The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-05
"A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS"
Doubt ~ to the Authorship OF the Poem
That Made -. Claus Famous,

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN--Sir. An
article In your paper Of December &c in
which reference was made to the almost
worldwide popularity Of the poem en-
titled "A Visit from St Nicholas" leads
me to ask whether II is true, as I have
heard stated. that the Rev. Clement c.
Moore never himself made any direct
claim TO the authorship of this poem,
which has been attributed to him.
| ask this because the testimony which
points to Major Henry Livingston as be-
ing its author appears TO he too strong
to be ignored. and it might he interesting
To sift the evidence. Major Livingston
lVed near Toughkeepsie. in house built
by his grandfather. Gilbert Livingston.
where, II IL asserted by his children. ne
wrote the poem on a Christmas Eve, and
read 1t to them the following morning.
have heard both n daughter and n grand
daughter or Major Livingston say that
trey were present on that occasion and
that tho success OF his poem in the home
circle led Major Livingston to consent 10
Its publication In a Poughkeepsie news.
paper.
Neither the name Of the newsparer nor
the exact date OF publication was re,nem
beied bv them, but they were positive that
1t antedated by several years the pub
ncation or the poem In the Troy Seminal
The original manuscript and copy OF
the foughkeepsie paper containing this
nrst publication or the poem were in the
possession OF Major Livingston's eldest
son for great many years. but were lost
after his death
letter In my possession written nv
a daughter of Major Livingston in 1879.
says: Il we'll remember our establishment
when we saw II 1.-THE poeml claimed az
Clement c. Moore's many years after
my fathers decease. which tool, place
more than fifty years ago. We have often
said. me style is so exactly his how
would II be possible that another could
express the same originality 81 ,hou,bt
ana use the same phrases, 30 familiar 10
us as father's!'
nave heard II stated by the two lad,es
nave already referred to. daughter and
granddaughter respectively Of Major Iiy-
ingston. and by his youngest son ,ha,
tnere was present As a guest in the house
on the Christmas morning when the poem
was reau young lady who derived so
'n"cn pleasure from the reading OF IL that
sne requested Major Livingston 10 give
her copy. which he did This lady. nm
leaving Major Llvingston's house wsr,
to the house of Mr. Moore. where she h,d
been engaged AS governess TO his children
Inc testimony ] have outlined is given
IN perfect good faith by people of tho
highest character WV
How is one to slit the eyidcpcer =,
would seem as II the only proor wound
De the date of first publication. Thinkiry
,nat inc newspaper in question might
nave been the Poughkeepsie Eooie
applied AZ their office some years ago for
permission to look over their back flies
OF the ls2os but was told that all had
oeen destroyed in "A fire that had burned
out the Eagle office ''
MAJOR Livingston left a number %
poems, all written with light touch
ana most or them In a humorou. vein.
row were published In the local papers,
bur always. I believe, anonymousIv
NJ. W. MONTGOMERY.
NEW York. January 8.