Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-18
"Twas the Night Before Christmas"

Everybody. so to speak, knows Twas
the night before Christmas when all
through the house not a creature was stir
ring, not even a mouse Indeed THE
Night Before Christmas"-or "a Visit
from ST. Nicholas" as It was originally
known-has become such part OF our
literature and tradition that 1t seldom oo-
ours TO people that 1t ever had an author
at all. 1t is a classic which simply began,
so to speak, like Mother Goose.
II was written. as a matter of fact by
an American gentleman, seventy-eight
years ago. in a fine old New York house
long since destroyed-a spacious mansion.
with Just the sort of wide firep!aces which
the st. Nicholas of the poem might like
TO visit. II was written by this gentleman
for his own children. and might never
have REACHED the millions OF other children
who have since enjoyed It had It not beon
for the habit young ladies' had in those
days Of keeping albums in which they
wrote down sentiments which pleased them.
In tho first quarter OF the last century
that part Of New York City lying north Of
Canal street was covered with farms, in
terspersed with magnificent country-seats
owned by wealthy proprietprs whose bust
ness was in the city.
Among these places was one known as
Chelsea, owned and occupied by Major
Thomas Clarke, a retired officer Of the
british army Clement Clarke Moore. the
Guthor OF our poem, was the grandson Of
Major Clarke. his father being the Right
Rev Benjamin Moore. second bishop Of
Rev York Clement was born at Chelsea.
Jyly 10, 1881. The house in which he was
later to write his poem stood on the sum
NIT OF a high hill since leveled. south OF
the present Twenty-third street and Just
west Of Ninth avenue.
Moore held the chair In Hebrew and
Greek at the General Theological seminary.
Now York. from 1921 until 1850, was pro
fcssor emeritus until his death in 1858. and
wrote the first Hebrew lexicon published
in America. Moreover. in 1878, DR. Moore
presented TO the seminary the entire block
now known as Chelsea square, the present
site Of the largest training school for the
ministry possessed by the American Epis-
copal church
When his lectures were over Moore
found his chief delight I'm composing verses
for his children. lie had instiued in then
an unusual fondness for poetry, and they
found In their fathers poems. written with
keen understanding OF their childish like
and dislikes, their greatest happiness
Sometimes the longer poems had bidder
little moral lesson. but principally hey wer,
verses rollicking with fun.
As a Christmas present for his children
In the winter Of 1922 Moore wrote the poem
which was 10 become one OF the happles
possessions Of the children OF all the world
never dreaming that any children but hi
own would ever see the lines In the biz
house standing on the hill that sloped 4
the Hudson there were great fireplaces
where stockings were hung on Christina
eve and the immense lawn, a waste o
white snow, was an appropriate settlnl
for the poem.
In a letter written some years later
Moore said that ne first heard the story o
St Nicholas from a rublcund DutchmaI
who lived near his fathers residence, an,
who had, OF course, believed the story a
a boy in Holland,
Among the friends % the Aloores wa
the family Of the Rev. DR.. David Butler. a
that time rector OF ST Paul's church Il
the city OF Troy shortly after Christmas
while tho eldest daughter OF Or. Butte
was visiting at Chelsea, one OF Clemen
Moore's little daughters read her the poem
Miss Butler at once copied the verses i
her album She was SO much impresse
with them, however. that just befor
Christmas OF the next year 1923. she sen
q copy 10 the editor OF the Troy Senune
who published them on December q Wit
an editorial note and a quaint woodcut @
ST. Nick. Other newspapers copied IN
poem. Il spread from paper 10 paper, fror
city 20 city. 1t was reprinted in the maya
zines, then in school readers. Special ed
ti-ns Il the poem were published, illustrate
by famous children's artists. Il was trans
lated into many languages. one may hes
IL recited by German school children /
their native tongue, and by other childre
IN other languages.
Dr. Moore, although his name did nc
appear was somewhat displeased at IN
publication Of the poem. lie was eS
tremely modest, and he felt that the verse
had little merit save as verses for children
II was a long time before ne saw that ia,
In that fact lay its claim TO immortality