Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1896-03-16
GENESIS OF A SONG.
HOW AIN THE SWEET BY AND BY"
CAME TO BE WRITTEN.

Its Author Tells an Interesting Story of
Its Composition-WIthin an Hour After
the Idea Came Four Gentlemen Were
Singing the Song.
In Richmond, little town of less
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 so 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 a wave of moral
elevation and intellectual activity pass
I'd over the country. In this grand
awakening of the conscience there was
food Of mpsic--martial, religious, do
nestle. George f. 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 mdepend-
ent. ]. p. 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
ft,
1867 to work OH Sunday school song
book, called 1.-THE Signet Ring, which
was afterward published.
This period of his life is the most
precious of all his experiences to DIR.
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 We're both
drunk. ! am thankful to do justice TO
one of the noblest men that ever lived
"a fine, sensitive soul, with the true
artistic feeling. Again, it has been said
that we were both infidels, and the song
the ribald jest of carouse. As to my
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 us. 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 sem
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
1.-THE idea of the hymn came to me
like a flash of sunshine-'The Sweet By
and By Everything will be all right
then. Why wouldn't that make good
hymn
MAYBE it would, he replied gloom
lily. Turning to the desk, wrote as
rapidly as could. In less than half an
hour, think, the song as it stands to-
day was written. Here it is:
s'There's land that is fairer than day.
And by faith we can see it afar,
For the Father waits over the way
To prepare US dwelling place there.