The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-10-27
STORY OF A SONG.
ORIGIN AND PUBLICATION OF
SWEET BYE AND DYE."
n Doctor Wrote the Verses AMI a
Dcspondcnt Musician Worked
Out the Tune, All with
I'm Forty Minutes.
Z IHERE recently appeared in n
| Western newspaper an article
regarding "Tho Sweet Rye

HDSuIu bIllCIncuts, writes ClIn5 u.
Pratt in tho New York Sun, Now the
interest in this song is awakened, |
wish TO nuke public the circumstances
OF it's inception and subsequent pub.
llcation and the way in which it became
popular.
a. Z. Webster, the composer Of the
music, was by no means unknown to
tho public ut tho timo the song was
published. He had won great poru.
lnrity with his "Lorena," Paul
Nanc," Little Maud" These had
been published ut Chicago by IL. VI.
Higgins, who, with the writer, then Il
boy OF twelve years, created sale for
them by singing them for acquaint.
ances and customers who came to
purchase music. At that time, In tho
carly sixties. Webster lived ut the
little town Of Elkhorn, Wis, and
nbOut twice each year Lo would como
II Chicago with u roll OF manuscript
songs. These were usually writton
with II pencil, and in hnsty, scrawl
ing manner, though the notes woro
always legiblc. The songs lie offered
for sale ~ So each, and tho publisher
would select what he thought would
sell, and either pay him or ngree to
pny royalty. My recollection is that
Paul Nane, 'Jorenn," and Little
Maud" were published on the royalty
pInn. Webstcr's appearance rs he
came into tho store was most uucOm-
mon. He wore his hair hanging to
the shoulders. 1t was light brown,
and his complexion was horid. lie
had clear blue eyes aud heavy eye.
lHshes. Ho was Of medium height,
rather slender, and walked with gait
that suggested humility. 1t has been
said that Webster was incorporate,
aud that he used to drink heavily.
but never saw him under the iunu-
cnce of liquor.
In 1866 or 1867 n young physicIQn,
Samuel Fillmore Bennett, thou lately
graduated from Ann Arbor Univers-
lty, had become an intimate friend of
Webster. They wcro in fact almost
iaseparablo. Ono day Webster came
to his Office in most despoudout
frame of mind.
"What is tho trouble now?' his
friend asked.
1T is no matter" Webster an.
swercd with n sigh. at will be all
right bye and bye"
Like an inspiration the idea flashed
upon Bennett, who had written Gev-
crnl war poems, to write some verses,
and he snid:
"Why not make n song Of tho sweet
bye and hye?" Webster answered:
''You write the verses mud I'll mako
the music"
Turning to his desk Bennett hastily
scrubbed line artor limo, and in loss
than half an hour tho verses were com.
plcted. lie then handed them to
Webster, who raised his violin Just as
two friends entered. Mo- waiting to
greet them he drcw his bow and with
out any hesitation played tho tune
which since has been sung by millions.
He hastily jotted it down on waste
paper, and in less than ten minuteo
from tho time ho began tho compost
ton tho four men were singing Tho
Sweet Bye aud Bye" Thus origin.
ated the words and music of q hymn
which has given consolation and hopo
to tho whole Christian world Tho
characters in the drama aro few and
humble, tho surroundings most simple
the poor dospondent musician, the
young physician, two friends and n
common Office In n Western town.
The composer, with his mnnuscript
songs under his arm, appeared i'm
Chicago soon afterward. He hoped
and expected to sell tho manuscripts
for S2j each this meant $3.50 or 500
to take home. He went to the music
store OF Root & Cady, who had made
fortune with "rho 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 Webstorl Tho song mo Ind
counted upon most was rejected! lie
could not 20 TO Higgins again. for
Higgins had hurt his feelings and had
refused TO publish any more OF his
songs. lie finally thought OF n new
firm of young men lately from Boston,
Lyon d Tcnly. They had treated him
courtoously, though they had pub.
lished nothing of his. Thus he came
to Lyon q Hcaly's store, whore | was
then in charge of the retail depart.
ih'hts AihNluB hubWl nllu lOE several
years I greeted him warmly, and NJ
once took him to Mr. Healy, who gave
him his immediate attention re.
member so we'll the whole attitude of
the man as he came in and approached
Mr. Hoaly. He awakened a keen sense
OF pity, for nc was rs it he had lost all
hope; and ] think it was this feeling
which moved Mr. Honly after listen
ing TO the song ON the piano, to offer
him $40 for IT, This Webster accepted
and seemed thankful for. Little in
terest was shown toward tho song.
Webstcr's popularity had waned great
ly and had been overshadowed by the
enormous success Of George II. Roots
war songs Thus tho composer of
Little Maud and 'Iorena" 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 l played it
and hummed It with perfect iudifIer.
cnce, not to say contempt, for its sim
phcitv offended tho little knowledge /
had acquired by studying Johnson's
Harmony and Thorough Bass. l:r.