Arizona republican., 1912-12-26
"The Night Before Christmas"
Joseph Jackson in Worlds WorD

Worlds
 Although he lived be S3 years old and al though he contributed several volumes to his coun- try's literature, Dr. Clement C. Moore, apart from such celebrity his Visit Nicholas" brought him, made very small impress upon his time.
 Doctor Moore had three children Charity F.. born in September 1916; Clement, born in January, 1921, and Emily, born in April 1922 The little poem which he for his children and entitled "A Visit from St. Nicholas" penned in the Christmas season of the year 1922 according to Doctor Moore's own account, which has been veri fled by other circumstances.
 That the poem obtained so much was taken into the hearts of young and old everywhere is directly due to accidental occurrence. Among Doctor Moore's friends the family of the Rev. Dr. David Butler, who in 1922 rector of St Pauls church in Troy N. Y. It appears that the eldest daughter of Doctor Butler, while visiting the Moores, heard the poem, and like everyone else immediately charmed
 She asked }'rmlsa;cn to copy it. in Ter album which request, naturally, was granted. It was her intention read it to the children the rectory The copied from her album and found their way into the columns of the Troy Sentinel in issue December 23, 1923. and, Doctor Moore for it's authorship this unknown benefactor deserves our gratitude for giving circulation to poem that has been making childhood happier for e ,iity years.
 The editor of the Troy Sentinel gave the little waif d position the third page and introduced it to the world with fine and sympathetic com mendaton even its author could have wished He wrote:
 We do not know to whom we are indebted for the following description of that unwearied patron of children-that hoInely delightful personifica- ton O parental kindness-Santa Claus his costume and his equipage he goes about visiting the fire sides of this happy land, laden with Christmas bounties; but from whOsOever it may have come give thanks for it. There is, to apprehen- sion, spirit of cordial goodness in it. a playful of fancy. and a benevolent alacrity to enter into the feelings and promote the simple pleasures children, which altogether charming
 We hope little patrons, both lads and lassies, will accept proof of unfeigned good will toward them-as d token of our warmest wish that FriCt that may long retain their beautiful relish for these un- bought, homebred joys, which derive their flavor from filia piety and fraternal love and which they may be assured the least alloyed that time can furnish them; and that they may never part with simplicity of character, which is their own fair est ornament, and for the sake of which they have been pronounced, by authority which none can gain say. the types of such as shall inherit the kingdom of heaven"
 It has been asserted in print, time and again, that "A Visit from St Nicholas" was quickly added to the selections in the school readers but animation of a large number of the readers printed the year of the poems first appearance and 1850 failed reveal one in which the verses had been copied. The number of newspapers which cop jed the poem may not now be counted, but it is probable that they not numerous as had believed, for the more the subject is studied the it becomes apparent that the wide fame of the poem is the product of the last fifty years.
 In the early part of the last century it was customary the carriers of the newspapers to have printed for their each Yuletide what was called d address. Usually this was in verse, and very often the men who carried the newspapers to the subscribers willingly paid some young versifier to write something for it.
 Horace Greeley made his journalistic hit by preparing address for newspaper carriers. In 1890 the carriers the Troy Sentinel used Doctor Noore's poem their address, which was a broad side, and in this instance they did not have to reward the poet (for he unknown to them) they employed Myron King, a wood engraver of Troy, to make historic picture of St. Nicholas and his eight tiny reindeer" This address disrib uted at Christmas and doubt, brought liberal gratuties to the carriers.
 When Griswold issued his work the poets of America in 1S49. he included among several by Doctor Moore A Visit from St Nicholas These were reprinted from the volume of poems published by Doctor Moore in 1844 where for the first time he acknowledged the little classic his own. The poem was again reprinted in the Cyclopedia of American Literature, by the Duyckincks in 1855, and in 1862 it issued again separate pub Iication New York, with illustrations by F. o. C. Darey From that time it may be said to have permanently entered into it's great popularity, for subsequently it made it's appearance in the school readers and now is almost annual visitor in thou sands of newspapers throughout the country.