The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-05-15
How "The Vacant Chair"
Came to Be Written.
Operation of the Law of Sue
ceSSiOn In Turkey.
Big Boulder the Connecticut Leg
islature MAJ Purchase.

Everybody has heard or has sung that
touching ballad 1.-The Vacant Chair, "
but very few know its history or even the
the song has very interesting and indeed
touching history. Henry Stevenson Wash
burn of Boston wrote the verses and they
were inspired by the heroic death of Lieu
tenant John William Grout. The latter
was born in Worcester in 1913, and was
the son of we'll known and wealthy man
ufacturer. From early age the boy mani
tested an intense love for things military,
and distinguished himself at the Worces-
ter military academy where he studied.
At the outbreak Of the war his ability
was at once recognized by the authorities
and he was commissioned second lieu
tenant in Company ID of the Fifteenth
Massachusetts Volunteers. He became
very popular in the regiment and was in
great demand as drillmaster. In. the field
the young lieutenant displayed conspicu-
Gus GOODNESS and bravery. but his career
was unfoI tunately very brief. He lost his
life in the disastrous engagement which
took place in October, 1861, near Pools
willie, Md.
Young Grout was intimate with the
family of Mr.. Washburn, being a warm
friend of that gentlenan's son, and on
Thanksgiving day following the young
with the family, which would feel its be-
reavement doubly at that festival season,
was inspired with some verses, which were
Observation-Disclosures under the name of
''The Vacant Chair, in the Worcester
"Spy," and signed II. 5. W. These
verses met the eye of Mr.. George +. Root
of Chicago, who set them TO music with
out any correspondence with the author
as the lines were not copyrighted The song
appeared as THE Vacant Chair-Words
by II. = w. Music by George +. Root, "
and at once appealed TO the public, selling
In enormous numbers. Mr. Washburn,
who has Leen prominent business
man, and was for some years in the House
OF Representatives isAnow "a years old,
and lives in beautiful home in the
Abeddeen district OF Boston. He has
written many pretty and touching verses
besides 1.-The Vacant Chair, and not
long ago publised volume containing his
principal poems
Just now when the Sultan of Turkey
fills such large place in the public view
aud mind IL is interesting to learn that
lis heir is not his eldest son
but his eldest brother. The old
est male succeeds. Such Is the law
of Islam, and the fruitful source Of dynas.
tic murders in almost every reign since
has four brothers; not one only, as was
lately alleged. The eldest brother Is
Rechad Effendi; that Is to say he is the
eldest after ex-Sultan Murad ", who
being insane. is not counted. The third
brother Is Waredin, and the fourth Suli-
man. The Sultan's eldest son, Prince
Selim, has no earthly chance of succeed.
ing his father He has too many uncles
ard uncles sons for that
But Prince Selim Is lucky, II he only
knows II, for no Is not regarded as dan
gerous. He lives life OF freedom
whereas the heir is, by custom Of the
Ottomans. kind of life preserver.
Rechad Effendi is rarely seen. Every
time he drives out ho Is escorted by
troop less by way Of an escort than as
guar, The few who do know him, like
him, for he Is said To be a courteous
h himane well-informed man, acquainted
with current politics and keenly inter.
ested in them. He is good farmer
The pretty palace known as the Tcher-