The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-08-25

from beginning to end. and It seemed to be
just the thing to relieve their feelings. from
the energy they put into it. After that they
let the performance continue.
"And that's the way 'Sheridan's Ride
came to be written concluded Justice
Blume. Its conception was the ~inspira-
ton of a drunken man, 1t was written by
a drunken genius. but 1t will live as long
as the American flag waves"
whitelaw Reid. in his book. "Ohio In the
War;" however. gives an altogether, differ
ent version OF the circumstances under
which Read wrote his famous poem. MI.
Reid says:
The noblest OF the poems thus inspired
indeed. the noblest lyric Of the war-has .
special interest here, both by reason Of its
connection with Sheridan and because Of
its Ohio authorship. Mr.. Murdoch. the ira
gedian. had devoted himself during the ear
lier years Of our struggle. with q noble and
self-sacrincing patriotism. to the task Of
raising money for the Sanitary Commission.
and all other benevolent projects intsnded
for the benefit of our boys in blue.
He had delivered lectures and recftations
all over the country. the proceeds going to
the objects we have named: and at length,
as the war was drawing toward III Gloss.
his numerous friends In Connecticut pro-
posed Q magnificent ovation for Mr.. Nur-
doch's own beneft-his nnances having suf-
fered somewhat from his unselnsh and un-
sparins efforts In the cause Of the soldier
and the country.
breakfast on the morning Of the ben
eft night. Mr.. Murdoch. who was staying
at Mr.. Thomas Buchanan Reads house. and
who had been chiefly. or at least very large
ly. reciting Mr.. Reads noble lyrics and bat
tie sketches during the two years preceding.
remarked to his poet friend:
I'm sorry. Read. that you did not Give
me some original poem for to-night-ssms-
thing new and fresh that would arouss the
audience and set the blood leapine through
my own veins as I spoke. The fact d I
feel rather q dread of this occasion. and
without some stimulus Of tho kind cannot
speak as well for myself a I did for 9th
ers.'
Mr.. Read suggested that II was not yet
too late. II Murdoch really wished n. he
would try his land at something new. Mur-
doch. however. persisted that II was too
late-nrstly. because poets cannot always
write to order. and. secondly. because .hA
Murdoch. would require some hours to study
whatever Mr.. R~ead-even in the brief spaca,
allowed him-might ind his muse willing %
offer. .
Nevertheless said Read. Tn tn. That
ride of Sheridan's from Winchester 10 Csdar
Creek We have just been reading about sfvsU
me a subject. and II you stay here . fsw
hours I'll run up to my library and 80
what can be DONE
I'm less than three hours he returned %
the breakfast parlor and placed In the hands
Of the tragedian. equally delighted ana a.
tonished. the manuscript Of that nobl4st and
most fiery of all our war songEPhil sher.
idan's Ride"
This is part Of the poem Of which Justice
Biume and whitelaw Reid ten such widely
varying tales as to the circumstances under
which 1t was written:
Up from the South at break Of DAY.
Bringing frvm Winchester fresh dimay.
The affrighted air with . shudder bore
Like q herald IN haste. to the ehieftain's oouA
The terrible numbls and rumble and roar.
Telling the battle was on once moro
And Sheridan twenty miles away.
And wider still those pillows Of war
Thundered along the horizons bar:
And louder yet into winchester rolled !
The roar Of that red sea uncontrolled.
Making the blood Of the listener cold.
As he thought Of the stake IN that nery fr1y.
And Sheridan twenty miles away.
But there Is a road from Winchester town. |
A good. broad highway leading down; \
And there. through the flush Of the morning nm. |
A steed as black as the steeds Of night
Was seen to pass. As with eagle fighf /
AS II he knew the terrible need; X
He stretched away with his utmost Deed:
Hills rose and fell. but his heart was n.y.
With Sheridan fifteen miles away.
Hurrahi hurrah for Sheridan! !
Hurrah! hurrah! for horse and mani
And when their statues are placed on HIN. I
Under the dome Of tho Union sky. +.
The American soldiers Temple Of Fame.
There. with the glorious Generals namA /.
Be II said in letters both bold and brfghk
Here Is the steed that saved the DAY. D.,
By carrying Sheridan into the nght
From Winchester. twenty miles awayr'
Whatever may be the conditions under
which the poem was written. Murdoch made
a great hit with IT when he delivered II that
memorable night at Pixies Opera-house. and
all accounts agree that no similar lemon
stration has ever attended the reading Of
any other set Of poetic stanzaa