The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-04-03
SUPPLEMENTARY
OF "CURFEW"

Exactly half a century ago today,
on April 3, 1857, a sixteen -year-old
girl named Rose Hartwick put the
finishing touches on a poem. It
wasn't much of poem, from a high
brow literary viewpoint. In sobsr
truth, it was rather crude and anna
flourish, although certainly much bet
ter than could be expected of a Michi-
gan schoolgirl of sixteen. When Miss
Hartwick had dotted the last 'i'' Of
the manuscript over which she had
worked so lovingly, and had read and
reread it numerous times, she con-
signed it to the mails, addressed to
the editor of the Detroit Commercial
Tribune. Much to the girls surprise
for she had scarcely dared to hope
that her poem would ever appear in
print-the editor graciously accepted
the manuscript, with thanks. He
didn't suggest any financial recon-
pense, and Miss Hartwick was glad
enough to have her effort printed.
The poem was duly published, I'M
der the title of "Curfew Shall Not
Ring Tonight Vastly to the surprise
Of the young author and the Detroit
editor, it swept over America like
wildfire, conquered Canada, was given
an enthusiastic reception in England.
and made the Michigan girl famous
throughout the English-speaking
world. It was one Of the greatest hits
of the century in popular poetry, and
soon became one of the most popular
Of pieces for school recitation. If
there is school-house in America or
Great Britain in which "Curfew' has
not been recited-well, it must have
been built within the last year.
Miss Hartwick's poem was even
more popular in England than in
America. It attracted the attention
Of all classes, and the public interest
reached such.a height that Queen Vic
toria appointed a commission to in
quire into the historical accuracy Of
the incident treated Of in the verses.
This commission discovered the old
church, and also the bell, which fig
ures in the poem. Later the church
was bought by man who sold it's
climbers as souvenirs, reaping a rich
financial reward from the transaction.
Mrs. Rose Hartwick Thorpe, as she
has been known since her marriage to
E. Carson Thorpe in 1871, was born
at Mishawaka, Ind, in 1850, and thus
Dc1OA6S ny UlLIIl " Tic LlOOSlcI SC1iOOl
Of literature. The family removed to
the little town Of Litchfie1d, in south
ern Michigan, and there Rose received
her education. She was a student in
the Litchfeld high school at the time
she wrote "Curfew," graduating in
1858.
After. her marriage she capitalized
the literary fame she had gained
through the authorship of "Curfew,"
and published a number of volumes
Of both verse and prose, including
1.-THE Yule Log" Temperance
Poems Ringing Ballads" white
Lady Of Jolla," and 1.-THE Chester
Girls Some of her works were illus
trated by her daughter, Mrs. Lulo
| Thorpe Barnes. OF late years Mrs.
Thorpe has made her home in south
ern California.
She began to write verses when a
very little girls, and every bit Of
| wrapping paper that came into the
house was covered with poetry" Her
parents did not encourage this tend
ency, because she neglected her dolls
and her playmates in order to give
expression to her poetic fancy. A
story published in Petersons Maya
| zine, dealing with the "Curfew'' in
cident, suggested the poem that made
| her famous. While far from being
| finished or artistic verse, "Curfew"
contains that mysterious something
which makes an universal appeal.