The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-10-09
RECOLLEOTIoNs OF HEWITT.
Memories of the Dead Composer and
author Recalled.

Memories of the Dead Composer and
author Recalled.
An account Of the death Of Prof. John n
Hewitt. musician, poet and journalist. at
his home in Baltimore at the age of 30
years, was published in yesterdays MORN
| ING NEWS In the sketch given of his life
no mention was made of the fact that he
was a former resident of Savannah, and
the statement was made that he married his
second wife ia Richmond, when the fact is
he married in Savannah, where her mother
still resides
Prof. Hewitt had many friends in Savan-
nah whose attention was attracted by the
| notice of his death yesterday morning and
whose recollections of his former life in
Savannah are very tender. A MORNING
News reporter gathered some very interest
ing "reminiscences concerning him.
Hewitt established his reputation as a
journalist OF ability by the editorship Of
the Minerva, literary journal of note
published in Baltimore, for several
years before the war. He came south at
the breaking out of the war all mis- synpa-
thies being with this section, and located in
Savannah In 1853. Here he formed a
friendship, which proved lifelong, with H.
L. Schrelner, the music dealer and pub
Usher. The Schreiners were conducting bu-
siness houses In Macon and Augusta as well as
Savannah then, and were in fact supplying
the south with war poetry. for which there
was such demaud at that time. Hewitt's
forte was as a musical composer, though
he had written many poems of known merit,
notably the Song of the Wind" which
received prize In preference to Poe's
Coliseum" He also published volume of
his poetry and songs.
Il see my old friend and partner, John
II. Hewitt, is dead" said Mr.. Schreiner.
Hewitt came to Savannah in 1885, While
here he married Miss Mary Alethia Smith,
his second wife. the ceremony being
performed by Bishop Elliott. He spent
about year IN Savannah when he re-
moved TO Augusta, where he con.
Quoted the branch musical house Of
abe Schreiners there under the
firm name OF Schreiner g. Hewitt.
The Schreiners were turning out an i'm
mense quantity of Confederate poetry at
that time, were supplying the entire south
as theirs was the only music publishing
house in the south after the fall of New Or
leans, and the firm did an immense bust
ness. Hewitt wrote the music to a number
of popular songs and both words aud music
to good number. The printing was done
with a font of music type, wi, b
which H. l.. Sohreiner had run the block
ade, and they sold their publications from
Richmond to Mobile, the sales averaging
several hundred collars day.
Mr.. Schreiner has a quanty of this old
confederate music yet, among it several
| copies of the songs bearing the imprint
of Schreiner & Hewitt. The style was
quite ornate, considering the expedients to
which publishers were put In those days,
One of the songs was Somebody's Darling"
music by John H. Hewitt. and was dedicated
to Miss Mary Davis of Augusta On the
back of the sheet is list of the songs pub
HGh nv fha fnAl t11i
favorites of the day." Freedoms Muster
Drum" 1.-THE Battle Cry of Freedom
"Lorena," 1.-THE Soldiers FAREWELL
wake, Lady, Wake" "The Yellow Rose
of Texas" "When This Cruel War Is
Over" and numbers Of others. Some of
the sheets bear the inscription THE Mus
ical Ohio. or Favorite Gems of That Popu-
lar Southern Composer, John H. Hewitt
including Rock Me to to Sleep. Mother"
81 Win Meet Thee" "You Are Going to
the Wars, Willie Boy" 1.-THE stouewall
Quickstep," "Tne Young Volunteer 'sThe
Unknown Dead" "Dixie, the Land OF
King Cotton" and 1.-THE Soldiers Fare
we'll" Besides Somebody's Darl-
ing" Hewitt wrote the music to
large number of other songs,
once popular, but mostly forgotten now
He also wrote the music to the famous war
| song, "All Quiet Along the Potomac To-
| night" Hewitt's merits as poet and mus
ical composer were of no mean order.
After the war Hewitt returned to Savan-
nah where he wrote music for the Schrein-
er's, edited musical journal for them also,
ran the Evening Mirror for awhile and
contributed music and poems to other pub
LEGATIONS.
There is considerable uncertainty as to
the time at which Hewitt left Savannah for
Baltimore, Mr.. Schreiner and nephew
of Hewitt's wife being of the opinion that
it was in 1867, but leading member of the
old Arkwright Dramatic Association, which
preceded the Ford Dramatic Association
in Savannah, says that for some time
after the war Hewitt was musical director
of the association and wrote several plays
for them, one of which was a musical ex-
travaganza based on the Modoc war, which
was performed here in 1873 or 1874, and
that Hewitt left for Baltimore shortly after
this play was written.
Miss Smith, whom Hewitt maj rled IN
Savannah, in 1868, was of one of the best
families of South Carolina, and survives
her husband. Her mother, Mrs. Caroline r.
M. Smith. Is still living in Savannah at an
advanced age and she has besides a number
of other relatives in Savannah.
One Of Hewitt's nephews in Savannah,
or his wife's nephew rather, said Yesterday
that Hewitt had been bedridden for some
time; mis- death was not unexpected, and in
fact was merciful deliverance to him.
John Il. Hewitt was a relic of the old
regime. His reputation was made and
his successes achieved when the
fathers of the present generation were Just
coming on the stage and he had seen three
generations pass by him TO the grave.
Coughs and colds kept of by taking Sim