The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-10-21

as, for instance. in 1.-THE Onward Trail" I'm
memory of Myron Reed. to whom. by the
way. the book is dedicated. The last stanza
reads:
So. never parting word nor cry
We feel, with him, that by and by
Our onward trails will meet and then
Merge and be ever one again.
And this. in THE Sermon of the Rose"
Whate'er befalls us is divinely meant
Thou Truth, the clearer for thy mystery,
Make to meet what is or Is TO be
With fervid welcome, knowing ii Is sent
To serve us in some way full excellent,
Though we discern it all beiatedly.
That beautiful poem. 1.-The Enduring"
expresses the same faith In another way
a faith ripened by the stress of life into
something stronger than the mere natural
tendency Of youth to believe that the future
contains all things good. Read the last
stanza:
So. older-older-older, year by year,
The boy has grown. that now, an old man
here,
He seems part of Allegory. where
He stands before Life as the old print
there
Hid by the door that bars Futurity:
Though, ever clearer than with eyes of
youth,
He reads with his old eyes-and tears.
forsooth-
'Wouldst have a friend? Wouldst know
what friend is best?
Have God thy friend: He passeth all the
rest"
'The Christ and "At Sea" are also ex-
pressive of a reverent spirit.
These verses are not quoted for their
especial poetic merit. but merely as illus
trative Of the authors distinctive qualities
-cheerfulness and a happy faith in God
and man. There are other poems
of varied theme, showing other character
istics-verses. some of them, more poetic.
more imaginative. more strictly literary
In quality perhaps, but none teaching a
less wholesome philosophy.
The volume is made mostly up Of the
poems published in various periodicals
within the past two years, though there
are few older favorites never before in
cluded in any collection. Several in the
former class were first given to the public
through the columns of the Journal,
among them 1.-THE Home Voyage" writ
ten in memory of General Lawton; 1.-The
Onward TRAIL in memory of Myron Reed;
1.-THE Noblest Service" zone with a Song
| and "At Crown Hill" Besides these are
1.-THE Name of Old Glory" the poem the
author is so frequently called on to reclte
at soldiers gatherings; several Christmas
poems, "a Song of the Road" 1.-THE Ser
| mon of the Rose" 1.-THE Loving Cup the
| tender memorial to Oscar McCulloch, two
| or three songs in Irish dialect, a Peace
| Hymn what the Wind Said." From
| Delphi to Camden" 1.-THE Old Guitar
| 1.-THE Bed" a poem which appears as a
contribution to an October magazine;
1.-THE Smitten Purist," absurd verses mar
| rating the difficulty of an afflicted purist
| in finding a rhyme for Smith," the weird
Idiot" and the rollicking "Short'nin'
| Bread Song''-these are a part of the book 5
| contents 1t is impossible for an admirer
| Of Mr.. Rileys verse to say he will take
| this or that volume of the poets works
and be satisfied. Each remaining volume
| contains some productions which cannot
be spared. 1t is so with Home Folks" In
| it poems which voice the mellowed
| philosophy and show broadened outlook OF
| the authors maturer years and touch the
] readers closest sympathies. But with this
| broadening he does not pass beyond the
| audience which knew and loved him first
1t is even more true of him than of the
brother poet of whom he wrote that
| The universal heart leans listening to his
lay.
| OF him, too, it may be said:
| Ours every rapturous tone
1 or every song of glee,
Because his voice makes native choice
| OF natures harmony
4 So that his singing seems our own,
l And his ECSTASY