The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1895-09-06

by. author % Nellie Gray" one Of the
most eloqucnily pathetic songs of tho
mother tongue. Peaceful In storm and
sun. the man forgotten. while his touch
Ing verse stlll lives. hen Handy sleeps.
save by his family and a few personal
friends. unwept and unhonored.
The story Of his tender. passionate
little song often has been told. although
seldom. perhaps. truthfully. Like many
brilliant and famous compositions OF
words and music. II was the creation OF
an hour and lie sudden and aHtonlsh-
ing success was altogether unexpected
by the author. The Inspiration came to
young Handy while he was a passenger
on a railroad train between Cincinnati
and Hamilton. He was listlcssly read
ing a newspaper whom he found an nc
count Of the manner In which beauti-
full quadroon Girl had been torn from
the arms n her lover and taken 10
southern slave market 10 be sold on
the auction block. The quadroons
name was given AZ Nellie Gray. The
story filled Handy with pity and lndls-
nation. for he was naturally gentle ana
kind and abhorrod the iniquiues OF
Hiavc-holding. so Impressed was he
that with pencil and paper. used as
best he could upon the jolting ana
swaying car seat. he jottcd down the
words OF a song In which the Incidents
OF the story were utilized. This was
done simply Tor the relief OF his own
mind and his ovcrburdcned heart. ana
at that time there was not the rcmotest
design OF ever bringing the verse TO the
light Of day.
By the time Handy had reached his
a So. D. nd
the few verses OF the song. II was
thrown carclcssly with his baggage and
soon after his return 20 his home In
wcstcrvillc u was tossed among some
other papers In his desk ana there for
gotten FOR Fix months or more one
day he came across the manuscript and
sent II 10 wcll-known firm OF music
publishers IN Chicago. with a note. say
ing that " they saw anything In
the song they might publish H.
Tho fong sprang at once into pop
ularlty. and Handy, like Byron
nwokr one morning 20 ma him
self famous. But this awakening ala
not come Tor many months after the
pathetic melody OF his Gong had poured
from thouHHudr OF tuncful throatH
throughout the land. His publishers
mover even acknowledged the receipt or
the manuscript. They made fortune
from ~ sale. but Of all the thousands
OF dollars which poured Into their bank
account Handy never received cont
when ho wrote 20 them they sent him
xix printed copies OF the song. without
the formali,y of thanks for the manu-
script.
While HIS song was gaining rs popu-
larlty and daily growing dearcr 20 hun
dreds OF thousands Of tender hearts.
Handy was living undiaturbcd his calm
and peaceful rural life. He was yet TO
learn his fame Several months after
the music OF his song had become ia
millar as household words Handy Wis
tied young lady In Columbus and re-
quested her 10 sling to him. Comply
ing. she said she would sing n sweet
little song. which. by some strange Coz
incidence. had been written by man
OF his name She began. and, greatly
90 his surprise, Handy recognized the
words and music Of his "Ncllie Gray"
II was the first .ntlmatlon he had that
the song had been published.
Handy came OF a musical as well as