Evening journal., 1911-11-27
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Discussion That Called
Forth a Famous Poem
By Holland.


fact that Thomas Buchanan Read was
at one time far more prominent as a
painter than as poet. II was while
he was living in Italy as an artist
that he made the acquaintance of Ma
thaniel Hawthorne and confessed to
Hawthorne what some of his smbi-
tions as q painter were---tbat is TO
ssy. what kind Of painting he wanted
TO do, lie thought his vogue lay in por-
trait painting. Yet today Buchanan
Read is chiefly remembered as the
author Of the poem "Sherdan's Ride"
AS painter he is forgotten, although
a few connoisseurs still admire his
portraits
There have been various versions Of
the manner in which Buchanan Read
came to write his great poem. Shelf
dan, himself, while admiring the lyric
! quality of the poem nevertheless said
that Read drew on his imagination for
some OF the most striking lines in the
| poem Perhaps the best authority re-
specting the manner in which the
poem was conceived was James r.
Murdoch, who, in his day, enjoyed a
great reputation as an actor ana was
esteemed the best authority on elocu-
! ton as we'll as the best elocutionary
teacher In the United States. Joseph
! Jefferson once characterized Muir
doch's acting as mot only extremely
versatile. but entirely original
Murdoch was accustomed TO give in
the winter season series of readings in
which he recited poems, prose ex-
tracts or any other literary matter
which would best eXemplify his theory
and practice of elocution. He frequent
ly recited "Sheridans Ride"
do you know how that poem came
to be written?" he was once asked.
THAT can easily be explained" Muir
doch replied. Buchanan Read and
were great friends. We spent many
evenings together. He would repeat
poetry 10 me and | to him. We would
discuss the poems that we repeated. He
was only interested in the poetic spirit
or theme, and in the faithfulness Of
each poem TO the laws of prosody. /
was chiefly interested in the poem as
a medium for the display of elocu-
tion.
"One day Read told me that, as
result Of our discussion, he had writ
ten a poem for me based upon Sher-
dams ride from Winchester TO Cedar
Creek where his army was being driven
before Early's men. He brought the
poem TO me and at the first reading
of il / saw its superb lyric quality.
began at once to study it. trying to get
the best elocutionary effects possible,
and the first time ] recited il | real
ICED that it ought to be a great favor
ite with the people. No modern poem
that ] know compares with it as a We
hiclo for perfect lyric elocution.
81 have always been sorry that Read
never completed a poem which he be-
gan in the darkest days Of the Civil
War continued Mr.. Murdoch, for /
am sure that had he done so IL would
have matched in pathos. sweetness
and nobleness Of sentiment the lyric
quality that is in Sheridan's Ride
"One day Read entered the office
Of friend.He seemed to be i'm despair.
The news from the front was very dis
couraging to the North. There had
been reports Of terrific battles with
vast bloodshed. and Reads sensitive
soul recoilcd from needless suffering
OF any kind. He sat down at his
friends table, threw his arms upor
the table, and buried his face in them.
Then he suddenly lifted his face and.
turning TO his friend. cried:
oh. would some bird from the sunny
South
Come build its nest in the cannons
mouth
Having said this. Read. withoui
another word. quilted the room. His
friend was sure that. having had the
inspiration 10 write a poem pleading
for peace, and having composed the
first two lines of the stanza, Read went
away intent upon finishing the poem.
But he never finished it.; or. If he did,
none Of us ever knew il. Yet had he
written a poem of four or five stauzas
embodying with the exquisite gimile
or metaphor contained i'm the first two
lines the spirit of peace. IL might have
had and influence in fastening peace,
and il certainly would have afforded
one of the finest Of opportunities for
an elocutionist so TO speak as to con-
vey the sentiment of peace. charity,
Kindliness and brotherly love"
Copyright 1911. by T.. J. Edwards. All
Rights Reserved)