The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-08

Its Author Tells an Interesting story o
Its Composition.

Its Composition.
In Richmond, a little town OF less than
1000 inhabitants, almost on the southern
boundary line of Illinois, lives the author
OF 'In the Sweet by and BY" He Is a
practicing physician, and is under sixty
years of age. The immortal hymn was
written when he was only thirty-one, and
is the single song of his life.
During the civil war q wave Of moral
elevation and intellectual activity passed
over the country. In this grand awaken
ing of the conscience there was flood OF
music-martial, religious, domestic. Geo.
r. Root and Stephen J. Foster were both
writing songs that lived, and Sunday
school hymns passed out Of the driveling
period into one Of elevated simplicity
Just at this time Samuel Fillmore Ben
nett was graduated from Ann Arbor,
Mich, and began a newspaper career at
Elkhorn, Wis, on the Independent. j. r..
Webster. the musical composer, was liv-
ing in the same town, and il was only a
few months before the editor and the
musician were collaborating. The war in
tervened, and Lieutoant Bennett OF the
Fortieth Wisconsin Volunteers, returned
to Elkhorn to open drugstore and re-
sumo his verse-writing. He and Mrs
Webster began in 1867 10 work on a Sun
day-schooi song book, called THE Signet
Ring" which was afterward published.
This period Of his life is the most pre-
cious of all his experiences 10 DR.. Bennett
Not long ago he told the whole story to
an interested group of listeners, his eyes
filling with tears as he indicated his
friend from calumnies.
Currency has been given TO the shame
full story that Mr.. Webster was drunk
when he wrote the music, and another
account has it that we were both drunk.
l am thankful to do justice to one of The
noblcst men that ever liVed-a fine, scnsi-
tive soul, with the true. artistic feeling.
Again, IL has been said that we were both
infdels. and the song the ribald jest of a
carouse. AS 10 my religion. that is my
own affair; but the hope and longing of
every immortal soul as expressed in that
song was the faith Of both of us. TO
both creation would have seemed a farce
If infinite love and Immortality had not
oversbadowed US and promised a life Of
bliss beyond the grave.
Mr.. Webster. like many musicians.
was Of an exceedingly nervous and sensi-
tive nature. and subject 10 fits Of depres-
sion. l knew his pecularties well. and
when / found him given up to blue devils,
j just gave him a cheerful song to work
on. One morning he came into the store
and walked 10 the stove without speaking.
What's up now, Webster" ] asked.
It's no matter. 1t Will be all right
by and by
"Tho idea OF the hymn came TO me
like a fash Of sunshine. Tho Sweet
BY and By Everything Will be all
right then. Why wouldn't that make
a good hymn
Maybe it would he replied. gloomily.
Turning TO the desk. / wrote as rapidly
as 1 could. In less than half an hour
l think, the song as II stands to-day was
written. Here it is:
There's a land that is fairer than day,
And by faith we can see it afar.
For the Father waits over the way
TO prepare US a dwelling-place there.
In the sweet by and by
We shall meet on that beautiful shore
In the sweet by and by
We shall meet ON that beautiful shore
We shall sing on that beautiful sore,
The melodious songs the blest
And our spirits shall sorrow no more
Not a sigh for the blessing OF rest!
T. our bountifdl Father above
We viii offer the tribute Of praise
For the glorious eift Of his love.
And the blessings that hallOw our days.
Chorus.
'In the mean time two friends, N.
II. Carswell and s. T.. Bright, had come
IN. I handed the verses TO Mr. Webster
little trcmulous with emotion. AS
he read II. his eyes kindled. Stepping
to the desk. he began 10 jot down the
notes. lie picked up his violin and
tried them. In ter minutes we four
gentlemen were singing that song. Mr.
r.. II. Crosby came in. and with tears
I'm his eyes, said: Gentlemen. that
hymn Is mmortalv We were all ex-
cited. elated. Within two weeks the
children Of the town We're singing # on
the streets.
I'm 1858 the 'Signet Ring was published.
the published distributing circulars TO
advertise II, and on the sheets was
The Sweet BY and BY On the strength
OF that one song. nearly quarter OF a
million copies OF the book were sold.
The song was afterwards brought out
in sheet music, and II has been trans
lated into number OF foreign Ian
guages.
Webster Crosby. and Carswell are
all dead. s. T.. Bright. of Fort At
kinson, Wis, and myself, are the only
living witnesses to the origin OF the
sons. louisville Post.