The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-02-26
GENESIS OF A SONG.
HOW am THE SWEET ev AND sv''
CAME TO Sc WRITTEN.
M Author Tells an Interesting Story az
IT. compositiea-within an Hour After
the Idea Came Four 0satlsnsa Were
singing the Song.


than 1000 inhabitants, almost ON the
southern boundary line of Illinois, lives
the author Of I'm the Sweet BY and
By" He is practicing physician and
; is under 90 years Of age. The immortal
hymn was written when he was only 81
and is the single song of his life.
During the civil war wave Of moral
elevation and intellectual activity pass
ed over the country. In this grand
awakening Of the conscience there was
flood Of music-martial, religious, do
nestle. George +. 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
Bennett was graduated from Ann Ar
Dor, Mich, and began newspaper ca
reer at Elkhorn, Wis, on The Indepen,.-
emit j. =. Webster, the musical COM
poser, was living in the same town. and
it was only few months before the
editor and the musician were collaborat.
ing. The war interviewed, and Lieuten-
ant Bennett Of the Fortieth Wisconsin
volunteers returned TO Elkhorn to open
a drug store and resume his verse writ
ing. He and Mrs Webster began in
1867 TO work ON a Sunday school song.
book, called THE Signet Ring" which
was afterward published.
This period Of his life is the most
precious of all his experiences to DR..
Bennett Not long ago he told the whole
story to an interested group Of listeners,
his eyes filling with tears as he vindi-
Gated his friend from calumnies:
Currency has been given to the
shameful story that Mr.. Webster was
drunk when he wrote the music, and
another account has it that we were both
drunk am thankful to do Justice TO
one OF the noblest men that ever lived |
IA fine, sensitive soul. with the true
artistic feeling. Again, il has been said |
that we were both infidels, and the song /
the ribald jest of carouse AS TO nv /
religion, that is my own affair, but the
hope and longing Of every immortal soul
as expressed in that song were the faith
OF both OF as. To both creation would
have seemed farce if infinite love and
Immortality had not overshadowed us
and promised life of bliss beyond the
grave
Mr.. Webster. like many musicians.
was OF an exceedingly nervous and SEN
sitive nature. and subject to fits Of de-
preston. / knew his peculiarities well,
and when found him given up to blue
devils, just gave him cheerful song
to work on. One morning he came into
the store and walked to the stove with
out speaking.
What's up now, Webster?' asked.
It's no matter. 1t will be all right
by and by.
The idea Of the hymn came to me
ike fash of sunshine-'The Sweet By I
and By Everything will be all right |
hen. Why wouldn't that make a good
,ymn?
Maybe it would. he replied gloom
ly. Turning to the desk, / wrote as
'apidly as could. In less than half an
hour, think, the song as it stands to- | ,
lay was written. Here it is:
"Thcre's n land that is fairer than day.
And by faith we can see 10 afar
For the Father waits over the way t
To prepare US dwelling place there r
CHORUS. Io
ain the sweet by and by /.
We shall meet on that beautiful shore =
In the sweet by and by Z,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore q,
1--WE shall sing on that beautiful shore a
The melodious songs Of the blest, a
And our spirits shall sorrow no more-
Not sigh for the blessing Of rest. I'll
ITO our bountiful Father .bov. in
We will offer the tribute Of praise ri
For the glorious gift Of his love
And the blessings that hallow our Days.
In the meantime two friends, n. h y
arswell and s. +. Bright, had come I'll
D. l handed the verses TO Mr.. Webster.
little tremulous with emotion. As he
BAD it his eyes kindled. Stepping TO
he desk, he began to jot down the !,
otes. He picked up his violin and
led them. In ten minutes we four
were singing that song. Mr..
/. Il. Crosby came in, and with tears th
his eyes said, Gentlemen, that hymn mr.
immortal We were all excited. =,
ated. Within two weeks the children -
the town were singing it on the W
reefs ae
In 1858 The Signet Ring was pub pu
shed, the published distributing circu- NJ
rs to advertise il and on the sheets w
as The Sweet BY and By On the Fl
reDgth OF that one song nearly $50, 900
pies OF the book were sold The song
as afterward brought out in sheet mu- ha
O. and 1t has been translated into a fal
lmber of foreign languages isf
Webster. Crosby and Carswell are all a.,
ad. s. L. Bright of Fort Atkinson. -
Is, and myself are the only living NC
illnesses to the origin Of the song. - eV'
'uisville Post.