Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-11-02
POET WINTERS ADVICE.
A Chat with the Quaker Bard - His
Friendly Letter.

POET WINTERS ADVICE.
A Chat with the Quaker Bard - His
Friendly Letter.
Nv acquaintance with the poet Whittier
dates from lovely summer afternoon just
before my 18th birthday. Whittier. as is
well known, spends much of the summer
season near Asquam lake, in the hilly coun-
try of New Hampshire As my father then
was living only a few miles from this sylvan
spot, he and l drove over to see the Quaker
bard-known to us hitherto only through his
poems. l shall not try to describe the tall,
noble figure and delicate yet commanding
features with which we are all familiar. nor
attempt, either, TO repeat the sparkling con-
versation which ensued.
One thing especially impressed me at the
time, and will never be forgotten. Mr..
Whittier said that his early ambition had
been to become prominent politician, and
from this ideal he was persuaded only by the
earnest appeals of his friends. Taking their
advice, he united with the prosecuted and OBJ
scure sect of Abolitionists, and to this course,
he said, he attributed all his after success in
life. Then, turning to me and laying his
hand on my head, he remarked, in his gentle
voice: s'My lad, if thou woulds win success
join myself to some unpopular but noble
cause"
My father CHANGED to mention, before
leaving, that I had occasionally written
scraps of poetry. Whittier kindly asked me
to send him some verses on my return, which
readily promised, and armed with his au
tograph, retreated to the carriage, happier
dare say, than l have ever been before or
since.
Some days afterward l mailed to the poet
few rhymes which had seen light in re-
ligious journal published in Boston. The
reply, as dear treasure today as it was
then, spoke fatteringly of my effort, and
closed with the following advice:
Iwould not advise thee to publish much for
the present. In two or three years much will
have been gained by thee. Study, experience,
close observation of nature, and patient brood
ing over thy verse will do great deal for thee
l would, however, advise no young man to de-
pend upon poetry. profession or trade is
needed; and brave work must be done in world
of need and suffering. With kind remembrance
of thy father and with all good wishes for thy
self, l am truly thy fr'd,
JOHN G. WHITTIER
Would it be bad idea to send copy OF
this letter to every aspiring young verse
writer in the land?-Fred. Lawrence Knowles
in The Writer.
NIourners of "The Widows Acre."
There is a cemetery near Carondelet which
bears the quaint appellation of 1.-THE Widows
Acre" Probably no cemetery about St.
Louis receives so much attention from that
class of mourners as does this. They bring
hundreds of quaint devices as tokens to show
that the memory of the 'dear departed" is
still fresh in their minds, and that it still
claims some sacrifice from them. The grave
yard is located at Bates and Grayos road,
and such numbers of women in weeds alight
from the South Sixth street cars that bus
line is kept busy transporting them. The
majority of these husband mourners, strange
to say, are young women. Some of them are
very pretty, and their rosy cheeks, bright
eyes and smooth, plump forms almost belle
the black robes in which the owners are ar
rayed, but which seem to enhance their
charms to such a degree as to make it almost
suspicious that they wear the somber garb
more for effect than anything else.
But the groups are not wholly made up of
handsome, buxom young widows; there are
ugly old widows and fat widows, monuments
of flesh, which must count good deal in the
mourning balance, because there is so much
there to mourn; thin widows there are in
plenty; in short, every conceivable type of
widow gets off at Bates and South Broad
way. There are not wanting characters
either, or widows with histories. Some of
their histories are of deep interest and full of
sorrow, while not few cases are pure atfec-
tation. Some go in little parties, and the
moment the incumbent task of refreshing the
little mounds is complete refreshments are
served. and it is a jolly party in black that
starts on the return. Many of them, how
all tho To ST
in mind case where young widow has
been coming monthly for four years, accom-
panied by an aspiring lover. Together they
water and tend the grave of her husband,
who died two weeks after the marriage cere-
mony. She insists upon postponing the we'd
ding day, though the couple were engaged
two years since.-Dan Ames in Globe-Demo-
crat.