
days when was rich, loved looked up to and
q happy. Of course it has its sad side for me
e But the memory Of what it recalls is the
c dearest thing in my existence"
I interrupted him at this point and indi
}, Gated that it was growing late
+ "Please bear with me-" rejoined his com
e panion. "Let me tell you how and why
composed the little song. Two years ago
met girl in Brighton. If God ever allowed
one of his angels to come on earth she wa.
| ClaC one. auOFeu tOuo SeCiiieu w iC
y turn the affection l escorted her every
{ where, was at her beck and call morn, moor
u and night, and it was currently believed thai
Miss Blank and were engaged. had to re-
e turn to London on business, and when 'E":
n back to Brighton she was gone
Is ssThree months after | met her at ball
IL She had just finished a waltz with tall
y good looking man, and was promenading the
vt hall on his arm. She recognized me. Blu
d when said, How do you do, Miss Blankl
IS she quickly replied:
g 'I'm well, Mr.. Lawson, but am SURPRISED
to hear you call me Miss Blank When yo1
left Brighton SO suddenly thought shoul'
IS never see you again. You left no address
r. never called again, and-well, am married
n "sTo whomp gasped.
v "eTo Mr. Prize she replied, pointing Attn
: same time to the gentleman with whom sh
-. had been dancing