The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-10
POEMS BY A CALIFORNIAN

THE SHOW LION-Py Cora E. Chase. "The
Artistic Life" Publishing company, For sale at
Doxey's Bookstore, Palace Hotel, City.
This new addition to the literature of Cali
fornia production, though small in size, is
worthy of special note. 1t is little book of
dramatic poems. readings and sketches,
printed and illustrated in q novel and very
pretty style. The poems are of unusual
beauty, and the strength of the passionate
emotions expressed by them will be sure to
send sympathetic thrill through all who
read them with the attention they merit.
They are all short and adapted for Rotations.
All who have fine gifts of elocution will find
in the use of these verses and sketches ample
scope for the exercise of all the resources of
their skill.
A new work OF this kind is much needed. for
the old gems of our language adapted to
ROTATIONS have been repeated SO often that
their exquisite beauty, however well rendered
by an adept in the art of elocution, is apt to
have its spell broken by the wearisome tier
alton. The poem that gives its title to the
book, "The Show Lion" is alive with the
strength and grace BETTING the description of
the royal beast in his tragic fight for freedom.
The short sketch. ITO Picture OF Sarah Bern
hardt Sleeping" commencing "a yellow
tigress stretched in slender strength" is fine
piece of art in its picturing to The minds eye
in very few lines the subtle charms of the
famous actress. ''The Nuns Rose" makes us
understand how passionately young and
loving woman's heart must beat against the
vows that are as prison bars. One OF the best
is Courage" which with forceful breyity
calls to mind the march of Napoleon's army
against Moscow, the burning of the city by
the Russians, and using that as moral, closes
with this condensed sermon:
Hast thou that courage, canst thou look within
ho Y udO nf fhyySa1 aroh 0nft a 10 q r
desire,
And ere it take thy soul a captivs thing,
Stay. burn destroy, and purify with fire?
Then thou art Alexander. EmpeIor-fing hard
the gauntlet in The face of Fate
Fate cannot harm thee IL thou darest so much
To burn thy city ere the foeman take.
Here is a fine sample of the authors work:
WHAT THE ROSE TOLD
Yes, Nature loves the truth,
She blazons forth the truth on every hand.
The only woman meath the vaulted skies,
Who has no secrets hid and tells no lies
Woman whose vows are "wr.t in sand,"
Loves not the truth.
Irassed my hated rival near her home;
He smiled passing. gay and debonar;
Upon his coat he wore yellow rose.
Its silken petals crushed
" Who placed 1t there" Who knows?
But she sat lonely, waiting my return;
Her eyes were fastened gravely on her book,
Until raised the pretty, dimpled chin.
And in the shy, soft eyes looked deep within
Isought Tor guilty look, out found love in its
place
Z" asst thou been all alone?" murmured low,
.' No Que to Tighten time with chat or song?"
And speaking SO, caressed the pink-tipped ear:
She answered. "None; waited for you, dear,
And oh, the time with you away was long!
Alone, time goes so slow"
'Tis only good Dame Nature loves the truth,
And even she may palter with the sun
only know. within her hair that day,
A shining yellow roseleaf lightly lay
And on the polished STAIR another one,
And by the outer, oaken door, famed by its
closing,
There were Just three more;
Five petals all in all,
And yet, who knows?
Why, any man might wear a yellow roseI