The Washington herald., 1911-03-26

fed by publishing it in fits correct form
over the signature of Homer Greene, of
Honesdale, Pa But the impression had
gone abroad that it was Greeley's, and
doubtless many continued to hold that
opinion until the full details of its pro-
duction were made public recently in
letter written at the instance of P. p
Smith and published in the New York
Sun of December 2, 1883.
In this letter Mr. Greene SAYS: THE
poem was certainly written by me- 1
made the draft of it while at home on my
vacation in the summer Of 1875, completed
and perfected 1t on my return to college
in the fall, and in November sent il to
the New York Evening Post for publica-
ton. Mr.. Francis z. Leupp, who was at
that time on the editorial staff of the
Post has described, in an article published
some years ago. in the Syracuse Herald,
the way in which he received the poem
from me in the mails, changed the title
slightly, and cut down my name, which
had signed in full, to the simple initials.
The poem then appeared for the first
time, in the issue of the daily Post Of
November 19, 1875. To any who will pro-
| cure copy Of the poem printed in any
publication of an earlier date will cheer
fully make deed of my Highland Cot
tage' property at Honesdale, which
value at s15.OoO.''
Mrs. Jones never indicated her intention
of making this bargain in real estate
| and Mr.. Greene is left in possession of
his property and poem In book form
the verses were included in Slason
Thompson's collection of newspaper and
periodical verse, 1sD-1SS5, entitled The
Humber Poets" where it appeared mere
ly as clipping from the Boston Trans
cript, without name or initials
he
with the name of its author, Homer
Greene, of Honesdale, Pa, whose pretty
tale, Blind Brother" received the s15.-
600 prize offered by the Youths Com
panion for its best story, in 1851
Aside from the popularity gained for
the poem by its pretty general publica-
ton throughout the country, Mr. Barton
Hill, the actor and popular platform en-
tertainer, added to it's vogue through in
cludfng 1t among his recitations and read
ings. Although for a long time Mr. Hill
held 1t as one of his most attractive
selections, he too was unable to give the
author He first came across the poem
while In Seattle, Wash, where he
heard it recited by Mr.. c. H Larabee.
Mr.. Larabee informed him that he had
cut 1t from the New York Evening Post
about twenty-five years before. In that
publication It was credited to Horace
his entertainment, on his programmes he
always printed the name of Horace Gree
ley as its author. After he had used Il
Tor many years under that supposition, he
happened to be in New York City, and
In company with number Of friends,
mostly newspaper men One of them
suggested why he did not give one Of
his famous evenings with Unknown and
forgotten poets in New York. He pulled
from his pocket a programme that he
had recently used in the West Among
the party were DR.. J. r Wood, the vet
eran night-editor Of the Herald, and when
he noticed the name Of Greeley attached
to the poem, What My Lover Said"
he remarked:
Greeley wrote some poetry. but don't
remember that How does OF go?- And
half a dozen voices called out Yes, let's
have IT" The actor, sat back on his
chair and repeated 1t. In speaking about
the recitation later. one of the men who
was present said: 1T is impossible to
convey any idea of the reading. Of the
soft modulations of voice. the tender and
delicate phrasing of the three lines at
the end of each verse" When he had
finished there seemed to be finer serti-
ment pervading the little crowd. and the
next order for refreshments was in lower,
less authoritative tones.