Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-12-23

ANA ornp thcy Hen IKE the dorn OF
thistle.
But heard him erc1aim ere he drove
out Of sight.
'Hdppy Christmds to all, aud too all
good -night''
The next morning the dog tugs at
the bcdclotheS of the little ones, and
with delighted barks arouses them
very early--to sec the happy traces of
st. Nicholas visit.
Thus one man. who was moved by
the spirit Of Christmas, of bringing Joy
brought q gift--a bit Of
fancied fairyland-to the whole world.
and made the Iuletide moO blessed for
children.
'ris the night before Christmas.
Is every little one in bed?
Is the sandman nodding every little
head?
Sh-h-h- III -h-h-h. List to Santa:
Merry Christmas to all, and to ali
Il good night
DR.. Moore was born at Chelsea
House, July 10. 1871. His father was
the RI. Rev. Benjamin Moore, second
Bishop of New York. whose somewhat
auStere portrait hangs beside that of
his son on the north wall of the re-
t"ctory near the dais upon which the
faculty sit at meals. His maternal
grandfather, Major Thomas Clarke, q
retired officer OF the British Army, was
I'll" original owner of Chelsea. At
that time. this neighbnrhood was an
outlying suburb Of the sprawling town
of New York. Later. it was merged
into Greenwich Village, and today II
Is mnnfUlly ,endeavOring to resist the
encroachmcnts of the tenement sec
tons on oil sides. II is perhaps the
last complete relic Of the New York
OF the early part Of the last century.
All of the country about Chelsea was
open and rolling. and the house stood
on hill that was lcVelcd when the
General Theological Seminary buildings
were started.
In due course Of time Moore inher-
tied the property from his father. Tho
city was beginning to move up toward
IN" farm country about Chelsea but
probably even Moore did not dream
that It would spread as it did before
he died in 1863. He was wealthy
man, according to the estimate of that
day. and in ISIS he signalized his
generosity by deciding II square block OF
"a" land surrounding Chelsea House
to the Protestant Episcopal Church.
for tn" erection of seminary. The
seminary was started forthwith. and
in ISL Moor" Joined its faculty az
professor in Greek and Hebrew for
he was widely known as an accom-
plishrd scholar.
Ih" story Of how the poem came 10
ho printed j. interesting in itself
shortly after Christmas. a daughter Of
III" Rev. DR.. David Rutlcr. Of 81.
Paul ; Church, Troy. happened TO he
visiting on" "i Dr. Moore,s daughters
at Chelsea House, and the children rcnd
her the poem. She copied il i'm hor
album, and just before Christmas, in
Isl: she sent II copy TO the editor Of
me Troy Sentinel, who published it ON
December -. together with n uuaipt
wood-cut Of ST Nicholas. PAPER aft"r
paper copied til" poem. and il spread
from city I" city. All Of sudden.
Moore wok" up 10 find himself famous
not as expert in forgotten lore, but
aS the author of n nursery Jingle tbut
went straight 10 III" hearts Of children.
Publishers of school renders took I'm
"Thc Night Before Christmas" Nnpa.
%'nes reprinted it; special editions we're
ISSUED IN book form. TRANSACTIONS were
brought out in many foreign countries,
There was no limit to its publication
and republication, for. Of course. il voa
not copyrighted, and one cannot be
sorry for this. 1t is rather pleasant 10
thlhk mat this was not production
for profit. but simply for the amuse-
ment of little children. DR.. Moore was
not exactly pleased at the furorc thai
his work achieved lie was a modest
man. and firmly believed that these
verses were nothing but harmless trash
for he diversion of children. II pponle
really wante ld show interest In Lia
,M,"rN' he 'h"n"ht. they should read his
Hebrew Lexicon, the first nul,li.hnI
IN America. or one of his other lca,nod
books. II was some years befpre be
realized that the little poem was t,,or.