The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-01
POET Of THE SOUTHLAND.
MAURICE THOMPSON As PORTRAY
ED BY HIS BROTHER.
Debating Club Of the University
of WaxhinKton-Will III. Thomp-
son Gives . Rare Literary Treat.

The Stevens Debating Club of the Uni
versity of Washington and its friends en-
joyed a literary treat at its first public
meeting in Plymouth Congregational
church last evening. The programme con-
sisted of three musical numbers, cornet
solo by Glen Trout and vocal numbers by
Miss Violet Abrams and Mr.. Charles W.
Saunders. Miss Abrams sang Because
l Love You. Dear" and as an encore,
I've something Nice To Tell YOU Mr..
Saunders sang What the Chimney Sang
words by Bret Harte and music by Girls
void.
Frank W. Smith, president Of the club.
then introduced the speaker of the even
ing. Hon. win H. Thompson. who gave a
most interesting lecture on the writings OF
his brother He referred to the delicate
task before him. and said he should en-
deavor to let Maurice Thompson talk for
himself through his writings many of
which he had with him. He described the
poet as slender. above medium height,
past 80 years of age. dark brown hair, now
being sllvered by many winters. and with
dark brown eyes. He is an emotional,
quick, alert man. Reared in the South.
he is a typical product of that southland.
In his early boyhood, when barely Of age
Georgia's call TO fight for four long years
in the Southern army. Some might think
he would be soured by defeat. but moth
ing is farther from the truth. Every
American boy should be proud to know
that this boy of the South, after follow
ing the banner OF his native state to the
final defeat, and returning to find his home
blackened ruin. and his father and
mother sitting desolate in Sherman's aw-
hat afyin iSrV,
crushed from his heart. To show the ar
dent patriotism that thrilled this young
soldier the speaker read from the poem
Lincoln's Grave" which was the COM
memoraton ode delivered at Harvard uni
yersity In 1893
From the white waves of the Atiantlc's
shores to Balboa's seas, however loyal
he may be, no man has uttered grander
sentiments OF Lincoln than are hidden in
this little volume"
The twenty seventh stanza gives good
idea OF his poem, and is as follows:
en-, every bullet shock went to his heart
And every orphans cry that followed II.
In every slaves wild hope he bore a part,
With every masters pang his face was
lit;
But yet, unfaltering. to keep the faith.
Trusted the inner light and drove right on
Straight toward his golden purpose. shin
ing high
Beyond the field OF death.
BEYOND the trumpets and the gonfalon,
Beyond the war-clouds and the blackened
sky"
These are the words Of one who fought
Tor the South singing of martyred Lin
coin, a voice from the land of magnolias
and orange blossoms. II our country
ever needs the strong arms Of sons TO de-
fend her, as seems to be threatening to
be the case soon, she will find the men of
the South rs ready to respond TO the call
as are those Of the North. and in that
day both armies will fight under the one
precious banner now SO dear to every
American heart"
The speaker then gave a sketch
OF the various writings. saying the author
had pastured In every field, science his
tory. fiction and poetry and In all his
writings there il not one word that would
bring a blush to the cheek of the most
innocent maid in the land. In his boy
hood he wrote some humorous sketches
which appeared in the New York Tribune
and were afterwards collected into a vol
ume called "Hoosier Mosaics" One au-
thor spoke of these sketches as some
thing new from young vsndal from over
the mountains"
In his youth Maurice Thompson had
taken up the study Of archery. ancient
and modern, and became an expert arch
half scientific and half romance called
THE Wltchery OF Archery" Then fol-
lowed series of novels and sylvan
sketches in which were mingled the re-
suits of the authors studies Of nature
For four years he was state geologst OF
Indiana and in these scientific reports
appear unusual traits Of literary taste
and style. He wrote the history OF the
state Of louisiana and later book
called Boys Book Of Sports" containing
Loco pages on this subject. He is now
the literary editor OF the New York In
depende,t and does much literary work
for the Chautauquan and other publica-
tons
a number of lesser poems were referred
to. as "Ho. for the Kankakee," 1.-THE AS
sauIt," n description OF "a humming bird
and an Episode Of War" telling OF the
heroism Of a slender boy who carried the
colors caused a rally and saved the day
when the soldiers thought him only a
scared lad who would run away at the
first voiley.
The lecturer then spoke OF his close boy
hood associations with the older brother.
and recited one OF his own poems. review
ing in a pathetic way the story Of their
lives. Pulling Together Against the