The times., 1898-05-12
A se,x Poet

A New Poet.
It is a well known fact that in time
of war, poets spring up with the ease
and grace of dandeIions in Spring. 1t
may be said that sometimes, in the
event of their first appearance before
the world, they supply the ease and
the public supplies the grace. A
poem which. On May 4, appeared
in the Richmond Times-a paper
which declared not long ago that
there was no war spirit in Vlr-
ginia-illustrates this psychological
truth. 1t is evidently the writer's
first work, for If he had ever done any
thing of the kind before, it is incon-
ceiyable that he would have been al
lowed to perpetrate this thing. He
does net attach his name, but signs
himself modestly, ''Virginian." At first
glance one is led to wonder whether it
may not be possible that Mr.. ]. Gordon
Coosler has been moved to Google in
Virginia instead of North Carolina, and
that he was a little ashamed TO give
this out as his work. The name of it
is The War With SPAIN and it be-
gins in this way:
The politicians have commenced war,
The for which the people saw.
Observe the skillfulness with which
the poet makes war rhyme with
saw" In order to preserve the music
OF the stanza, pronounce the former
word ''waw." in the fashion of the
"po' w'ite man" Observe also the pa
triotism expressed in the eouplet, This
is a voice from the Stategin ", v h Fitz
Lee lately received an ovaticn. We di-
rect Gen. Lees attention TO it, more in
sorrow than in anger. Does he under
stand what he has dohe IN going con-
trary to the true sentiment of his ma
tive Virginia?
After recounting the causes which
led, through politicians" to our
present difficulty. the poet exclaims in
an impassioned manner:
Was it accident that sent the Maine?
And accident that blew her parts IN twain?
One conclusion we may safely draw,
Spain would not have given such cause for war.
The meter is here so full of what in
New England are called "thank-ye-
ma'ams' that it is a little hard to
make it move smoothly and still pre-
serve the unites of English pronunci-
alton. We recommend "Virginian" to
take his next flight of genius in
Spanish He will not then be hamper
ed by consideration for the honor of
America. as in the following stanZa:
Certain it is. when Spain was yielding all
Vas not the time 10 let the question fall
Within the power Of politicians.
Considering al of the then conditions.
The last line is especially recon-
mended to the study of the Office cat
of the New York Sun.
"Virginian," after a caustic remark
or two about "plunging this country
into wars expense" goes on to ex-
press his opinion Of Congress:
Surely now this wise lesson we should learn,
That business men should more themselves con
Germ.
And choose to represent them, men their own,
For wisdom and honesty, long well known.s
The pronunciation here, given to the
word honesty suggests some kind of
unconscious cerebration in the direc-
tion of Spanish. The poet concludes
with this burst of inspiration, which
will doubtless be popular among the
boys from Richmond who are drilling
for service under Fitzhugh Lee.
Thrice armed is he who hath his quarrel just,
And weaker he who fights because be must
Thus win the Spaniard have the more TO fight,
Seeing his country to be in the right
During the civil war, the Southern
| troops rallied with never-failing en-
thusiasm to the inspiring strains Of
Maryland, My Maryland" and.in the
bloodiest fight of all, the bluecoats
| charged with desperate courage as
they heard the wild music Of "The I'm
| ion Forever" The Richmond, boys.
marching side by side with Cuban
troops whose fathers. mothers and sis
ters have fallen victims to the-brutal-
| ity of a foe that spared neither women.
| children. nor old men. viii be moved
to deeds Of heroisnn when they recall
| this battle-hymn, written by a native
of their own State 1t is unique. 1t is
| a thing the like of which Virginia has
never seen since the day of that gall
liant band of patriots who shaped the
| destiny Of the thirteen colonies of re.
In view of the meter, rhyme and other
| literary merits of this poem, and the
| probable influence of its sentiments, it
would be interesting to know what the
| Richmond Times. as the discoverer of
virginias new war poet, really thinks
of itself.