The morning news., 1892-03-27

Blackall writes Of this hymn:
1T was written for an anniversary Of
the Second Baptist Sunday school, Chicago,
OF which was then superintendent, posi-
translated into many languages, including
the Chinese. and holds its place well
to-day. My impression is that the anni-
versary named was just after the great
Chicago fire, and it was designed TO assure
the final triumph no matter how great the
difficulties under which one might be labor
ing. There is 10 Quesi ion that bYmnology
Is far IN advance Of what 1t was ten year 8
ago. and there seems a tendency TO the
higher musical forms, yet the schools are
struggling against fi0od Of poor and thin
music"
FAMOUS THE WORLD OVER.
Perhaps the Oldest hymn writer living Is
Fanny Crosby. She has her homo In New
York and is now 65 years old. She Is said TO
have composed more Sunday school hymns
than any other ten living writer's. They
number 3, 900 or more. Her songs are full
Of pathos and appeal to the human heart
they are the inspirations Of one who has
been blind from her infancy; that her soul
has overfowed with the sweetest and purest
sentiment Of Sabbath songs while this bright
world Of ours was lost 60 her forever.
Her favorite hymn. "Pass Me Not. o Gen.
tie Savior" was written In 1869. RESCUE
the Perishingn year later and these were
followed by "Savior, More Than Life TO
Me-" and "Jesus. Keep Ne Near the Gross. :"
Stephen Collins Foster was not a hymn
writer, but he is the typical American
ballad writer. Although a northerner, his
songs Of the south are among the most
beautiful and original that have ever been
written. Although the brain that con-
cetved and the hand that wrote the meio-
dies. ''The Old Folks at Home" "Massa's in
de Cold. Cold Ground, my Old Kentucky
Home, have long since crumbled to dust
their work Is found in thousands of Ameri-
can and European homes.
Mr.. Foster was born IN Pittsburg July 4,
1896, and died in New York, January Is,
1869, at the early age OF 50. He was the
composer of "Old Dog Tray, "Come Where
Ny Love Lies Drsamlng,p p "Gentle Annie, ~
willie, We Have Missed You" all Of
which. and many Others. were born under
Pittsburg's canopy Of smoke and amid her
roar and hustle.
Morrison Foster of Pittsburg sends me
an interesting incident of how his brother
Stephen came to give the name "Suwenee
River" to that sweetest of all his melodies:
1T was In the spring or summer of 1851
thai my brother came into my office on
Water street, Pittsburg, and said 10 me:
What is good name OF river in the
south to put in song, word Of two sylla-
bles and of uphonious soundP 1 suggested
'Yazoo.'
"'O,' said he. that is old and has been
used before
"' How would Peedee dot said l. He
replied quickly. That would never answer
at ALL
II then took down the atlas from the top
of my desk and said, Let US look little
through the map of the United States My
eye fell upon the little river 'Spwanee' in
Florida and pointed it out to him.
That's it, that's it, he exclaimed, and
he Immediately filed up the blank in
his manuscript with the word 'Suwanee'
"The odd Folks at Home was completed,
and T. p. Christy from whom my brother
had standing order paid him $500 for the
privilege OF singing it before publication
''swEET BY AND BY"
Tne great and steady popularity of "Sweet
BY and By" is most noteworthy. Hopeful
and sweet 10 its sentiment and associated
with a tune easily learned and which, once
known, Is ever remembered, this hymn Is
known the wide world over. 1t is heard on
land and sea and sung by all classes and
conditions of people. The name of its
composer of the taking" music which ac-
companies 1t, j. P. Webster, probably
never will be forgotten.
"Sweet By and By" was composed IN 1868
at Elkhorn, Wis, then Mr.. Webster's home
de and Mr.. Bennett we're intimate friends
and partners in publishing enterprises. Both
words and music were produced, it is said,
in less than half an hour. The occasion Of
its production was fit Of mental depression
experienced by Mr.. Webster which his friend
sought to relieve by a cor0position that has
solaced myriads in the like condition. Mr.
Webster's sympathies and invention were
excited by the effort, and his response was
the music which 80 delightfully."- harmonizes
with the sense of the hymn.
Mr.. Bennett lives at Richmond, Ind. ,
where he practices medicine. He Is q man
much respected and beloved, student and
facile writer. His career has been a tri-
umph over difficulties which began in his
childhood. 1t was in June, 1886, that he
first saw light, at Eden, Erie county, New
York. His parents made their home at
Lake Zurich, Ill, when he was years old
By the cultivation of the little leisure saved
from tell on the farm young Bennett laid a
foundation of liberal learning which en-
abled him TO spend year at the University
Of Michigan. He taught school and wrote
for the newspapers before the war, in which
be saw considerable service. Subsequently
he kept drug store and prepared for the
professional labors in which he has been en-
gagged since 1871. Mr.. Bennett is a good
specimen OF the man whose attainments and
dignified usefulness are the result Of hard
toll and struggle in the cult vation of
superior natural abilities.