The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1885-10-22
SKETCH OFyAMEY Il. CLARK.


The "rravelers Record" published
At Hartford, Conn.,, although issued bv
an insurance company, is one of the
neatest and most ably-edited little
Quartos in the country. It's literary
contents and editorials are first class.
Recently it has b'gun a series OF
sketches of American poets, and among
them we Gnd in the September number
the following sketch of James G. Clark,
the poet and singer. which we transfer
to our columns:
A royal specimen Of physical man.
hood is this poet, and in personal ap.
pearance strikingly like the common
conception of an ancient prophet: tall,
broad. d.shouldered, erect, with a high
brow from which the hair falls back in
silvery waves; fair-complexiOned, blue.
eyed, and long bearded. the highly
spiritual expression Of the face intensi-
flying the impression received at first
sight. of prophethood.
Prophet he is, indeed, as we'll as bal
lad-singer and verse-writer, though
rather such by nature and inspiration
than by reputation. His songs all gilt
ter with the sunlight of coming Joy,
and inspire a nov sense of the heavenly
presence, and some of them contain
specific prophecies, both earthly and
heavenly. He is the only original bal
lad singer in America-probably the
only singer who writes songs of high
merit-and the only poet of his class.
He has been styled the Thomas Moore
Of this country; loosely enough, for
while there is some surface resem-
blance, the two are very unlike in all
essential characteristics.
Born at Constantia, n. Y, near
Oneida lake, June 20, 1880, his occupa-
ton III youth was farming in summer
and cutting wood aud saving logs in
winter. His soul was too full Of music
to remain long in that harness, how
ever, and at 2l he entered the concert
field, and began to sing and to write
poems. His first engagements were
with Ossian E. Dodge, whose ''Bards"
are still remembered. He soon became
proprietor of Dodge's company; but
finding that his future success was not
likely to depend upon his associates,
after several successful tours with
them set forth alone, and has continued
III that manner ever since. He is now
S., and lives on his farm at Lake Trav.
erse, Minn. Those who are familiar
with his poems but not himself will be
glad to know that the man is greater
than anything he has written, and that
his genius finds its noDlest expression
in his life.
Mr.. Clark writes both prose and
verse, but is far more effective in the
latter than in the former. Most of his
prose is in the line Of moral and politi-
Cal reform. He is editorially connected
with the Minneapolis (Minn.) Specta-
tor, and contributes to the Nebraska
State Journal. His early poems and
songs were: ''Mariou Moore" ''rhe
Mountains of Life" 1.-The Rover's
Grave" "Meet Mt by tile Running
Brook, ".'' ''Leona' contained in Uar-
per's encyclopaedia Of British and
American i'oetry''), The Old Noun
tain Tree" The Exi!e's Return"
The Lament of the Sailor Boys
Mother" THE Rock of liberty," and
lie! for the Kansas Plains!" all very
popular il New England. During the
rebellion ne wrote Fremont's Battle
Hymn" minnie Minton." "When
You aud l were Soldier Boys" and
LET me Die with My Face to the
Foe" all of which were sung all
through the northern states, aud one
"r two Of whicl, became national favor.
ties. both as songs aud recitations
After the rebellion, besides many musj
cal compositions, he produced "rbe
Boat man : Dream, - ''lhe Woman and
the Angel, and other poems less noted,
His more recent long pieces are: THE
Mount of the Holy Cross" "Lerd.
Keep My Memory Green:" '.Going
llome.' Loves Immortality" .'Our
ing CALL" and 1.-The Voice Of the
People," the latter appearing last Feb
ruary in the WOman's Tribune of Be
atrice, Neb.
The following pieces, the second Of
which is now printed tor the first time:
indicate the quality and versatility Of
his poetic gift:
LEADvILLE, COLORADO.
The silver city Of the hills, whence leap the
oceans new; born rills,
The mountain city Of the west, hammock
swung from crest to crest,
hammock hung on fasteHingS rude up In the
Where twice ten thousand souls abide ten thou
sand tf feet let. above o., the tide,
And clutches With its briny hands the outlines
OF thousand lands.
MORNING AND EVENING.
When Venus rises from the deep
With morning glory in her face,
And all her tram have gone to sleep
Behind the palinR dome OF space,
Sweet mem 'ries through my being sweep
OF one whose rare and loving grace
Flung DER my dark AMI lonely way
promise Of the coming day.
When Venus from her tn rome of blue
StOOps down to touch the western sea.
Before her train appears in view
From out the calm Immensely,
turn to her and think OF you
Whose touch controlled my troubled breast
And gave me peace for wild unrest.
THE SNOW CROSS COLORADO.
i cannot grow old while the sea breath Is drawn
From the lips of the billOws at evening and dawn
While heavens pure finger transhguresth dews
And with garlands of fr0st-wOrk its beauty re-
1t was there when the blocks Of the pyramid pill
We're drifting in sands DER the banks Of the
And It stiil shall point homeward, token o.
When pyramids crumble in dimness and dust.
It shall leap o'er the world like banner of peace
Till discord and war between brothers shall cease
Till the red sea of Time shall be cleansed Of it.
And tie years like white pebbles be washed t,
As long as the incense from ocean shall rise
To weaveits bright woof on the warp of the skies
AS long as the clouds into cryst SIS sha II part.
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