The Poets' Lincoln Part 30

Frank Dempster Sherman, son of John Dempster and Lucy (McFarland) Sherman, was born May 6, 1860, at Peekskill, New York; educated at home and at Columbia and Howard Universities, and since 1886 connected with Columbia University where he is Professor of Graphics. Author of several volumes of poems which are published by Houghton-Mifflin Company, Boston.

Professor Sherman married, November 16, 1887, Juliet Durand, daughter of Rev. Cyrus Bervic and Sarah Elizabeth (Merserveau) Durand.

He is a member of the National Inst.i.tute of Arts and Letters.

ON A BRONZE MEDAL OF LINCOLN

This bronze our Lincoln's n.o.ble head doth bear, Behold the strength and splendor of that face, So homely-beautiful, with just a trace Of humor lightening its look of care, With bronze indeed his memory doth share, This martyr who found freedom for a Race; Both shall endure beyond the time and place That knew them first, and brighter grow with wear.

Happy must be the genius here that wrought These features of the great American Whose fame lends so much glory to our past-- Happy to know the inspiration caught From this most human and heroic man Lives here to honor him while Art shall last.

[Ill.u.s.tration: MARBLE HEAD OF LINCOLN

In Statuary Hall, Capitol in Was.h.i.+ngton, Gutzon Borglum, sculptor]

Ella Wheeler [Wilc.o.x] was born in Johnstown Centre, Wisconsin, in 1845. Was educated at the public schools at Windsor and at the University of Wisconsin. In 1884 she married Robert M. Wilc.o.x.

Contributed articles for newspapers at an early age and also wrote and published a number of books of poems.

THE GLORY THAT SLUMBERED IN THE GRANITE ROCK

A granite rock on the mountain side Gazed on the world and was satisfied; It watched the centuries come and go-- It welcomed the sunlight, and loved the snow, It grieved when the forest was forced to fall, But smiled when the steeples rose, white and tall, In the valley below it, and thrilled to hear The voice of the great town roaring near.

When the mountain stream from its idle play Was caught by the mill-wheel, and borne away And trained to labor, the gray rock mused: "Tree and verdure and stream are used By man, the master, but I remain Friend of the Mountain, and Star, and Plain; Unchanged forever, by G.o.d's decree, While pa.s.sing centuries bow to me!"

Then, all unwarned, with a heavy shock Down from the mountain was wrenched the rock.

Bruised and battered and broken in heart, He was carried away to a common mart.

Wrecked and ruined in peace and pride, "Oh, G.o.d is cruel!" the granite cried; "Comrade of Mountain, of Star the friend-- By all deserted--how sad my end!"

A dreaming sculptor, in pa.s.sing by, Gazed on the granite with thoughtful eye; Then, stirred with a purpose supreme and grand, He bade his dream in the rock expand-- And lo! from the broken and shapeless ma.s.s, That grieved and doubted, it came to pa.s.s That a glorious statue, of infinite worth-- A statue of LINCOLN--adorned the earth.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE LINCOLN BOULDER

At Nyack, N. Y.]

This boulder had been for two hundred and fifty years a landmark near the Western sh.o.r.e of the Hudson River, opposite Upper Nyack. The school children of Nyack contributed the funds to remove it from its ancient bed and place it in front of the Nyack Carnegie Library, where it now stands and probably will stand for thousands of years to come, a monument to the memory of Abraham Lincoln.

The boulder contains the Gettysburg address and was dedicated June 13, 1908.

Louis Bradford Couch, born at East Lee, Ma.s.sachusetts, October 1, 1851. Son of Bradford Milton and Lucy L. Couch. Educated in the public schools of Northampton, Ma.s.sachusetts. Began the study of medicine in 1871, graduating with honors from the New York Homeopathic Medical College, March 4, 1874, being awarded the Allen gold medal for the best original investigations in medicine; he was graduated from the New York Ophthalmic Hospital, the same year, as an eye and ear surgeon. Practiced medicine for thirty-nine years at Nyack, New York.

Served three years as one of the medical experts on the New York State Board of Health.

THE LINCOLN BOULDER

O Mighty Boulder, wrought by G.o.d's own hand, Throughout all future ages thou shalt stand A monument of honor to the brave Who yielded up their lives, their all, to save Our glorious country, and to make it free From bondsmen's tears and lash of slavery.

Securely welded to thy rugged breast, Through all the coming ages there shall rest Our Lincoln's tribute to a patriot band, The n.o.blest ever penned by human hand.

The storms of centuries may lash and beat The granite face and bronze with hail and sleet; But futile all their fury. In a day The loyal sun will melt them all away.

Equal in death our gallant heroes sleep In Southern trench, home grave, or ocean deep; Equal in glory, fadeless as the light The stars send down upon them through the night.

O priceless heritage for us to keep Our heroes' fame immortal while they sleep!

O G.o.d still guide us with thy loving hand, Keep and protect our glorious Fatherland.

[Ill.u.s.tration: BAS-RELIEF HEAD OF LINCOLN

James W. Tuft, Boston]

James Arthur Edgerton, born at Plantsville, Ohio, January 30, 1869.

Graduated at the Normal University, Lebanon, Ohio, in 1887. One year's post-graduate work, Marietta, Ohio, College. Editor county and state papers several years; on editorial staff of _Denver News_, 1899-1903; American Press a.s.sociation, New York, 1904; _Watson's Magazine_, 1905.

Editorial writer _New York American_, 1907; Secretary State Labor Bureau of Nebraska, 1895-9; received party vote for clerk United States House of Representatives. Author, _Poems_, 1889; _A Better Day_, 1890; _Populist Hand-book for 1894_; _Populist Hand-book for Nebraska_, 1895; _Voices of the Morning_, 1898; _Songs of the People_, 1902; _Glimpses of the Real_, 1903; _In the Gardens of G.o.d_, 1904.

WHEN LINCOLN DIED

When Lincoln died a universal grief Went round the earth. Men loved him in that hour.

The North her leader lost, the South her friend; The nation lost its savior, and the slave Lost his deliverer, the most of all.

Oh, there was sorrow mid the humble poor When Lincoln died!

When Lincoln died a great soul pa.s.sed from earth, A great white soul, as tender as a child And yet as iron willed as Hercules.

In him were strength and gentleness so mixed That each upheld the other. He possessed The patient firmness of a loving heart.

In power he out-kinged emperors, and yet His mercy was as boundless as his power.

And he was jovial, laughter loving; still His heart was ever torn with suffering.

There was divine compa.s.sion in the man, A G.o.dlike love and pity for his race.

The world saw the full measure of that love When Lincoln died.

When Lincoln died a type was lost to men.