The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-07-11

Theater for one evening, including the excellent company who were then play ing there. Captain Jack Crawford, the Poet Scout, who happened to be in the city at the time, was importuned to write a poem for the occasion, and while he was given only twenty-four hours in which to produce the poem, he went to his rooms at the hotel, and in an incredible short time wrote the verses which have been the theme at many campfire of the G. A. R. On the night of the play Colonel Kinne of Lincoln Post announced that Captain Jack would read a poem, which caused flutter of approval through the vast audience. T. w. Keene, the tragedian, who was in the cast that evening, held Jacks manuscript and actually pushed him before the curtain. Jack, with voice trembling with fear and emotion, stood before the grandest audience that ever sat in the Baldwin, while in the front orchestra seats sat the Blue and the Gray in uniform, above them hang ing silk banner of blue and Gray, and intertwined with the Stars and Stripes, on which was inscribed: "The Blue and the Gray under one Flag" Jack was dressed in hisfield buckskin suit. and looking all over the great mass of humanity in the galleries and below, his eyes resting on the Blue and the Gray, he began: My Comrades in Blue, my Brothers in Gray: Your com- mittee waited upon me yesterday and requested me to write something Wor- thy of this occasion. I submit the fol- lowing impromptu verses in Fraternity Charity and Loyalty: Dear comrades and friends in the
 golden land,
 You may say I'm rough, you may call
 me wild,
 But I've got heart and willing hand To feel and work for a soldiers child Do you think I ask on which side he
 fought?
 If man and soldier his record was good; For though our Union was dearly bought,
 All, hatred is buried with Hooker and Hood.
 And comrades I'll tell you right here to-
 night,
 The men most bitter against the Gray Are those who never were seen in a
 fight,
 But who always got sick on fighting
 day. With soldiers, my friends, it is not SO. 1 They respect each other the Gray and
 the Blue; Nor are they ashamed that the world
 shall know
 How they stood by their colors brave men and true.
 ''Was Jackson ashamed when he knelt to pray
 For the cause which be thought before Heaven was just,
 While marching his half-starved boys in Gray
 On an ear of corn and a single crust? l Was Lee ashamed when he rendered his sword
 To Grant, who refused the warriors steel?
 Who said, Your horses shall be re- stored,
 For braver never wore spurs to his heel.'
 Oh! generous hearts, in the Golden State
 You are forging the links of a golden chain, That cables one end at the Golden Gate, l That will circle the states in the Gulf swept main,
 A chain that binds us, the Blue and the | Gray,
 In union of purpose the gods will ap- prove,
 In love that grows strong in adversity's day,
 And hearts that will stand by the flag | that we love.
 "The past--it is dead! But we cannot
 forget it.
 And, comrades, we wouldn't forget if we could;
 As for myself, shall never regret it, | This poor little service I render for Hood | His loved ones will not be distressed
 nor discarded, | And tonight l am proud of share in
 the stock,
 And shall feel, as a soldier I'm fully re- | warded
 By one little prayer from his innocent l flock
 "One little prayer from the loved ones l we foster,
 His latest bequest to his comrades in peace, As the pale hand of death wrote his | name on the roster,
 And the angel on guard gave his spirit | release.
 Oh, comrades, let charity's mantle en- 1 fold them; | Old Abe had no malice, no hate in his | soul: l On the ramparts above may we hope to | behold them,
 While Washington musters each name on the roll" c. K. CADWELL.
 Pessimistic View-She-T see that a man in Kansas owns geranium twelve | feet high.