The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-14
A Sketch.

A paper that Is the outgrowth OF the
thought and brain Of Scranton women
would hardly be complete without some
mention of stella of Lackawanna -
Mrs. II. G. Watres-who wrote lovingly,
In musical rhythm, of Lackawanna's
hills and valleys, birds, brooks ana
flowers long before this era OF literary
women She was member of no ut
erary club" society" Ur 'circle'-it Is
impossible to imagine her in such at
lnosphere--but she did belong to that
timer guild Of poets Of whom she says
He sings because the song Is In him,
AS birds in the new woods OF May.
She sang because she could not help 1t,
and her poems are SO part Of herself
that 1t is well-nigh impossible to separ-
ate them. All through them. her vary
ing moods and lenses have so found ex-
preston that If one attempt to interpret
the poem he must, perforce, interpret
the poet.
Mrs. Watres was not q poet on state
occasions-on full-dress parade-but In
her inmOst fiber and always. Things
here and there and all around her she
touched lightly with her graceful pen,
beautifying as we'll as teaching many a
profound lesson.
Most Of her poems have been issued
In book form bearing the characteristic
title, "Cobwebs." which ought to be u
precious heritage to dwellers In the
"City of Anthracite" Of which she
wrote:-
Whichever gate you enter
From the day-glare, broad and white,
You will say tits wondrous city
Our city Of Anthracite:
And the people-the patient people
Begrimed with incense-smoke
From its many-altared temples.
Are curious, canny FOLK.
Though most of the poems in this edi-
tion are lyrics there are some that have
the ring of the genuine patriot and 9TH
ers that breathe the tenderest compass
sion for the heroes who fell on the field
Of battle during the civil war, and for
1.-The bleeding hearts at home." In me-
mory of these latter, few more pathetic
lines have been penned than are found
in the four verses-"Send Them Home
Tenderly"-
Send them home tenderly,
Poor, breathless clay,
Yet what brave hopefulneSS
Bore them away!
Hand to hand, clingingly,
Linked In sweet trust:
Tenderly-tenderly
Bear home their dust.
aaS.dM The same gentle heart that SO sadly
VIII they miss me-miss me
Anywhere?
would not be likely to forget that sad
dest of all sad fates, the filling an I'm
known" grave. For such unfortunate
ones she calls upon the
--feet-wnged birds
That lightly to and fro are springing
To linger around
The nameless mound.
And flood the air with songful ringing.
How like her to care for the uncared
for.
Many of 'Stella's" lyrics are in the
minor key, for life to her was no cloud
less summer day while suffering, baf-
fed humanity jostled her on every side.
There Is hunger on the faces
That we meet.
Hopeless hunger on the faces
On the street.
Is 1t poverty, or struggle,
Or defeat.
All this hunger in the faces
On the street?
So she looked at humanity-through
tear-dimmed eyes-and 1t was no senti-
mental gush; 1t worked itself out in
quiet deeds Of self-denying service and
giving
Loving the loveless and lonely.
Binding the bruises Of scOrn,
Feeding the famished and weary,
'Flinging the mantle Ger wrong"
One wrote thus Of her, who must have
known her by heart.
The imposition Mrs. Watres suffered
at the hands Of conscienceless tramps
and beggars often made her the Jest of
less tender-hearted friends. There
comes to mind an incident that illus
trates two sides Of her character. A
wicked looking wretch left her door well
laden with food and clothing" How
could you" said friend, "how could
you be imposed upon by one carrying
such face as that?" Imposed upon!
not in the least. That's the most hon.
est creature I've seen for a long time
for ne has. "villain,' written all over
him and he made no effort at all to con-
ceal or mitigate 1t. He's thoroughly
honest" Then, in an instant. her sweet
expression saddened, and there came
Into her voice that pleading tone we
knew so well. "Ah! we do hot know
we cannot tell how hard his way may
have been. We cannot tell how. brave.
ly he may have fought and how often
defeated before he gave UP the strug.
gle. can't turn such away. Life IL
90 hard, 30 hard for the unfortunate. .
Though you felt there were few flaws ir
her logic and that it was . shookingly