The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1884-10-25
THE TWO QUATRAINs.
Ivan Tourg1lanaff j

There was once town whose in
habitanta worshipped poetry so ar
IDENTIFY that, If some weeks elapsed
without new and masterly poems COM
ing to light such poetical sterility
was regarded as public calamity.
Every one then would put on his best
clothing, would strew ashes upon their
heads, and would gather together in
an open space to wall, to shed tears.
and to murmur bitterly against the
Muse, who had forsaken them.
On one of these days of mourning,
youthful poet, Junius, appeared in the
square, which was densely packed with
sorroWing people.
He mounted the rostrum in haste,
and made sign that he wished to re-
cite poem.
The lictors fourished their slaves,
and shouted the stentorian voices: "Si-
lence attention. The expectant multi
tude were silent.
Friends! compan;ons!'' began
Junius, in clear but slightly faltering
voice:
Friends. and companionsl The lover of
Poetry,
God of harmonious beauty and light,
Charms away trouble and vanquishes sor-
row;
Apollo arises-and fled is the night"
Junius had concluded; the answer was
Ia universal burst of laughter, howls
and whistles from every side.
The upturned faces of the multitude
glowed with Indignation; every eye
| sparkled with rage; every hand was
raised threaten ngly and clenched,
Does he wish to mock us with that ?"
| yelled the furious voices. aTear the
paltry rhymester down from the
rostrum! Down with the bloekhead!
Pelt the fool with rotten apples and
sinking eggsi Stones bring stones!'
Junius rushed headlong from the
rostrum; but scarcely had he gained his
dwelling than he heard tumultuous ap-
plause, shouts of praise, and acclama-
tions.
Tortured with doubts Junius re-
turned to the square and endeavored,
if possible, to mingleunobseryed in. the
crowd, for lis dangerous to rouse the
| grim ion."
| And what did he see?
Raised high upon the shoulders oil
the multitude on fat, golden shield,
clothed in the purple mantle, his locks
crowned with laurel, stood his rival, the
youthful poet julius. And
the people shouted "Glory and honor
to the immortal Julius! He has con
soled us in our trouble, and in our great
sorrow he has refreshed us with his sub
lime poetry, which is sweeter than
honey, more musical than the sound oi
the cymbals, more fragrant than the
odor of roses, and purer than the blue
of heaven! Lift him in triumph, per-
fume his inspired head with soft clouds
of incense, fan him with palm branches
strew all the spices OF Arabia before
him! Honor and glory to the divine
poet!"
| Junius approached one of the wor.
shippers: Repeat to me, 0 beloved
fellow-townsman, the words with which
Julius has enchanted. Alas unfortnn-
ately, I was not present when he recited
them. I pray you, do me the favor to
repeat them, if you can remember
| them!"
| Hoy could I ever forget such
verses!" cried the questioned one
eagerly; /" for what do you take me
Listen and shout aloud, rejoice with us
The verses commence thus:
"'The lover Of Poetry, my friends and com
panions,
God of sublimity, beauty and light
Care disappears, and all sorrow is endedl
When Phabus arises-then vanishes
night!"'
"NoW, what do you think of that?'
"But I pray you," cried Junius
"those are my own verses! Julius was
among the crowd when I was recitine
them. he heard them, and has repeated
them with few trihing alterations
which, after all, are no Improvement =
"Ah! now recognize you.
you are Junius!" replied the other
with frowning brows. "You are either
envious or blockhead. Recollect your
self, miserable youth, with what sub
Unity spake julius: When Phebul
> arises, then vanishes nightr Compar,
; your nonsense with it: Apollo arises
and fled is the night!'"
Yes, is it not exactly the same p
, began Junius.
. Another word,' interrupted tl,
other, "and will rouse the people,
they will tear you in piecesl"
Junius prudently held his tongue.
gray-headed man who had overheard
the eonvel alton stepped toward the un
fortunate poet, laid his hand on hi
shoulder and said: "Junius! you re
peated what you had composed out o
season. This one certainly repeated
borrowed words, still he hit upon The
right moment; hence his success. You
own conscienc must console you"
So his own conscience must consol
him; well or ill-to speak truly, il
enough-his own conscience must con
sole Junius, who stood in the crowde,
. background, amid the acclamation
which were lavished upon his rival.
Proud, lofty and majestic, Juliu
moved along in the golden, glitterin
!. dust of the bealaing, all-conquering sqr
. splendid in purple, crowned wit
3 laurels, surrounded with perfume
: clouds of incense; palm branches fel
before him as he approached, and th
? yeneration for him which filled th
hearts of his enchanted townsme
8 knew no bounds.
: Arthur as an Absttnenf.
q detroit Free Press.
The present president of the Unite
I States does not. like his predecessor
: Grant, turn his glass down. atdinnel
! nor, like his other predecessor, Have.
: refuse to have them on the table at al
: Arthur has them on the table. rigl
side up, and kept filed all the tim
The reason why they are kept filed
/ 4. 1. 4