The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-26
WROTE EVER OF Thee"
Story of the Songs Composition
As Told By the Author
Himself.
The Girl He Loved Married An
other Fellow and Wrecked
His Life.
James Lawson, the Author, Ragged and
Hungry, PLAYS and Sings 1t to an
Astonished Audience.

/
Astonished Audience.
Perhaps the most popular song ever writ
ten was Ever of Thee" says an exchange.
It 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 never
been written.
It happened in this way: On cold day
in the January of 1850 the door of Mr.. Tur-
ner's music shop in the Poultry, London,
was nervously opened, and most unclean,
ragged specimen of humanity dragged him
self in.
He looked as if he hadn't been washed
for months. His beard was unkempt and
dirty, and matted. For boots ne wore
some folds of dirty rags, and in all he was
a specimen of the most degraded class OF
that community.
One of the clerks said to him: "You get
out of here
The two ladies who happened to be in
the shop noticed his woe-begone look, and
were about to offer him some money when
a Mr.. T, clerk in the establishment,
seeing the poor fellow shivering with cold
and apparently hungry, 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 proprie-
tor, came in, and seeing the ragged indi-
vidual. asked what he wanted and who
allowed him iu?'
II did" said Mr.. T; "the poor fellow
looked SO cold and miserable l couldn't
send him out in this piercing wind without
giving him warm. and, besides, he says he
has some business with you.'
business with me"'
eyes, sir: have 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 al
lowed to play an 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?''
II did sir,'' came from the rags.
"You! Well. ~ have it played over, and
if it's any good I'll give you something for
it for myself.
we'll humor him.
In few minutes the bundle of rags was
seated at the concert grand piano, ana
ever of Thee was played for the first
time by its composer, James Lawson.
His listeners were electrified when they
heard this notwithstanding 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 anc
said:
"pd like to sing for you, but have q
terrible cold. haven't been in bed fol
five nights I'm hungry. sir, and feel
could not do it justice"
Turner was almost dumb with amaze
ment. The air would take; he knew il
would be q success and he decided that
this man had history which. perhaps
might advertise the song. So he deter
mined to cultivate him, and in tlatte! Ca
stanza."
Lawson protested, but finally agreed ant
play, he was positively oeAraptured when h
heard that hungry voice, hungry with love
hungry physically, pour out in the sweet
est Of tenors the first stanza of the song il
which his soul lived.
1t was the story of lost love, but he chez
ished it, and as he sang it was easy to sc
that he lived and breathed only for tina
love.
Ever of Thee has never been SO sun
since. But that trial verse made its sue
cess, and to the experienced publisher, Nj
Turner, it was decidedly apparent that b
had secured great song.
Addressing Mr.. t, he said: IN
T., take this man along; get him bati
shave, some decent clothes; in fact, II
him up like gentleman and bring hill
here, and we shall see about this song"
T. took him along" He took hi
to bath. and while the unclean was bein
made clean. he bought for him shirt
pair of shoes. some socks, collars, cuffs al
underwear. Then he had him shavol
Then they hied to clothier's, and. havlf
in fine raiment.
The change was beginning to tell.
raady the tramp seemed to be the guit
end treasurer. He was splendid lookil
pearance. But the hat was still there. al
a mirror-ike chimney pot was purchase
20 complete the makeup. T laugh
when all was finished.
He was in his working clothes, and til
unfortunate looked like duke. The so
clothes fitted him. and they suited him III
his appearance much too we'll to contin
the assumption that Mr.. Lawson was
tramp, He was gentleman all over. al
he looked it. T said to him.
MIR. Lawson, wish you would GO in
the shop before me- They won't know 20
Il don't mind that. Mr.. T. but wot
you let me have a drink? want it-plea
let lne have drink"
T refused to stand the drink; he to
MIR. Lawson that if he wanted q dinner
could have it, but drink he could not hay
Finally the two went into the Ship a
Turtle dining rooms, and over chocols
and 81, loin steak, the author of Ever
Thee" told the following story:
II was once rich, Mr.. T. You KIN
what I am now. You were aston'shed
hear me play the piano SO we'll. That Int
song has been the only companion FRI
which l gained any comfort for the p
twelve months. 1t brought back to me
DAYS when / was rich, loved. looked up
and happy. Of course, it has its sad s
for me- But the memory of what 1t rec,
is the dearest thing in my existence"
T interrupted him at this point 6
indicated that it was growing late.
.Please bear with me- rejoined his &C
panion. Let me tell you how and VIII
Composed the little song. Two years ag
met a girl in Brighton. If God ever
lowed one of His angels to come on ea
she was that one. adored her.
seemed to return the affection. l escol
her everywhere. was at her beck and
morn. noon and night. and it was currel
believed that Miss Blank and were
Gagged. / had to return to London on
iness, and when / went back to Brigf
she Was gone.
She had Just finished waltz with
good-looking man. and was promens'