The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-06-10
AFTER A LONG ABSENCE
GARNER Boy" Comes Again and Talks
About Inspiration and Plymouth.

GARNER Boy" Comes Again and Talks
About Inspiration and Plymouth.
DEAR II. L. @. FRIENDs-It is a long
time since 1 have been with you on the
page, but not so in spirit. Maude Naples
contribution, Inspiration" has called me
out. She strikes the keynote, the true
bedrock of all that is nice and sublime in
poetry.
As in the case Of Rose Hartwick Thorpe's
"Curfew," our unstuded maiden efforts
are often hard to match even by the
most learned in after years.
This may seem strange to some who
claim that the more we study and work
at any calling the more expert We become
at it. This will do to 60 with another
theory I've heard advanced, that life is
what we make it. Now, let
inspiration" come on our page
for awhile, and theory step out.
1t won't damage the looks of the page
one bit. Inspiration and solitude are
closely allied, but inspiration on the page,
If you please, and less OF solitude. be-
lieve with 'Maude Maple" that it is when
we are in solitude that our best thoughts
come to us, we seem to draw nearer to
God then, which gives the inspiration. 1t
it then we can give our thoughts to nature
and its wonderful works. | think every
one will admit that the country is the
place TO observe nature in its most attract
i've forms, and we become at once impressed
and often awed by the wonderful works OF
the Master hand.
Even the poor, uneducated savage
catches much of inspiration in these wild
solitudes, and forms ideas of the Great Spirit
who reigns supreme in the happy hunting
grounds" where all good Indians expect to
go. Now, our idea of good Indians is on
the wane, but l think that before the
white man came with his vices the Indian
was not a bad man. We catch much in
spiration in going over grounds where
they dweit, about old Plymouth town in
Massachusetts,.
You know that the first words OF the
Indian, Samoset, to the Plymouth colon
lists were Welcome, Englishmen." What
inspired him to say this? Pure love alone.
He was always a steadfast friend to our
first settlers. Many are the hours l have
spent roaming about old Plymouth trying
in my limited imagination to comprehend
the scenes of those days. / assure you it
is grand field for inspiration and thought
and one seems almost lifted up by the
words OF the poet
1.-THE Pilgrim Fathers, where they?
The waves that brought them DER
Still roll In the bay as they rolled that day
And break upon the shOre."
Plymouth is a fine place to spend sum-
mer vacation in. Many are the relics to
be seen in Pilgrim hall, and the ancient
burying ground at Burying ground hill,
back OF the town, is a good place for one
to sit awhile and mediate and be with
their dead. / might say our dead, for
what one of us would not cling TO the
memory of those early settlers and pio-
neers, and in his heart return thanks to
an all-wise Providence who guided them
10 this blessed land of ours to Law the step
ping stones 10 so much we enjoy today?
The long ing for peace and quiet which,
we are told, was sought for by our Savior
has not all died out in some OF us, and al
though we have no "cool slvan's shady
rills" or Keedron's bright waters by which
to stroll "and to lose in its murmurs the
tolls of the day." vet We have a boundless
old ocean that we never tire OF watching,
and we can think that some of these same
mighty breakers have borne the z ad It'd
ings TO many heather lands and now come
kissing our New England shores for the
blessed privilege.
"Jessie Clyde" | am glad that in your
varied experience you are not weaned
from the memories of New England's dear
old hills. Those were very touching lines
you sent to our page. and | came near re-
plying in the same strain, but our page of
late seems quite well supplied with verse.
Thanks to you, too. Allegro" also Mrs.
K. L. Smith and others who have favored
us. Keep up the inspiration and let US
have variety.
A remark which l once heard person
make. who was trying to encourage sing
ing, has often prompted me to try and APP
ply the same idea TO writing. He said {:
III only those birds sang which sang
sweetest we should have very little mu-
Sic" l know 1 have been rather delin-
quent in writing to the page Of late but
had good excuse for absence.
A locomotive gave me toss,
Broke three o. my ribs aud spoiled my "hoss"
Please don't follow my example. "Hap-
DIV Old Maid" how are those little girls,
''Gertie" and "Ethel?'
Can't they cook something and send It in
To keep our page from growing thin?
With best wishes for all.
FARMER Boy"
Easton, Mass, June ..