The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-11-04
WROTE MANY HYMNS.

Mis-. Jennie Wilson. OF Whitley. Ind,
AFFORDS one Of THE most remarkable in-
stances of triumph over natural aisadvsn-
tsges ever recorded. Though helpless in-
valid entirely unable to walk, and despite
the faat that she does not possess tech
nicsl knowledge of music, Miss Wilson
has written over s'1 HYMNS which have
sttslned wide-prcsd .lppnlarity. snp are
sung IN almost Tf% ayilized ceinsp 90
the globe.
a. lss,e s1,,., ! IS .Tsf6Ard:sfSSi.s' Ions. n,'
do not play q pr0mhnat part in ihe scT-
Vices aud IL mas Inc fairly stated lhSi
her compositions enjoy POPULARITY So
ond oniy to such noted writers as SankcN
aud Fanny crosby.
Y.t. strangely enough scarcely any OF
The thousands Who have sung these beau
tifnl songs realize thar thcir author has
been Hopeless invalid for more Than
thirty years. and has been detied All thr
advantages which usually are essenllA
to training for literary sehieyemeM OF
anV Kind.
no great degree this ha. been due to
Miss Wilson's natural reticcnce ana a
sensitive desire thai her hymns AM
poems shah succeed on their merits ana
not receive pstrOnzing consideration eN-
tended simply out Of sympathy. The songs
have alnsXs beer accented hy publishers
simply because of their Intrinsic n"rih'
ana prominent New York publisnet
Wilson's compositions. was until icN
DAYS since entirely ignorant of her pitahie
condition.
There is nothing morbid or pessimist nc
about the hymns nothing that would M
dicate their pathetic source Of insplra- :
ticu. aud any Methodist who has sung
those good. heaT;y, ringing hymns no ~,
Light at the River among the most
popular in the hymnal. can Nouch lot
their chsertulness and spontaneity ~
Personally Miss Wilson Ia tiny lltll"
creature. about five feet tall. with gep-
tie. intellectual face. and bright sunny
disposition. She lives With her MlIHo,N-'i
mother on \ farm near South NmtieA, f,
and devoteS herself almost exclusively 70
her litsrary work. a
In recent interview she chatted bright
~ and unsfeetediy resarding her G,ee11 CIeTe.
ment and lightuess or spirits whicn hlehN
more fortunate people might well ENJOY
According To the poets she sH,G a,'
time il the great healer. hut my eNperl- .
ence has been that work is the sredirl
phV sican nf the two. Had SAT hach ~
slothful idl-n-ss bemoanlng INC iaie llia i.., !
had reduced me Ia my helpless pnN Sta
condition. ! should have becn utterly Hir
erabl- and made myself burden !" 'iin
ers | recognized that my pnlF saNatin''
was work and ! have toll+d IN 'uil
genial fields and Inv spite OF my halIl"l
disadVautsge. am contentcd and happy
MY main source of Inspiration has ~
WAYS been The venerable fanhN I9SpA /,
yshe though totally blind, has WFiltsh "
more pouular hymns than any woman ~
th- United states. Ny natufal "pSlaVl'9
ars not so great ~ hers. for ! can Sc
aud 81 | ask you not 10 make TOO lnui lnuci,,
of ms invalidism After all IL ~ the lll'l
and the soul which determines person :
status not The mere physical cohhlu"l,
"MV.-nrst little poem ~hich Was Hauf
nublic apt,esred IN local pap+r am
later through the influence "f Rey: y y.
Coverstone I sent poems tu a puphcsilun
in ia vtou o. These attracted the atteh-
tion Of music writers. by whom J Was "
yited 10 write verses tn SET 10 must ~
nrsf hvmn wss entitled All the Way
and not knowing of its pubicauoi' ! mas
,ie.santly surprised when II was fouuu ~
new singing books purchased py 'he s""
dsv school | attended. ,..
MIR Meredith the noted NasfihslpH
music publisher. who use- my hymns !.
nlnsl exclusively in his church SAYS lhat
two songs in particular are populSr
christ l. Calling You Tonight an"
.Nercy's Door Ia Always open
Answer Yes to the spirit ~ tnt
Iixht OF Eternity and Hold IN. LAM
| OF life Aloft' are among some "t the ON " =
| er very popular sacred songs ~-Philade'-
phia Times.