Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-05-23
EVER OF THEE"
....y-, Story OF A SONG THE WHOLE
WORLD KNOWS
Ragged Tramp Who Put His Soul Into
sr, MaSo-Ihe Story Of Lost
Lave For Which Alone He
Lived and Breaihed

50. John Globe.
..... the most popular song ever
.vas Ever of Thee.
mot untrue 20 state that no song
such q sale. and certainly no
r ever reaped SO much profit
..rras did Mr.. Turner from the
-or of Ever of Thee But
romance attaching TO it which
..v las not been written.
-r.ncd I'm this way: On cold
-.. January of 1850 the door of
-.r's music shop i'm the Poultry,
was nervouSly opened. and a
-ean. ragged specimen OF hui
I-r-ged himself I'M.
.ed as 10 hc hadn't been wash
rr.hs His beard was un6empt,
INV and matted. For boots he
. folds Of dirty rags, and i'm all
.. specimen of the most degraded
that community.
-he clerks said 20 him: You
of here.
-.1 ladies who happened 20 be i'm
...rr0.iccd his woe-begonc look,
...r.. .5outtO offer him some money,
..lfr T. (aclerk i'm the establish
seeing the poor fellow Shivering
....l ard apparently hungry. pitied
.r brought him into the work
b.. -rat hc might have u warm
.sa.tovc. a few minutes after
r.rner. tine proprietor, came in,
..rr rre ragged individual, asked
ac wanted and WHO allowed MN
l.5- ,aid Mr.. T.; 1.-the poor
leaked SD cold and miserable l
...- ..nd him 0uJ I'm this piercing
fv.-narr giving him a warm. and,
r.. saws he has some business
.r.,re,> with me'
81. .r.I have song I should like
stem ro.
eyed him from head 10 foot,
laughed outright.
u.,.mb'c looking object al the
a.-ar ro crow uneasy, and begged
Slowed ,o play the air OF his
/ Il. r...s nc then unearthcd from his
handed 20 the music publisher.
.-.- looked 40 60 and said:
-Wn wrote ihis?
.rrs SIR came from the rags.
.v~ Ncn.Tu have it played over,
.f...-.ary good I'll give you some
..u-f
~. your pardon. sir; I'd prefer TO
4 srr ar myself.
~W.. you play? Well, bring him
a .t piano room when he gets
-l wcI hmmor him.
o.. f.w minutes the bundle OF rags
....,sl p, tne concert grand piano,
nj -Ey.rof Thee" was played for the
r-. ay 10, composer, James Law
M. listener, were electrified when
.r l.ri ,h> diiapitated-looking
-ma nase Che piano almost speak,
M, tm.a $50, simply marvellous. and
n hi>y.rr ,.r. seemed to Doe az his finger
u, When bcbad finished he turned
Nol, Hu'e ml',uc. and said;
sid rs. -o sing For YOU. but / have q
Nrr.. uI Haven't been in bed for
nights. I'm hungry. sir. and l feel
could DOB. Do Justice.
Tr-rrrua, almost dumb with amaze
nc Tiea.r would take: he knew IL
dbea success. and he decided that
,uau bad history, which. perhaps,
- advertise the song so he deter
to cultivate him. and in tlattery
thought pressed him TO sing
one >tlra.
wsou protested 5gt finally agreed,
III Tuner Wa> amazed when he
a biz .F. Ae was positively en-
'ure. -lathuugry iceAhungry
~ Boo .u ANGRY physically, poured
- sweetest OF tenors the hrst
- 0. -le song i'm which his soul
-, the story of lost love, but he
r,aei it. and as he sang il was easy
no me lived aud breathed only
owe.
I'll E If Thee" has never been So
rre. But that trial verse made
,,. and 20 the experienced pub
Nr Turner. il was decidedly app
that he had secured great
III r,>ue Mr.. T, he said: MIR.
ake this man along; get him a
Shave. some decent clothes; iu
- him mp like gentleman, and
CHIN here. and we shall see about
Nn-
~took him along" He took
ma bath. and while the lfhclean
being made clean hc bought for him
-. pair Of shoes. some socks, coli
wT, and underwear Then he
m shaved. Then they hied 10 "a
.r>, and. having removed the
Lawson was quickly clad i'm fine
laa-c was beginning 90 tell.
rHr tramp seemed % be the
and treasurer. He was splendid
ing fellow and had quite adiStingue
araurr But the hat was still
rc, aud mrr0r-li6e chimney pot
purchased tocomp.ctc the makeup,
laughed when a.l was finished.
ii va, no his woraug clothes. and
SCI unfortunate looked Ike q duke.
good clothes t,fed lfm. and they
o. ed him and his appearance much too
to continue the assumption that
Lawson was tramp. He was "a
eman ali over. and hc looked TO-.
Al said to him:
aF Lawson. ! wish You would 60
shop before me-. They won't
.ol, andit viii Doe such "a joke
oa't mind that, Mr.. T. but
.'a .et me have q drink? 1 want
->' leo me have "a drink"
refused 20 stand the drink; he
Lawson that if he wanted a
could have it. but drink he
have. Finally. the two went
Ship and Turtle dining-rooms'
chocolate and Sirloin steak
ot Ever of Thee told the
story.
s once rich. Mr.. T. You
'-at lam now. You were aston
bear mc play the piano so well.
song has been the only com
nm which / gained any com
Or past 10 months. Ii brought
ne DAYS when / was rich,
oacl mp TO and happy. OF
la, IFS sad side for me. But
rg 40 what il recalls is the