Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-01-19
John Downs Masterpiece.

l.
Those of our readers who haye ex-
Ipressed wonder and regret at the SEEM
ing poetic apathy of John Downs of
late. are to-day treated to an agreeable
surprise. Heretofore Johns callow
muse has essayed nothing nobler than
ballads. chansonettes, triolets, etc.,
all dainty little things in their ways,
but evoking nothing more than mo-
mentary interest Now, however, his
muse raised full supply of tail feath-
ers, and conscious of her power hath
plumed her wings for loftier flights.
During the long days in which the
world supposed him idle he has been
busying himself with the Irish ballad
lore of the fifth and sixth centuries
time when Ireland was the chief seat
of learning and bred bards as the trees
of Arabia distilI their medical gum.
Among these ancient ballads our Peo-
ria poet found full and true account
of the combat between David and
Goliath, written in the Celtic tongue
and in short metre. To translate this
into modern Irish, with an English ac-
cent, has been Johns inspiring labor
during all these weary months, but it
now stands out in all the fullness, rich
ness and completeness of masterpiece,
and must, perforce, materially advance
the poets fame. 1t is valuable not
only for its poetic merit, but for its
historical revelations and the note of
warning pealed by way of moral in the
last stanZa. 1t is to be commended to
the consideration of all literateurs. his
torians, theologians, the members of
the Peoria Scientific Association and
the public generally. Here it is:
The brightest boy ould Jesse had
Was David-youngest son;
He was bould and active lad,
Well liked by Everyone.
Altho' he had to mind the sheep,
To larn he was so sharp;
Whin other boys wor' fast asleep,
He'd practice on the harp.
'Twould make the birds of heaven hide
Their heads to hear him sing;
He'd murther half the country side
Wild pebbles and sling.
And thin the soothin' ways he knew
To capture youn and ould;
The female sex-Och, whillielu!
Twas there wor' his best hould.
When David was some eighteen year
OF age, or thereabout,
Betune the hathen nd Judaar
A bloody war broke out.
His brothers listed for the war.
Begorrai they were daisies
His father TUX conthract for
To sell the army chases.
sDavid," the old man said one day,
you'd loike a little thramp;
Jist load some chascs on the dhray,
And take em down to camp"
He dhrove to camp and sought straightway
The commissary's tint;
He got a voucher for his pay,
Thin to his brothers whit.
He found em lookin' mighty blue,
And in a dhreadful fright;
Retrate what they wished to,
And divil Il bit to fight.
A big, black bully, tin fut tall,
Was bluffin' all the Jews,
And throops and staff and Gin'raI Saul.
Wor' quakn in their shoes.
Goliath the crathurs name
A howlin' Philistine.
His sworde was loike the lightnin's flame,
His speare was like pine.
He were upon his back and breast
Tin thousand pounds of brass;
The shine of him, completely dhressed,
Would smash lookin'-gass.
And livery day the haste would sthrut,
Inflamed with drink and pride,
And kept all Israel closely shut
In lines well fortified.
"Come OUT" he'd bawl, "coune out of there, |
Beyant your dirty works;
Come av we dare and fl ght me fair,
Yez bloody Habrew Turks!"
But every faithful Israelite
Said, ''Lave the BLACKBOARD be;
Ave coorse' no dacent Jew fight
Wild such low trash as he"
This sort of thing was well and good
Till David joined the troop;
When he he matter understood
Bedad! he raised whOop.
at be a burning sin and shame"
He said, ''upon word,
TIE hear this haythen hound defdne
The chosen of the Lord,
"And since 10 other mon has felt
A wish to tan his hide, !
I'll fight him for the cham pion's belt,
And fifty pounds side"
The corp'ril of the guard he tould
The off, sur of the day,
What David said, and he made bould
To mintion it at tay.
The edge du-kOng in that mess,
And heard the whole discourse;
So he-he couldn't do less
Told Gin'ral Saul, av coorse.
The chafe of staff told the High Praste
To send peremptuous orthers,'
For David to report in haste
At Gin'ral Sauls headquarters.