Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-07-05

w. j. Florence, the cOmmeuIah, OhSo
offered $1,000 for catch phrase about
which an American comedy could be
written. Nobody supplied the demand,
and this, the costliest phrase on recent
record, has yet to made.
JOSEPHs' GKOvER SONG.
How the PhnadeIphlan Became Poet
Laureate.
philadelphia T.Mss.
Until Contractor Samuel Josephs
earned for himself a national reputa-
ton and the title OF poet laureate OF the
Democratic party by springing upon
the Chicago Convention the most fetch
ing campaign song of the age, IL was
not generally known that the now ia
nous little man was possessed Of q po-
etic instinct of high order. Everybody
knew Sam JOsephs as a genial compan-
ion, a princely entertainer and hard
working soldier in the ranks OF the
Democratic party Of Pennsylvania, as
we'll as liberal contributor 10 the le-
gitimate expense fund.
Since he electrified the convention
with his song even his most intimate
friends have been forced to regard him
in a new light, and instead Of hearing
the old assertion ''Sam's the best fellow
in the world" one now hears in respect
full tones, Sans a genius OF the hrst
water" There are not many, however,
who know how the Grover song came to
be given to a grateful public, but one
who is conversant with facts tells the
story thusly:
THE POETS BAD MEMORY.
One Of the favorite songs of the genial
poet laureate has for some time past
been the Baby song which caught his
fancy when sung by that acrobatic COM
edian DeWolf Hopper and pretty Della
Fox in the alleged opera Wang. Sam
caught the tune perfectly, but some OF
the words slipped his memory and on
the way out TO Chicago the party &C
compsnying the Pennsylvania delega-
ton was RECALLED with this verse;
She's my darling baby;
Up she goes,
Down she goes,
La, 10, Ia, Ia ia, In.
The fact that be could not remember
the last line OF his fayorite verse an
nOyed the iovial entertainer. He knew
many other songs, and when Chicago
was reached and a select party had
gathered I'm room 312 at the Sherman
House, a symposium was gotten up, and
amid singing and general good time
the poetic Samuel demanded silence,
and I'm a voice trembling with oppressed
enthusiasm, said: "Boys! I've got it,"
"Got what?" shouted Tommy Ryan
and Peter Monroe.
"A new song" replied Josephs, land
it's q corker." Without more ado he
cleared his throat and sang:
Grover, Grover,
hour more wears Of Grover
Out they 20,
In wr 90,
Then we'll be in clover.
A DECIDED HIT MADE.
No song ever made a more decided
hit and in few minutes it was being
shouted all through the Sherman House,
where, besides the Pennsylvania, the
Kings county, n. Y, and the Illinois
delegations were quartered.
The success of his venture so pleased
Mr.. JoSephS that he decided to push ii
outside the narrow confines of the Sher-
man House, and earn for himself ma
tional fame. The words were written
out and sent to the printer with In
structions to have a lot Of them ready
for distribution at the now historic
night session OF the convention. The
printer, as usual, did not keep his con-
tract, but Thursday they were delivered
and thousands Of printed slips bearing
the words were thrown around the
enormous pig-stye, as Chicago proudly
called the Wigwam.
SPRUNG IN A THUNDER STORM.
General Bragg, Of Wisconsin, was on
the rostrum trying TO nominate John L.
Mitchell for the Nice-PreSidency. \
heavy rain was beating on the thin roof
and leaking down upon the thousands
OF people sweltering under It. Awful
peals OF thunder shook the frail struc-
ture. and lightning played along the
electric light wires. Inky darkness had
settled down, though it was early after
noon, aud a choking fog had rolled in
from the lake bringing odors of sulphur
and sewer gas. No one who was there
can ever forget the scene.
Josephs had bribed the band to play
his tune, and while General Bragg stood
helpless General Josephs mounted his
chair and at a signal the music struck
up. JOsephS waved his hand, and those
who were in the secret began TO sing
"GrOver." Before the crowd realized
what was going on the verse was fin
ished, but on the second round fully
10000 voices joined 10 and the eonven-
tion was on its feet, Josephs waved his
hat and again and again the words
rolled across the big barn, The awful
storm was forgotten, the campaign song
had been presented and Samuel JosephS
was the most famous man in Chicago.
When she convention adjourned the rain
was still falling, but as the crowds, wet
and tired, floeked to shelter, everybody
was singing:
Grover Grover,
Four more years Of Grover;
Out they go
In we 20,
Then Wen be in clover.