Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-18

How the Famous Old Poem Was
Written.

From the Chicago News.
1t has been nearly three-quart6rs of
century since the verses beginning
Twas the night before Christmas, when
all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a
mousse
first saw the light OF print, appearing in
the Troy Sentinel Of December %, 1923. AS
published then 1t WAS anonymous, but it
Was prophetical of its coming popularity
that even In that day, unfavorable as it
was for newspaper Illustration, it was ac-
companied by a picture of Santa Claus on
his ROUNDS. In the time intervening it has
become known to practically every man,
woman and child in America, has spread
hence to the widest limits of the English
speaking race, has been translated into the
language of every nation that has a Santa
Claus, and is little If any, short of being
the most popular poem In the world. For
years 1t was an annual feature of all
American newspapers. Then, in 1911, 1t
was acknowledged by its learned author.
being included in a little volume of his
poems published in New York. Thence its
inclusion in school readers and all kind of
defamation books was only a matter of a
snort time In 1859 the edition that frs.
attained wide distribution was issued, with
the pleasant illustrations made by Felix
o. c. barley, which are remembered CRATE
fully by any number of persons now crawl
ing reluctantly into middle life. 1t is sur
pr!sing, considering the vogue they once
eli oyed, that they cannot be bought to-
day in modern edition.
1t will be a surprise to many to learn
that The Night Before Christmas" was
written by the erudite doctor of laws who
prepared the first Hebrew dictionary ever
published in America. He was Clement {.
Moore, a descendant of a famous family in
the history of the Epscopalan church.
and himself one of its most notable bene-
factors His father was the Right Rev.
BENJAMIN Moore who succeeded Bishop
Provost in the diocese of New York, hay
ing been the president of Kings College
now Columbia University-and the rector
of Trinity Church in New York, all tho
dignitaries named being then, as now, the
highest in the gift of the denomination.
Bishop Moore was the son of Lieut.. Samuei
Nc ore, gallant officer In the colonia.
wars, and five generations removed from
the Rev. John Moore who was the first
nj mister in Newton, l.. L., dying there il!
1857. Charity Clarke Moore, the mother OF
the poet, was the second daughter of Ma j.
Thomas Clarke, who fought for the Brit
ish crown and its possessions in the days
before the revolution. He was a man OF
large means and built him mansion,
which he called Chelsea" a goodly dis
taLce out from the city of New York in
those days, though its exact site was VIVA t
is row I'D street, 200 feet east of 9th ave-
nue. At that time it stood a high hill,
the lawn soping down with handsome ter
races to the shady banks of the Hudson.
Built about 1850, the original structure
stood until its destruction by fire during
the last Illness of its owner. He was res
CT ed with difficulty and the shock I'M
doubtcdly FASTENED his end. 1t was re
built by his widow and came by inher-
lance to the poets mother 1t stood until
1850, when it was torn down to make room
for the advancing city.
1t was in this spacious house, with its
acres of beautiful grounds, that Clement
Clarke Moore was born on July 10, 1881.
The only child Of his parents and the heir
TO great wealth from both his father ard
mother, there was nothing which money,
learning and distinguished ancestry could
not obtain for him. His father gave him
his preliminary education and he was grad
uated from Columbia in 1893. Though in
tended for the ministry, he never took or
ders, but occupied himself with his He
brew dictionary and other matters suit
able to his erudition. He was early in
terested in the General Philosophical Sem
mary of the Episcopal Church. In 1918 he
gave it the tract OF land bounded by 10th
street, 21st street. 9th avenue and the Hud-
| son. Three years later he accepted the
| chair of oriental and Greek literature from
| its faculty and there busted himself until
his death al his summer home in Newpcr;
on July 10, 1863. ri 80
| The poem which has given him greater
| fame than all his learning and benefactions
was written as a Hastirle and given his
children as Christmas present just sew.
| enty-five years ago.fcHe thought little OF
| it at the time. or later. Indeed, it is pos
sble 1t would never have become known
t. the world at all had not the eldest
! daughter of the Rev DaEid Butler, D. D.,
rector of St. Pauls in Troy. N. Y. seen the
| lines during a visit to New York the wear
after they were composed, and published
them in the paper mentioned without their
! authors consent. 1t is said that nothing
but the speedy popularity the verses of,
tanned procured Miss Buffers forgiveness
| All these facts, with a fac-simile of DR.
Moore's own manuscript, have lust bean
published by William S. Pelletreau. AN