Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-04-30
"Roscs Nowhere
Bloom SO White =
Facts about Harry Curran VII
bur, luther of the Poem,
In Virginia"
NY ERNEST l.. nOLi.INC.

The propensity Of some individuals
to appropriate and pass off as their own
the product OF other folks brains TO
me Is a strong point I'm favor Of the
Presbyterian doctrine OF the total de-
pravity OF man. For, TO use plain
words. it is stealing: just rs much so
as the act Of that man who by certain
processes Of tho law hides behind the
skirts OF his wife and shuns the pay
mcnt Of his just debts--a proceeding
held in supreme contempt by all hon
est people.
1t Will he remembered how several
peoplc-amons them AN Episcopal clcr.
Cyman. il remember arivht--claimcd
tho authorship OF George Eliots Adam
Bede". how the authorship OF "An
Quiet Along III" Potomac" has been
claimed by. and attributed to-. various,
people i'm tho South, Notwithstanding
II was published in iIarper's Weekly
November 80. 1861. by Mrs. Beers. Of
New York one year before il was heard
OF down this way; how 4 Presbyterian
minister Garblcd some OF the stories
OF o. Henry. I;y the way, /, appears
there Is something in name. for when
william sydney Porter. Of Greensboro
y. G., offered his stories In his real
name he met with discouragement, but
when he chose the pen nam. OF O.
Henry he gained Immediate succcss
The authorship or In Virginia" has
OF whom has dsclaimcd it, If they
did not chance to know that the poem
was ascrbcd to them. then they are
cXcuSablc and no not deserve to be
Consigned TO that large cass Of in
dividuals that should be known as "si-
lent liars"
The poem called I'm Virginia. and
which begins. The roses nowhere
bloom so white" was written nv Har-
~ curran Wilbur. Pennsylvanian
wh" was on the STAFF OF the Wheeling
w. Va. Register, and the poem was
printed in that paper on Sunday. Nav
-, 1903.
few days later. on MAY 10, Colonel
Robert White, former Attorney General
or West Virginia. and whose death wa.
announced in The Times Dispatch in
beccmh"'. 1918 read tho poem when he
made the Memorial Day address in
Hollywood
The poem was published in one pf
our papers Al tho time.
Then William j. Eryan published the
poem in his conmoner. and gave a
sketch Of its author. Harry Curran Will
bur
The poem at once attained great sue
cess
have an account OF young wilburs
marriage. clipped from The Times Dis
p''N'''' Nv bIif' Vas MISS Ma IOTl cS,
Of Newcastle, Va. who is connected
with the b.st families in Virginia One
OF her l'at"rnal ancestors was in com
'nand 81 = snip under the famous Paul
Jones The groom is highly connected
IN Pennsylvania The account OF hi,
marriae" mentions his being the author
"f tn" poem In Virginia one OF the
most charming sh"r; poems Of the pres
eni time. aud one that has struck the
kcyn"te Of popuia, fancy"
Young Wilbur subsequently went to
Florida. ana is now | think, some.
where in the West.
For some OF the facts have here
written ! am Indebted TO the kindnes,
%! Mr.. ;. Il. Christian. OF Wheclinr
VII" replied 10 mo for Wheeling Reg
lister. 10 which paper wrote i'll Jan;-
Any 1919. Mr.. Christians Information
comes straight to me from the editor
OF the paper IN which the poem wa.
frs; published
So as understand ii. aud have heard
asserted. II was this young Pennsvl-
'aiian's love for the Virginia girl
and may ask Is il no, hard not 10
loN' Virginia or some Southern girl.
Was th" cause Of his writing the
POEM. give The poem below and trus.
'h"i - authors maine Will in future
l." Given along with the title. The sec
"nd stanza sometimes is printed last.
the Register, L think have II right: