The Opelousas courier., 1896-10-31
STORY OF A SONG.
ORIGIN AND PUBLICATION OF
"SWEET BYE AND BYE"
A Doctor Wrote the Verses and q
Dependent Musician Worked
Out the Tune, AL With
. in Forty Minutes.

Pratt in the New York Sun, Now the
interest in this song is awakened, I
wish to make public the circumstances
Of its inception and subsequent pub.
LEGATION and the way in which it became
popular.
A. P. Webster, the composer OF the
music, WAS by no means unknown to
the public at the tine the song was
published. He had won great poru,
larity with his "Lorena," "Paul
Vane," "Little Maud" These had
been published at Chicago by II. NJ.
Higgins, who, with the writer, then q
boy of twelve years, created q sale FOR
them by singing them for acqunint.
ances and customers who came to
purchase music. At that time, in the
early sixties. Webster lived ct the
little town OF Elkhorn, Wis, and
about twice each year lie would come
to Chicago with q roll Of manuscript
songs. These were usually written
with q pencil, and i'll O. hasty, scrawl-
ing manner, though the notes were
always legibie. Tho songs he offered
for sale Of $25 each, and the publisher
would select what he thought would
sell, and either pay him or agree to
pay royalty. Ny recollection is that
"Paul Vane," "Iorena," and "Little
Maud were published on the royalty
plan. Webster's appearance as he
came into the store was most uncom-
mon. He wore his hair hanging to
the shoulders. 1t was light brown,
and his complexion was tiorid. He
had clear blue eyes and heavy eye
lashes. he was Of medium height,
rather slender, and walked with a gait
that suggested humility. 1t has been
said that Webster was Incorporate,
and that he used to drink heavily.
but I never saw him under the lufu-
nee Of liquor.
In 1856 or 1867 a young physician,
Samuel Fillmore Bennett, then lately
graduated from Ann Arbor Univers-
ity, had become an intimate friend OF
Webster. They were in fact almost
inseparable. One day Webster am
to his Office in a most respondent
frame of mind.
"What is the trouble now?' his
friend asked.
cit is no ma!ter," Webster an
syerea with a sigh. cit will be al
right bye anibye."
Like IN inspiration tie idea flashed
upon BennetH who hal written sew
eral war poem, to write solGv Tersee,
and he said re
"Whnr-.3St make a song,fsEt the sweet
bye apebye?" Webster,answered:
"You write the ~yerseennl I'll make
the music" "a
Turning to his desk Bennett hastily
scrubbed lire after line, and in less
than half an hour the verses were com
pletei. He then handed them to
Webster, who raised his violin just as
two friends entered. NoS waiting to
greet them he drew his bow and with
out any hesitation played the tune
which since has been sung by millions.
lie hastily jotted it down on waste
paper, and in less than ten minutes
from the time he began the compost.
ton the four men were singing THE
Sweet Bye aud Bye" Thus origin
ated the words AMI music Of a hymn
which has given consolation and hope
to the whole Christian world. The
characters in the drama are few and
humble, the surroundings most simple
the poor Respondent musician, the
young physician, two friends and q
common office in a Western town.
The composer, with his manuscript
songs under his arm, appeared in
Chicago soon afterward. He hoped
and expected to sell the manuscripts
for 1915 each; this meant $3.50 or 5000
to take home. He went to the music
store of Root &c Cady, who had made
a fortune with "The Battle Cry of
Freedom" and other war song. They
examined his manuscripts and took all
except "The Sweet Bye and Bye"
That they did not think worth publish
ing.
Poor Webster! The song he had
counted upon most was rejected! He
could not go to Higgins again. for
Higgins had hurt his feelings and had
refused to publish any more of his
songs. He finally thought of a new
firm of young men lately from Boston,
Lyon & Healy. They had treated him
courteously, though they had pub
lished nothing Of his. Thus he came
to Lyon s. Healy's store, where / was
then in charge of the retail depart
ment. Having known him for several
years 1 greeted him warmly, and at
once took him to Mr.. Healy, who gave
him his immediate attention. l re.
member so well the whole attitude of
the man as he came in and approached
Mr.. Healy. He awakened a keen sense
Of pity, for he WAS as if he had lost all
hope; and I think it was this feeling
which moved Mr.. Healy. after listen
ing to the song on the piano, to offer
him 500 for it. This Webster accepted
and seemed thankful for. Little in
terest was shown toward the song.
Webster's popularity had waned great
ly and had been overshadowed by the
enormous success of George r. Roots
war songs. Thus the composer of
"Little Maud" and "Lorena" was no
longer sought and little attention
given him. After Webster had gone
Mr.. Healy turned the manuscript of
the song over to me, and I played it
and hummed it with perfect indiffer-
ence, Tot to say contempt, for its sim
plicity offended the little knowledge I
had acquired by studying Johnson's
Harmony and Thorough Bass" Mr..
Healv said with a Sigh: