The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-22
ONCE LIVED in FREMONT
THE AUTHOR OF "CURFEw SHALL
NOT RING TONIGHT
Letter from Mrs. Rose Hartwfck
Thorpe to Her Old Home Paper
Her Present Residence.
Fremont Qnd.) Eagle.

Fremont Qnd) Eagle.
To have written poem. a story or a
song which has caught the popular fancy
and has been read or sung by millions in
the uttermost ends of the earth, is a dis
tinction reached by but few authors. But,
by far the greater number of the popular
successes are quickly forgotten.
To have written something that will not
die to have added to the sum OF the treas
ures of the language-that is one of the
greatest achievements permitted to any
man or woman.
With something of these thoughts in
mind, the editor of the Eagle recently adj
dressed letter to the author of "Curfew
Must Not Ring Tonight" asking her to
tell us something of the time when she
lived in Fremont (where the Eagle build
ing now stands). and something Of her
present home. She has very kindly COM
piled with that request.
La Jolla, Cal, April Is, 1903.
Warren d. Wells, Fremont, Ind.
Dear Sir-Your letter is like voice from
out the past, calling 10 memory many
incidents that have lain. like rubbish in a
garnet, under the accumulations of years.
Those Fremont days were not the hap
piest of my life by any means. and per-
haps have been only too willing to for
get them. My young husband was car
riage maker at that time, inexperienced in
many things, and 1 was very homesick
for my old home, my mother and the COM
partnership of friends from whom i had
never been separated before.
Then, too, my two babies were care
and prevented me from forming new &C
quaintances. My memories of Fremont are
mostly confined TO four small rooms at
cemetery which We're obliged to pass
on our way to and from the station. Not
very pleasant memory. you will say;
Ring Tonight was finding its way into
every corner of the world (this was In
lS13-4-5, the poem was first published in
1870 and newspaper people were asking
continually for its author. l was even
then writing rhymes for papers whose
editors paid at the rate of one subscription
for ten or twelve poems as good, some
since received five, ten, yes fifteen dollars
each.
And SO lived my simple life in Ere,
my dream.world closed about me, and
formed so few acquaintance that to-day
can recall but two or three faces, and
even fewer names.
81 am glad to know that printing plant
| and editorial rooms have arison above the
place where / found my greatest pleasure
| in telling my thoughts In rhyme.
"You ask concerning my present home
| 1t is q beautiful and most unique cottage
named by the people Of this place the Cur
| few Cottage" and is situated at the pep.
| ular resort of La Jolla, within sight AND
| sound Of the Pacific ocean.
Hundreds of tourists visit La Jolla an.
nualy, and a large percentage of them
seek out the Curfew Cottage In order
| to meet the author of famous poem They
are souvenir hunters, these tourists, and il
| almost every case make one request Of me
| They desire the beautifully illustrated copy
| of ''Curfew Shall Not Ring Tonight pub
| lished by Lee & Shepard twenty-five.
years ago. with new editions every yea,
| sinAe
| They want to procure the book at m,
| home. and desire. AS special attraction q
| their purchase, that 1 place my autograph
/ therein. j did not at first keep these books
but there were so many disappointed faces
because of my neglect that finally secure,
| supply for this purpose.
MY other books Il have published ten
| are now out OF print. They were publishe,
| in the SOS and sos. i am doing but littl
| literary work now. The close confinement
| to my writings undermined my health, an,
| / found that my poems and storytelling
| must be laid aside in order that ! Nigh
| regain the greater blessing without which
| all other blessings are of small account
| Sincerely yours,
| ''ROSE HARTWICK THORPE"