The Portland daily press., 1897-01-23

Him.
In an Uncovered tomb that shows its
rusted iron door but a short distance
from the heavy wall that separates Lau-
rel Hill cemetery from the traffic of Cen
tral avenue lie the remains of Samuel
Wood wor tn, the author of "The Old
Oaken Bucket" says the San Francisco
Examiner.
An historic interest attaches to the
lonely spot. Woodw orth was one Of the
sweetest singers of the early part of the
century, and, though most of his works
| have been long since forgotten. his great
est poem has been sung for over sixty
years by millions throughout the Eng
lish speaking world and Is today as pop
ular as any pastoral song in the Ian
guage. Though his literary efforts
abound with many evidences of genius,
all else fades besides the fame that be-
came his when he penned the recollec-
tlon of the scenes of his childhood.
OF this charming pastoral song, Will
| liam Legett, one of the most distin-
guishel literary critics of Woodwork S
time, has said: sits merits consist in
the graphic accuracy of its description,
the simplicity and nature of its senti-
ments and the melodious flow of its ver-
sification. / appeals to feelings cher
ished in every human bosom, which,
though they may be suppressed fol-
awhile, can never be extinguished; but
are called up anew by such strain S, with
a train of Aweet associations that lap
poem forms around Us, with the delu-
sive power of a dream, a chain of heart
boarded circumstances which can never
be united again except by the witchery
of the poet. or the wand OF fancy, in
those still hours when she exerts full in
fuence over our minds.
The interest which attaches to Wood
worth at this particular time arises from
the proposition to extend Suffer street
through Laurel Hill cemetery. If that
project be carried out the Woodwork
vault will be destroyed. It lies directly
in the path of tho prop osed work, and
would be RACED to the ground by the
Implements of the road builders. The
crumbling bones of the poet would prob
ably be cast upon the hillside, his dust
thrown to the four winds and the house
OF stone that was his last resting place,
demolished and overturned.
The tomb is not magnificent. There
are scores of others at Laurel Hill that
are far more grand. But Woodworth's
tom b is that of one Of the nations poets
"a singer who has given solace to many
NO. haartu and tho aW0lf aimT.l NffV of
whose verse appealed alike to all mar
kind. His was the touch of nature that
makes the whole world kim" Ivy green
now grows above him, forming about his
tomb just such deep tangled wild
wood'' as his "infanoy knew" Masses |
OF the evergreen hang round the rusty
door. Upon the oil d iron fence in front !
are clumps Of the vine, the stalks stick |
inggous here and there in a careless, I'M
trained way that seems to mark an air
IF neglect that ovsrhaDgs the whole
place. Upon the top Of the vault there
arises a parapet of ivy leaves, now hang
ing over the ancient pile, and again re-
most picturesque.
But few people in San Francisco know
the spot; fewer are aware than the re-
mains of the poet lie in this city. Time
was not so many years ago, when 1t was
proposed to.erect in the cemetery or at
Golden Gate park monument OF nronZe
or stone symbolical of "The Old Oaken
Bucket and of him who gave 1t fame.
The Woodwork monument project had
some vogue for while but it finally died
of sinanition. Now it is again suggested
that no more popular addition to the ar
tistic features OF the park could be made
than representation of ''the moss COW
cred bucket that hung in the well. :" The
vicinity Of the children's playground
presents many suitable sitessupon which
the old we'll of the Woodworth planta-
ton could be reproduced in every detail
It could be.Enade useful as we'll as orna-
mental and would be hailed with delight
byEthousands Of children who know the
poem by heart.