Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-20

for your abilities - . musician, doubly en-
cleared to me because the pupil Of masters
whose works live, but whose identity has passed
from both Of U.s. Very truthfully yours,
'F. NICHOLAS CROUCH"
rHR OTHER SIDE
really have no desire to take one leaf from
the brow of Mr.. Crouch, who, as far as 1 know,
has left no other composition comparable to the
exquisite air Of Kathleen Mavoureen," which he
claims 70 have composed. The song which has
survived the century since il came from its
anthoress, Mrs. Crawford, must surely have
been sung long before Mr.. Crouch was born-if
70 the same air we are left to conjecture. The
circumstances which disclosed its existence in
'oiume OF German songs. written more than a
century ago. would seem to settle the question
OF ats antiquity, Mr.. Wheats letter reached
me at my home in vineland where was enabled
70 OBTAIN more particulars of the finding Of
sais composition from Mrs Coyle. In lss7-s
hrs. Coyie returned to Europe and visited her
musical alma mater at Milan. and after some
stay there with the old professors San Giovanni
ana Others, returned to Paris. stopping a;
Muhlcn on her way, which. with its broad
streets and squares. reminded her OF Washing
ION ana determined her stay there of several
weeks She obtained from a musical circulating
horary whlie there a number OF rare musical
compositions and thus continued her studies
One day In the summer of 1865 her maid brought
her from this library some volumes of music.
ana looking over one of them she was sur
prlsed and delighted to find an old German
song to thefalr of Kathleen Mayourneen." Ii
came TO her like sounds from home" and she
new to the piano, and sang the song from mem
ory 20 me Gia German air, note for note. The
words OF the song were in old German text.
winch she could not read. She noted
the circumstance in her diary, but nm
fortunately that was mislaid On her
return she spoke OF it, and the article from the
Springfield Republican recalled it to INV mem
a ca ri
professor Of music here, Mr.. Berlin, o most
thorough musician, who was conductor of our
Phiiharmonic Society when Mr.. Keeckhoffer
was leader, who disputed Mr.. Crouch's claim
at that early day, and said the air was familiar
one In Germany.
STORIES OF ALEX h sTEPHESs
The letters of Mr.. Corcoran which appeared
In The EVENING STAR have exhibited the dead
phllanthropist in q more endearing light to his
many friends and recalls other incidents Of his
beneyolence. One is related to me by an eve
witness OF an interview with Hon. Alexander
IL. Stephens which is entitled to be recorded
Inc Hon. Alexander H. Stephens and DIR.
D.. +. Hambleton were summoned to tes-
Try before the congressional committee
On reconstructlon as soon as the committee WAS
organized, and were among the early arrivals
from the south after the war The long and
tedious lourneyit was, in those days, exhausted
MT. stephens strength, and when he reached
mere he was confined to his bed for several
days; Dr. Hambleton was put on the witness
stand the day after his arrival, and reported to
Mr. stephens the daily proceedings of the COM
mittee One day, when he returned from the
Capitol, upon entering Mr.. Stephens room at
the Ebbltt House, he found Mr.. Corcoran seated
by Mr. stephens bed side, and after the doctor
mao related the proceedings before the
committee Mr.. Corcoran rose to 20 and
said to MIR. Stephens he had called to paw his
respects and to leave with him check which he
would obllSe him by filling up with such a sum
as would be useful in relieving the wants of
hlmselt and friends, as he knew the condition in
which the war had left them: that the peonIe
OF the south had been his friends In his
early business life and he had a desire
TO do all he could to repay it in their
hour OF need. Mr.. Stephens thanked Mr.
Corcoran very warmly, but said he could not
accept his kindness, for he saw no way in
which he could ever repay it. His health was
precarious and he did not know if he would be
able to DO anything to earn the means of repay
ment, ana to accept such unbounded generos-
Ivy without the remotest means of repaying il
would De, In his opinion. crime, and he must
oechne II. Mr.. Corcoran then obtained from
Mr.. stephens promise that if he or any friend
needed aid he would inform him.
=, Inc only friend who presumed to do any,
tnlng In the way Of financial aid for Mr. Ste
Phens was Robert Toombs. Mr.. Toombs would
hear OF any financial strait into which Mr..
otepnens generosity had placed him and he
would, wholly unsolicited and unknown to Mr.
stephens, place to his credit the amount
needed to remove the embarrassment and then
keep out of his way long enough, as he
nopea, 70 pc spared the reproaches for
insisted On giving an pbIastan @it fcr who
debt. Mr.. foombs was q very wealthy tnv
man. When the war began, in 1861. Mr..
loombs had several crops of cotton in Liver
pool from which he realized a very large sum,
fha ao%t AL
6o cents pound for it. He took delight in
sending up. to Liberty Hall, Mr.. Stephens
residence, from Atlanta. car loads of eyerv-
tnlng In the way of provisions. wines. &C., ..for
Aiexs tavern, he would say. He distributed
MS wealth most literally but unostentatiously
among those whom the war had left penniiess
GEMS FROM THE CENSUS OFFICE.
volume of mingled pathos and humor
could be gathered from the replies received at
the census Office to the circulars OF inquiry ad-
dressed by thousands throughout the country
to obtain information of the condition of the
industries of all kinds, which will form so i'm
portant an element in the great work approach
ing successful completion. These re-
pines come III shoals, thousands upon thou
SANDS, and only an occasional and exceptional
one attracts the eve of the examiner. This one
comes from California and is evidently intended
as an earnest desire to conform to the law. To
the printed question for what purpose was q
mortgage Gf any placed on the farm he re-
pines: II mortgaged the ID place to buy Q
team OF mules, Wild as -. but have made
enough by them to pay my debts and to pay
the mortgage when it comes dae-write again.
The letter accompanying the schedule
says: g! am engaged in hauling freight
between Hopeland and Lakeport. If You
need anything in my line give me a call. If
you need information in matters of business /
am your Injun anything about hauling
freight. shearing sheep, bad debts, baling hay,
fishing, hunting bear, stove wood, thrashing
machines, weaving calves, sucking mules, pigs,
orchards; hay rakes, setting saws, anything like
that viii answer. ANY information about the
,swltzerland OF America, cheerfully given
Love to all. Write soon''
49,, Mule Whacker"
JOHN F. CoYLx.
Rudyard KiDlinp's Health