The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-08
THE TIMEs-RrCHMOND va SUNDAY. DECEMBER s 1895:

And as rich to behold as the rose that
grows
with its red heart bent to the tide of
the Rhine
Now. do you think any presidential
bridegroom would want "A poem more
dignifed more beautiful and more APP
propriate than those lines? Miller could
do as well as this every time.
ALLISON AND ALDRIcH
II have always understood that ALI
son likes Thomas Bailey Aldrich. / do
not state this by my own knowledge, but
| have heard he did. do not see why he
should not Each has the same diplo-
macy, each the same smoothness. each
the same softness.
Allison would want poems done upon
the milder subjects and in the mildcr
veins His vacation might be sung-his
amusements, vacation time for the coun-
try. holiday trips. etc.
Suppose the President were TO go
away. The country. always interested in
his summer recuperation, looks for tele-
graphod notes regarding It. Would not
poetic intelligence be even more thank
fully received? Allison loves the sea-
shore. Could not Aldrich write some
thing like his verses:
Lying by the summer sea
| had a dream Of Italy.
Chalky cliffs and miles of sand.
Messy reefs and salty caves
Then the sparkling emerald waves
Faded. and i seemed 10 stand
Myself languid Florentne
In the heart of that fair land
"Or suppose, at the time of European
oil ha
away, the President should take little
tour inland, could not a few lines de-
voted to his love OF his own climate ana
country be penned by Aldrch:
Tho I am native to this frozen zone
Which half the twelvemonth torpied lies
or dead
"And so on TO glorify the beauties of
his native land. II is not TO be expected
that such lines would influence foreign
travel. but they could not be without
some effect in bringing about home ap-
probation.
CARLETON FOR MKINLEY.
Mckinley, | believe. likes the rougher
farm style OF poem, as being light to
comprehend and reading ITSELF as he
says. He, have il on good authority
likes VIII Carleton.
Draw up yur papers, lawyer.
And make EN- good and stout;
For things at home are crossways,
And Betsey and are out
"Or,
Some men were born FOR great things,
Some men were born for small,
Some 10 is not recorded
Why they were born az all
This is not great poetry. but 1t slips
easily on the tongue il is the KIND OF
poetry that more men than Mckinley
like TO read, as the popularity OF Car.e-
toms ballads demonstrate.
BENJAMIN Harrison. IN Indianapolis,
likes. as he should like, certain In
dianapolis poet-James Mhitcomb Riley.
one little poem of Riley's, according to
a very authentic gentleman who dimes
frequently with Harrison, fascinatcs him.
II Riley were the laureate this poem, or
one lic Il. might be welcome Memorial
Day. when tears are too plentiful:
HARRISON READS RILEY.
" 7 was for tnion-you aBin II.
Pears like 10 me each side was winner.
Lookin at now. and all that's in 1t,
Let's 80 10 dinner.
The war. you know. 8 all done and
ended,
An ainl changed no plnts o compass.
Both North and South the health's just
splendid,
As fore the rumpus.'
There's genial spirit about that
which warns the heart OF Harrison.
Riley stands a good chance of being
Laureate under such conditions. IL
might be thought that he could not
touch upon all required points, but those
who know HIS muse say he could. This
verse upon Congress is facetious one,
but it shows what he might do with the
knowledge of the wants OF veterans 50
close to his tongue.
at ben down to the Capital at Wash
ington, -. c.,
Where Congress meets and passes on
what pensions ort 10 be.
Allowed 10 Old one-legged chaps like me,
at since the war
Don't wear their pants I'm pairs at all
and yet how proud we are
"Riley can poctize upon anything.
There are other poets and other presi-
Dental possibilities l have mentioned
these few as illustrative Of the poet
laureate idea as 1 have heard IL discuss
ed You see il would be possible right
out Of native material.
Never mind the folks that croak about
all the poets being dead. There are alive
as good as ever we had. and when the
time comes for an American laureate we
shall have one.
How will he be dressed? Oh, very
like our Supreme Court judges, | should
say with laurel upon his brow for state
occasions and a roll Of poetry I'm his
laureate hand JAMES BARTON.
Epcottroe 40 l0p,a En|arnr;ea