National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-06-25
COLONEL woRCEsTER's RIVAL.
The Great Poet CrIticIsed-A HEessengcr's
Attempt TO Compete With Him.

Attempt TO Compete With Him.
1t is common, yet singular fact, that
as soon our willing hands begin to wreathe gar
lands for the brow of favorite some one arises
as suddenly as if he were evolved from the earth
10 dispute the honors with our conceded but as
get nknighted hero. The gems of poesy which
have been given in these columns in all the YER
nal freshness with which they fall from the lips of
Colonel Worcester were sufficient. il would seem.
70 establish any poets reputation But passen-
ger who is employed in the Post-Olficc Depart
mcnt. has had the effrontcry 10 cuticise some
of Colonel Worcester's lines as lacking in
color, and. to illustrate his own views of
what constitutes genuine poetry. he has fur
nished a few extracts from his own compositions.
While the gcnteman's lines do not seem to be
permcated by the same intensity Of poetic ardor
which charactcrizes Colonel Worcester's best
efforts, they have one advantage over the prOduC-
tons Of the latter in that they reduced to
writing. The ambitious youth who fired the
Ephesian dome deprived the world of a great
deal; but that loss was small in comparison with
what mankind has lost by Colonel Worcesters
failure to commit to paper the fruits Of his indus
trious and prolific fancy It were well hencefor
ward, in view of the evanescent fate which has
awaited great deal OF his that has gone before,
that he should bear in mind and be guided by
Lord Byron's indisputable proposition that
Words are things; and small drop Of ink,
Failing. like dew, upon thought produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions,
think.
It's strange the shortest letter which man uses
Instead orspeech may form lasting link
OF ages To what straits old Time reduces
Erail man, when paper-even a rag like this
Survives himself. his Tomb and all that's his!
We have room this morning for only two of
the Post Office mans attempts at competing with
the Colonel. Here is one:
Tire sky above is very blue;
To you. my love, will be true.
The flowers bloom sweetest in June,
And The birds Sing i'll tune.
While the above is more pretentious than some
of Colonel WorceSeTs stanzas it is lacking i'll the
charming simplicity and elusive fascination which
j. possessed, for instance, by the following triplet
spoken blythe Colonel to a brother driver, of whom
he WAS buying some tickets:
To keep good supply
try;
But the people viii buy.
The Post-Ofice mans muse moreover is forever
signing at Cupids shrine. while the compTehen-
siyc art of Colonel Worcester embraces all nun
dane and supernatural phenomena and poetIzes
the commonplacean and homely by process as nIagi-
cal that by which Midas transmitted base
metals into gold. Thus the post-ofice man again:
or all birds prefer tine dove,
Because The Maine rhymes with love"
The incest of all things human
Is heavens best gift TO mana woman.
This new aspiraut to fame, and possibly fortune,
wishes his name withheld for the present, as a
book Of his poems is soon TO be brought out by
Baltimore publisher In the meantime he has
promised the writer that he will demonstrate upon
early occasion that he is a superior poet to
Colonel Worcester. But the latter is so lovingly
Cnshrincd in the hearts OF Us all that the new
conner viii scarcely succeed IL charming away
the ColOuels admirers, sing he never 50 swectly.