Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-12-17
THE HISTORY OF A
 POPULAR CHRISTMAS POEM

| puTely SeCuldT lTedlIIleHL Ol tHc SHTlSI-
 mas theme "A Visit From St. Nicholas" has no rival in the hearts of the American people. It is accepted uni-
 versally as the most adequate express
 sion of the holiday spirit as it is un- derstood by the children of America by those, that is, who have not been robbed by the flight of time or the mis- chievous interference of their elders of their faith in the good St. Nicholas. | Viewed constructively and according to the accepted standard of poetic form, "A Visit From St. Nicholas" falls far short of perfection. As specimen of versifcation it is decided ly crude, and it violates more than ore of the plain rules for the guidance of l the verse maker. Some of the most modern writers of limericks produce lines that are infinitely better adapted to scansion.
 So the charm is not in the workman ship, but in the sentiment and in the cheery holiday briskness that animate the poem from beginning to end. It rings true upon the childish under standing, and it appeals directly to those for whom it was written without l LlG HeCtSSlty Ol luIlllcI lIlIcI pIeldllOll It recites the Santa Claus legend with a simplicity and directness that are all convincing to the wondering child and are almost potent enough to thrill the | sophisticated grownup.
 | The poem was not written for pub | lication. It was printed without the consent or knowledge of it's author, and he was properly indignant when it ap- peared in spite of his expressed de- sire to let it go no farther than his own family circle. He composed it on Christmas eve, 1922 and read it from the manuscript to his delighted chill dren as they were hanging up their stockings in anticipation of the custom ary visit of the Christmas saint. An | indiscreet relative who was present ] was so impressed by the reading and the effect produced on the children that she obtained copy of the verses and sent them to a friend. Thence they passed through various apprecia- tive hands, finding their way the next year into public print.
 The success of the poem was in- stantaneous. Although the season of
 Yuletide was over for that year "A Visit From St. Nicholas" found it's way into almost every publication in the land, and in an incredibly short period it became familiar to Americans in all parts of the country. Long be- fore the passing of it's author it had become the most widely known and most frequently quoted Christmas poem in the language. There was good reason why it's au- thor, Clement Clarke Moore, preferred to limit it's circulation to his own do- nestle circle. First of all, at the time of the writing of the jingle he was grave and very learned professor of | Biblical learning in a theological semi nary. It did not accord with his idea of professorial dignity to have his name in such intimate connection with an effort which he regarded as un- | worthy his very considerable reputa- | tion as Hellenist and Hebrew scholar | He had already compiled Hebrew and English lexicon which was beginning | to make it's way among scholars, and he feared that the Christmas rhyme | would work to the disadvantage of the | dictionary.
 There was still another reason-and to Professor Moore it was an exceed | ingly important one-why his name should not appear in too close company with the carelessly built poem begin ming "'Twas the night before Christ mas" He had the reputation among his pupils and fellow instructors of be- ing a maker of absolutely perfect verse. In the days before his gradua- tion at Columbia, and even as a child :. |, Nf I t, nhoIa rlr foth Benjamin Moore, who exercised the double function of bishop of the Protes- tant Episcopal diocese of New York and president of Columbia, the future 1 theological professor had shown good deal of talent for the making of poetry. He had such a poor opinion of the Christmas piece that he trembled for the consequences when he realized that he had been discovered and an- nounced to the world as it's author. According to a lineal descendant of Professor Moore, from whom these facts concerning the authorship of "A Visit From St. Nicholas" have been obtained, he was so distressed over the matter and so apprehensive of loss of influence over his pupils that he did not meet his class for several weeks and at one time was on the point of resigning his position. From this radi- cal move he was dissuaded fortunately by a letter from a literary man in whose judgment he had great conf dence. This opportune correspondent wrote enthusiastically of the Christ mas poem and predicted that it would have unusual popularity.
 It was all contrary to the professors own opinion, but he soon began to realize that the public did not agree with him. It was another case of waking up to find himself famous It was a fame which he had neither cov- eted nor courted, but he accepted ths popular verdict. and when, in 1s44, he ! published a collection of his poems "A Visit From St. Nicholas" was not omitted. The author survived the un- authorized publication of his poem for more than forty years, and it's popu- Iarity never waned during his lifetime He occupied the chair of oriental lan- guages in the General Theological seminary. New York city. until the middle of the last century and was in- stTumental in the building up of that institution He gave the land on whics the present imposing buildings stand. CE HUNTINGTON.