The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-09
CRIMINAL COURT POETS
ALI WAKED UP BY PROSECUTOR
JAMES 4. GORDON'S VERSE

~ WhAhN UT NJ AANSH1SCSS ~
JAMES Il. GORDON'S VERSE
Poet McKennR Produces n Lyric of Civil
Service Reform Prosecutor O'Reilly
Sings of the Harlem Girls and the Ele-
vator Man Contributes Verse on Craps.
The poem on Gen. Joe Wheeler printed in
Sundays Sun among the Poems Worth
Reading woke up the poets OF the Criminal
Court buildins who had been slumberinR dur
ing the summer months. When they saw the
name OF janet Lindsay Gordon printed as
author OF the poem they we're aroused. for Mr..
Gordon is an Assistant District Attorney who
has been attached to Mr.. Gardeners stan since
the LIST Of January last. There was a contro-
versy In the building on the subject OF poetry,
and the Criminal Cour poets Immediately got
to work to show what they could do. Almost
every morning the past week a Criminal Court
poet appeared in the building with a big roll OF
manuscript and told his friends that a few
thoughts had occurred to him and that he had
Just jotted them down on the spur Of the mo-
ment. William j. McKenna, the Chief Clerk Of
the District Attorneys office. ridiculed the
poets who talked OF thoughts jotted Town on
the spur Of the moment"
why" said Mr.. McKenna, 1T 10 all rot for
any one to tell his friends such stories after he
has set up all night rackipg his brains for
words to rhyme. The man who writes poetry
will consume the midnight oil until he Is
chased to his couch by the rays Of the rising
sun. Then he goes around telling his friends
that his productions are a few thoughts which
occurred to him suddenly and which he jotted
down on the spur OF the moment"
what Mr.. McKenna said was correct. They
knew Mr., Mckenna to be one, OF the best poets
written hundreds OF poems for the excursion
programmes printed by the clubs OF the east
side. Now and then he strikes a seriou vein.
When SphOnnl1 tho Grand street baka ar. CANA
home from the war his relatives and friends
were surprised to, see him alive. for he had
been reported dead. He was a Sergeant OF the
Seventy first Regiment and fought In the battle
Of San Juan Hill; The cable reports from Cuba
the battle. 1t was another sergt. schofeld;
The, Grand street man came home, in good
east side. among them being Poet McKcnna.
The poet Immediately got to work and turned
out the following:
sERoT. soHoVIELD OF TIER 71sr.
He kissed his father a fond farewell; to his friends
he babe good-by.
The buele sounded; he took his place In the ranks to
do or die.
When duty calls him he must obey and his c%ountry's
battles fight;
It matters not If a soldiers grave will be his to-mor-
row night.
Mid cheers and tears from his host OF friends to the
battlefield he went.
To fight the foe and defend the flag and to sleep be-
meath the tent.
From time to time did his father hear from his bravo
and noble son.
He read with pride in the public press OF the fame
his boy had won
On Cuban soil, where the shot and shell of the Span
ish soldiers rained
From trench and hill on the heroes bold. but whose
courage never waned.
One morn he read in the public print that his hero
boy was slain!
His eyes were dimmed with q fathers tears and his
heart was rent in twain.
His n%eighbors sought to assuage his grief. but he
simply shook his head.
And went his way with a broken heart, for his
thoughts were of the dead.
Some weeks elapsed, and the papers told OF his SON
alive and we'll!
He scarcely dared to believe the news that his friends
rushed in to tell.
80. God r' he cried. il 1 do not dream-if my eyes
deceive me not
Ny sons alive and I thank Thee, God !"-and then
kneeling on the spot.
He offered up with agrateful heart. to the Throne OF
Grace a prayer,
Returning thanks for the boy preserved through our
Heavenly Fathers care.
The news was true. for the boy survived, and re-
turned with glory crowned.
He soon was pressed to his fathers breast. and his
neighbors gathered round
To cheer the boy that they thought was dead. and to
shake the hero's hand
That struck a blow for the Stars and Stripes when his
country gave command.
strain. Among his friends is one John Nc
IMi Nal Nv who Mo Is &c. e eondGGtor on tie AvenueB
summer by, saving the life Of another east slider.
The Columbia m Club Which is the Tampmany
outing on Aug. 8. The party went to DON
nIelly,s Grove at College Point: Many Of
was one of them. Another was Jacob Roth
stein. Rothstein got beyond his depth and
ance, Mcmahon was the first to reach him
and brought him to a place of safety. Some of
the New f9rk newspapers printed McMah9n's
and was greatly surprised to find that his
friend Rothstein, whom he had rescued. had
passed a civil service examination and had got
II hesitated about rescuing him until I as
certained his nationality" is what Mcmahon
was drowning. When he arose to the surface
once he cried. out that he was far down
Believing that he was from the north OF Ire
land and that he was a Far Downer.' l saved
him. and now he's got the job ! was looking
tor!" This is the way in which Poet McKenna
described
JOHN McMAHoNS HERoBM.
Ye nine fair muses. the poet uses,
Do not refuse us your potent aid;
In truth and candor q task that's grander,
Since Alexander no bard essAyed.
A bold n'e-sAver. than whom none drawer,
Now Graves your favor to sound his fame.
Your help is n aeded. and II. indeed. it
Should be conceded. then great his name.
The mere assertion. that for diversion
A grand excursion sailed up the Sound,
Invites attention TO what I'll mention
It's no invention. A man had drowned
Had not a sailor who on a whaler
Oft brayed the gale or the trouica hotO