Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1890-07-18
EVER OF THEE"
Romantic Story of Song the
Whole World Knows.
Written BY n Tramp Who Put His Soul
Into the Pathetic Music-Story OF q
Lost Love for Which Alone Ho
Lived and Breathed.


Lived and Breathed.
Perhaps the most popular song ever
written was "Ever of Thee"
1t is not untrue to state that no song
ever had such a 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.
lthappened in this way: On cold day
in the January of 1850 the door of Mr..
Turner's music-shop, in the Poultry,
London, was nervously opened, and a
most unclean, ragged specimen of hui
mainly dragged himself in.
He looked as If he hadn't been washed
for months. His beard was unkempt,
and dirty and matted. For boots he
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 Mr.. T Ia clerk in the estab-
lishment), seeing the poor fellow shiv-
ering with cold and apparently hungry.
pitied him and brought him into the
workshop SO that he might have a
"warm-up" by the stove. A few min
utes after, Mr.. Turner, the proprietor,
came in, and seeing the ragged individ-
ual asked what he wanted and ''who
allowed him in?''
II did," said Mr. T; ''the poor
fellow looked so cold and miserable
couldn't send him out in the piercing
wind without giving him warm, and
besides, he says he has some business
with you.'
Business with mer'
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 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?"
II did, sir" came from the rags.
"You! Well, I'll have it played over,
and il it's any good Pll give you some
thing for it."
Il beg your pardon, sir, prefer to
play 1t myself"
"What! you play? Well, bring him
up to the piano room when he gets
warm, and we'll 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 Law
son.
His listeners we're electrified when
they heard the 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 finished he turned
to his little audience and said:
''rd like to sing for you, but ! have
q terrible cold. / haven't been in bee
for 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 i
would be success and he decid ed tina
this man had history which, perhaps
might advertise the song. So he deter
mined to cultivate him, and in flatter,
Gas he thought), pressed him to sin,
s'just one stanza."
Lawson protested, but finally agreed
and If Turner was amazed when h
heard him play, he was positively en-
raptured with that hungry voice, hungr,
with love, hungry physically, pouring
out in the sweetest of tenors the frs
stanza of the song in which his sou
lived.
1t was the story of lost love. but h
cherished it. and as he sang 1t was cas-
to see that he lived and breathed onl
for that love.
Ever OF Thee" has never been s.
sung since But that trial verse made it
success, and to the experienced pull
Usher Mr.. Turner, it was decidedly az
parent that he had secured great song
Addressing Mr.. T, he said; "Ml
T, take this man along; get him
bath, a shave, some decent clothes; i
fact fix him up like a gentleman an
bring him here, and we shall see abou
this song"
T ''took him along" He took hin
TO bath, and while the unclean wa
being made clean he bought for him
shirt pair of shoes, some socks, CO
lars, cuffs and underwear. Then he ha
him shaved. Then they hied to
clothier's, and, having removed tn
rags, Lawson was quickly clad in fin
raiment
The change was beginning to tel
Already the tramp seemed to be tn
guide and treasurer. He was splendi,
looking fellow and adqui.e distingu
appearance. But the hat was still Their
and mirror-iike chimney pot was pu
chased to complete the makeup. T.
laughed when all was finished.
He was in his working clothes, an
this unfortunate looked like duk
The good clothes fitted him, and the
suited him and his appearance much Il
we'll 10 continue the assumption thl
Mr.. Lawson was a tramp. He was
gentleman all over, and he looked
T. said to him:
'.Mr. Lawson. ! wish you would s
into the shop before me. They won
know you, and it will be such a joke"
II don't mind that Mr. r., b.