The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-30
A CALIFORNIAN POET.

known in the East and abroad is compare
lively little known at home. In the East
Charles Edwin Markham is coming to be
known as 1.-THE Californian Poet" He has
had more work published in the leading
Eastern magazines in all proba bility, than
any other Californian save, perhaps, John
Muir, and his is the most distinctiyely
poetic spirit we have on the coast to-day.
His range is far wider than that of Joaquin
Miller He has fully Ina Coolbrith's Won
derful sense OF rhythm and fine ear for the
most delicate cadences of the language,
and all the vivid imaginative power that
charscteriZes the work of Emma Frances
Dawson.
There arc several reasons why Professor
Markham should be comparatively little
known on this coast. He is by nature and
by the habit of lifetime a recluse What
Lowell said of himself is pre-eminently
true OF Charles Edward Markham He is
bookman. Those who know him ever
so slightly would find it impossible to dis
associate him from the literary atmo-
sphere in which he constantly dwells. In
his bachelor eyre in the hills back of East
Oakland he has one of the largest and best
private libraries in the State, and here,
when school hours are over, he is sure to
be found. he is one of the most genial
and friendly of human beings, with a
heart overlooking with love for his fellows
when his fellows seek him out-but the
eompanlonship he himself seeks lies be-
tween the covers of books. He has. more
over, published very little on this coast
and his work is by no means distinctively
Californian. Born on this coast, never
having left 10 but once, and then but for
few weeks, there is vet. singularly, little
local Goloring in Professor Markham's
WorE. Like the man, it is universal rather
tdan local. In the near future volume of
his verse will be issued in New York by
the Scribners, and it is probable that the
book will occasion more than 8 passing
surprise on this coast.
Professor Markham's personality is
quite as marked and interesting as is his
work. Born in Oregon he came, when
little more than a baby, to California with
was sheepherder on the hills of SoIano
County. At 10 he had sole charge of a
band OF cattle and was his rlather's ranch
superintendent and man of affairs. School
days he had none, save few weeks one
winter, but he had always q grammar or
an arithmetic at his saddle-hOrn and these
he mastered while riding alter his cattle
When II or Is he came in possession of the
1irst book he ever read, except the before
mentioned grammar and arithmetic. This
was worn copy OF Byron, and it opened
up new world to the lonely lad. Some
times, for a week at time, he saw no
human face but he and Byron traversed
earned some money of his own, and sent
70 San Francisco for three books. These
were Bryant's and Moore's poems and
Webster's dictionary. An editor friend
from over the divide sent him an occa-
sional magazine, and he had already begun
TO WOO the poetic muse, though rarely, as
be says, catching more than passing
glimpse of her fleet feet twinking over the
distant hills
These books, and no other comrades
save his cattle, made up his life until he
was nearly 20 years old. Then his
mother sold the ranch and, set free for the
first time since his fifth birthday. the
young man next day started for San Fran
cisco and entered school At % he en-
tered college, and teaching and studying
acquired the education for which he hun
gered and thirsted. Then he learned the
blacksmith's trade and, hamme1ing at his
forge, hammered ont also in his busy
brain verse that Scribner's, the Century
and other Eastern magazines gladly pub
lished.
A few years of blaeksmithing satisfied
him that he could learn his bread by the
sweat OF his brow" which was What he
wanted to know, and then he resumed
teaching, which has ever since been his
serious work. He has been County Super
south, but is now principal of Tompkins
School, the training and model school for
the University OF California.
Professor Markham has published some
prose, but his verse forms the foundation
for his literary reputation, and in this line
he has done some very remarkable work.
He is twofold genius. Living with. low
ing and interpreting Nature as no other
Californian poet has ever done, he is as
well part of the humanities. Heisawake
to every aspect of human experience and |
his work is full of that characteristic. vital |
quality which, for lack of better word
we must call life. Take this bit which he |
vivid impression of the Joy OF earth and of |
Lie, TO be seen and felt in ths open hills |
and fields:
a host of poppies fight of swRl avs:
furry of rain, and wind that follows
shepherds the leaves in the sheltered hollowa
For the forest Is shaken and thnned.
Over my head are the frs for rafter;
The crows blow south and my hes goA, after.
Kiss my hands TO the world with la1gher-
Is IL Aidenn or mystical Ind? II
Oh, the whrl Of the fields in the windy Weather,
how how the barley breaks and blows togetheri
Oh, glad is the free bird afioat on the heather
On, the whole world Is glad Of the wind
=, he voices, too, the piteous human wall |
tnat is under all our seeing and doirg and, |
as ne often does, takes his text from the |
THE LAST FURRoW.
ATS spirit OF earth, with still restoring hand.
~, ~ rum moves, in glimmering chasm gropes
Anq nlosses marltei and the bright flower oues:
<a-9 1 DeaLn the Plownan wanders In ali lands
A nv " 1le las OF earth his furrow stands
1nS crave is never hidden; fearful homes
oaoW Ihe DEAD upon the fading stones
AHo Shere wiz memories meet upon the sards
Wnen WILLOWS Hing their banners 70 the nlain
When rumor of winds and sound Of annddan
Ilfsturh ,l,a drsa - "a -,
D lSt tne cream or winter-all in vain
Inc grasses hurry to the graves tte foser.
Toss their wild torches on their windy tru,srs.
yet are the bleak graves lonely in the rain.
There is something at once excesdine1v
daring and singularly appropriate Ia that
conception of flowers, tossing their wild wild
torches on their windy towers PROBES
sor Markham has a power to bring before
our eyes whole landscape in a couplet- /
to show us the meaning of a life in . single
line, as when he says, in Work and
Wages:
Every attainment is only camp for the night.
The poet has been fairly prolific writer.
bis forthcoming volume of verse is by no I
means thin one. He has been, perhaps.
more hlndered than helped in his work
however, by certain fnical habit Of mind