The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-03
THEMES FOR THE POETS.

What has become Of the poets? Did they
exhaust themselves on their first efforts
born of the war, or why this remarkable
silence since the events about Guantanamo
in the past two or three weeks? The blow
ing up of the Maine served as inspiration to
all the verse writers in the country, and if
any of them failed to get their productions
into print it was not for lack of trying. The
same was true after Deweys victory. Hob
sons achievement brought out somewhat
diminished crop of rhymes, but since then,
though many thrilling things have hap
pened, the poets have not been heard from.
Why is it? There was the brave conduct of
the six hundred marines in repelling an I'M
expected attack from ambushed Spaniards.
Half of them were in the water, but, with
out waiting for clothing. they seized their
guns, and, naked as they were born, fol-
lowed their comrades over rough and rocky
paths and through thorny thickets, bruising
feet and tearing tender flesh but forgetting
everything until the enemy was put to
flight. 1t is an incident that should live in
song and story. but the writer's who have
heretofore shown the hair-trigger quality
have not yet recognized it's force. There
were examples of individual heroisn. Some
of the marines were killed. One of them,
shot in the breast, cried out as his COM
rades would help him: Let me go to my
post, boys!' and spoke no more. A poor Gu
ban negro, who took part in the same en-
counter, called out, as he breathed his last,
the blood flowing from his breast. give
Cuba Libre!'
Where is there a more striking instance of
dashing soldierly courage than the behavior
of General Young's cavalry and the Roose-
welt Rough Riders-all infantry on that day
when they were caught in that narrow
pass and fought for two hours like tigers
and till the enemy was repulsed with great
loss? AS body they are worthy of all
praise, as individuals they were heroes.
What a theme for poet in the act of the
man who dragged wounded comrade be-
hind the tree that had protected himself
from the enemy's sharpshooters, while he
stepped into tt open to meet the fire. The
tree was too small to hide him too
There was the newspaper correspondent
shot through the body who. in the intervals
of commissions, and with death likely to
come at any moment wrote an account of
the fight and gave it to a wounded soldier to
be forwarded to his paper. That was de-
votion to duty as fine as any soldiers deed.
The story of that day has not been half
told, but enough of the truth is known to
thrill a nation, yet the verse writers are not
moved. Perhaps the occasion is growing too
whelm them and prevent coherent express
sion. But the occasion will not become less
and so fall within their powers. On the con-
trary, the tale grows more impressive The
bare outline of it continues to thrill the
multitude of readers who cannot speak their
thoughts in rhyme and high-sounding
phrase, but can only rejoice, with tears just
back Of their rejoicing, that America still
produces heroes-men who are equal to all
emergencies. But instead of tears cheers
will come when they read in this mornings
dispatches of the Twenty-first Infantry,
who with bullets whizzing about them and
death confronting them, sang the Star
spangled Banner with triumph in their
voices.
All. WELL it does not matter what the
poets say. None OF them. perhaps, would be
equal to the occasion. 1t IS enough that the
people of the country comprehend and APP