The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-15

An Indiana POetess Who Prophesied the
Restoration of Chicago.

sweetly of October days and the sere and
yellow leaf than Indiana's loved writer.
Mrs. d. NJ. Jordan, OF this city. To her
nature seemed in her full glory when
arrayed in her garb of russell and brown,
tinged with scarlet and gold. Riley has
immortalized our Indiana summer in his
"Knee-deep in June and has also de-
lighted thousands with when the frost
is the pumpkin and the folders in the
shock" but Mrs. Jordan has given promi-
nence in her poems to our october Days"
There is, however, an undercurrent OF
sadness ir all of her poems not unlike the
feeling commonly produced by the ap-
preaching November days; yet it is not
gloom and darkness. but the tenderest
pathos.
1t was on a haZy October afternoon,
when the trees were dropping their tinted
leaves and the air was blue with smoke
from the burning piles in the streets, that
/ visited Mrs Jordan. She was i'll, suffer-
ing with rheumatism. and her hands were
stricken with "scrivener's palsy" She is
an ardent lover of the beautiful, is in
tensely sympathetic and hungers for HUI
man love and tenderness. She feels keenly
the deprivation of not being able to see
the glory of America, the worlds fair.
All she hears from her friends and all
she reads of the poetic beauty of the Co
lumbar Exposition fills her with sadness.
Her mind and memory are perfectly clear
and active, and the poetic muse visits her
as of old. but her stricken hand prevents
her recording the thoughts that come and
go-come and go like Burns's snow
THAT falls upon a river,
A moment white-then
Gone forever"
AS sat and looked at Mrs. Jordan's
fin faa fhea Mill md har IL
sled, trembling hand, and heard her en-
deavor to give verbal expression to some
beautiful, poetic thoughts. 1 was reminded
of the striking words of Ernest Renan.
They run something like this: Literature
impairs that which it touches; the most
beautiful sentiments remain unknown; the
most true and vigorous ideas that have
ever been entertained with regard to the
universe have remained unpublished, or,
to put % anSss 5y enoYad tS
privilege of the only fine spectacles in the
moral and intellectual order; l mean those
meditations and sentiments produced in
the bosom of an absolute objectivity, with
out being spoiled by the interested second
thought of how they may be put to profit
grand heart which makes no parade of its
heroism, the great mind which Yields up
its lofty views only when forced to 1T, SO
to speak, are superior to the artisan in
words, engrossed in the idea of giving
form to opinions which, as likely as not,
he does not cherish very deeply The
ady-the false idea that thought and senti-
ment exist for the purpose of being ex-
pressed, which turns one aside from low
gerated value to be placed on talent.
During my visit the poetess called my
attention to an old book 6sd on tae
newspaper clippings. On one page was
found a poem of Mrs Jordan's; writ it
f fire and 'p published in the Old Cincinnati
Gazette of that period. 1t is not only beau
tiful in its broad humanity and tender
sympathy, but is now seen to De propheuc;
it and now send it to the Journal.
She spoke feelingly of the, brave and
lion-hearted who firmly walked beneath
TIVE tWent tYas years Seas ago, and Who now have
"come forth in greater strength and
beauty" -
ago. giving consolation and hope to the
stricken city and prophesying the new Chi
cago:
"Oh. CITY. living in sad desolation,
Thy temples fallen and thy marts laid low
Thy beauteous streets that echoed to the
footsteps
AS thronging multitudes went to and fro.
All silent now, in ruin, and deserted;
The temples reared to art and glorious
song; u
The cEum6ling walls can echo back no
Where once swept by the gay and happy
throng.
"Sad city, in thine hour of tribulation,
When the great heart of nations beat for
thee,
And men have learned the name of friend
and brother.
From Western slopes to lands beyond the
sea,
We may not pirate of providence and judg-
ment
And with our puny hand Gods purpose
trace:
We know. behind the cloud that seems so
frowning,
He hides but for time a smiling face.
But for a. time Q brave and lion-hearted
Who firmly walk beneath the Christening
rod,
Ye shall come forth in greater strength and
beauty
Refined. and purified. and thanking God,
Who raised up, in thy need band of
brothers
To strengthen thee In thy despairing hour
To show that the worlds great heart is
tender
To melt in sympathy's refining power.
take heart. oh sadly scourged, the world
is waiting
To see proud Phoenix from his ashes rise
They shall not vainly wait the mythic Won
His wings shall proudly sail our Western
Skies
And now that proud Phoenix has from his
ashes risen, and the world has not waited
vainly, but to-day stands enraptured before
the mythic wonder of the White City, and,
as Chicago is Sailing the Western skies"
1T seems fitting that Mrs. Jordan's pro-
phetic lines be given wide publication in the
Journal. EUGENE EDGEFIELD.
Richmond, Ind, Oct. IL.