The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-18
MANY Spirited Contests Under The AdspiCes Of
Robert Morris Lodge

articulation, pronounciation, direct ad-
dress to the audience and conception.
The adjudication was very lengthy.
Miss Loretta Fahey. 11-year-old
pianist whose home is on the West Side.
gave a selection. She was encored and
delighted her auditors with an old and
familiar Welsh air. The introduction
of this feature was commended.
on the alto solo competition (priZe
SD there was an interesting contest.
The piece was Lovers Sorrow" and
there were three ladies who sought the
prize. They are: Mrs. Mary Jane Bos-
ton-Williams. of the West Side; MISS
Oliven Howell. Of Taylor, and Miss
Fannie Tones, of West Scranton. Miss
Williams was given the prize.
PRIZE POEM COMPETITION.
Hou II. NJ. Edwards was announced
to give his adjudication on the Truths
prize poem contest on the subject THE
Pioneers of Scranton" Ee was ap-
plauded as he stepped to the front of the
stage. Judge Edwards mentioned that
among those whose compositions were
better than the majority of the poems
he had received We're the creations of
Roderick. the Ghost of Capouse, Cam
bria B. 'Orpheus. Jonathan. Himself.
Talieson, No 49, and j. II. The adju-
dcator said in regard to the last two
named.
Z. No. 75-This author has written
spirited poem. He is a master of Ver-
sifcation. Some of his IDEAS may be
considered eXtravagant, but not more
so than is allowed by the recognized
canons of the divine art of poetry.
s. j. R.-This authors production Is
also one of considerable merit. 1t Is
entirely different in style to that OF
No. 75. but I cannot say that it eNcels 1t.
| have had some difficulty in Judging
the comparative merits of these TWO
poems. Reading them alternately more
than a dozen times. my mind Neered
from one to the other. This must be a
condition of reasonable doubt"
therefore give No. 75 and J. u, the
benefit of il. The prize is equally diVid-
ed between them.
The prize poems are:
THE PIONEERS OF SCRANTON.
(By j. R)
! looked upon a valley
Twas mantled with coverlet of leaves.
And from the dim recesses of the wood,
Where vine with thorn and hazel inter-
Arose the sound of savage revelry.
As lurking foe met foe and deviltry
In ruthless and impassioned freedom
STOOD. -
Only the wild four footed beasts would
And dwell with warlike safety in the
vale;
Only the blood-red Indian called a home
This painless forest with its hdeous din.
OF snarling wolves that battled kin with
kin,
And, wounded, chilled the welkin with 4
Again, I looked upon this vale.-
But now the scene is changed from
The years had passed and with them dis
appeared
The Indians tent, the red and restless
The Wild beasts howl, the gloomy for-
est land,
The stealthy footstep. and the antlered
All, all had, gone like sighs by gladncss
And now upon the valleys gentle breast
Repose the dwellings of another race
crest:
And. where the fray was fought now
stands church,
The furnace stack outlines the forest
birch
And Peace and Plenty deck populace.
Scranton; thou City of the I.ghtnings
Flash,
Where Thirst is golden and the engines
clash.
Where Natures bounty slumbers meath
the soil,
And hardy steel is tempered by its toll:
Thou, Stalwart Scion of the Pioneer!
Hast lived a bright and vigorous career.
When Abbott built his hut. the Roaring
Brook
Laughed at his daring, as he undertook
To grind the harvest by its forceful flood
And cause the untried wilderness to bud.
Then TAYLOR came; Howe, slocum, sturdy
Who lent the vigor of youthful FIRE
In furthering the change from wild to
And lacking in conditions. gained in zeal;
These are the men who toiled for things
to be,
And died before the harvest they could
Abbott the slocums, Taylor, Howe,
Names that in fitting record should re-
main
AS long as Scranton. rugged as the ASH
Where Natures bounty slumbers meath
the soil
And hardy steel is tempered by its toll.
THE PIONEERS OF SCRANTON. d"
(No. 75.)
Awake, Q Muse! the tuneful Tyre
Breathe, breathe along each trembling
wire
Imbuee, me now with heavily fire
Uphold me duly-and inspire
To sing our Scranton Pioneers:
Without thy pOw'r to warm my greeting
All mortal breath is void and fleeting-
No words but words inspired are fitting
To praise our Scranton Pioneers!
Where once the primal forest stood
Where once the dusky Indians brood
Injured their hearts to deeds of blood
Our fathers toled each in his rood.
And left with God their hopes and fears !;
Beneath the cotter's rough-hewn rafter
They oft convened for mirth and laugh
ter;
What mirthful crew. that day or after.
Could mate with Scranton's Pioneers?
Though dangers lurled on every hand
BY ford. by field. or rowing band
They sternly STOOD each with a brand,
To guard their homes and native land.
And hoped success might crown the
years:
, And Scranton. like nymph. awaking
Resplendent as a day new breaking,
An everlasting name is making
To all her noble Pioneers.
The offspring of their tolls is drest
Like Dian plumed-and through the west,
North. sOuth-a goddess manifest
She pour her blessings and is blest
The more a blessing she appears;
Amazed, the world stood back with won-
To see her grasp the living thunder,
And link it to a coach of splendor,
To proudly bear her Pioneers!
One father fingers still-a star
That halts 'twixt earth and upper air.
o, bless him-bess him, heavn, and
spare
When angels shall have come to. bear
Him up and upward through the
All hands around. both high and lowly-