The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-28

fort he past fortnight and they more
than ever realize the truth OF that Latin
+ saying: "Poetas nascitur, non fit.' or in
plain English. "A poet is born, not
made"
Scarcely three weeks ago the commits
zion inaugurated an interesting contest
by inviting aspirants for poet laureate
honors TO contribute their illusions In
the form of words adapted 10 some well
known tuneful air. or words and music
original, which should be most appro-
briate for rendition by the assembled
multitude at the Pan-American exposi-
tion one week from Tuesday next. Sep
tember TO- especially set apart as Rhode
Island day. the successful competitor to
be awarded SIS for his soul-stirring
melody.
Outside OF Gov. Gregory and stan, as
well as a Rhode Island regiment and a
host OF citizens from this commonwealth.
there will also be tens of thousands OF
visitors present on that important and
joyous occasion, SO that TO be as Milton
expressed IL:
THE cynosure OF neighboring eyes"
was more than the pecuniary award, an
honor sufficiently high as to evoke earn
est effort and assiduous ambition.
At the outset but few responses were
received to the invitation TO compete but
ually increased. that when the time
limit had expired Monday evening II was
found that there were Us contributions.
Nearly every city, town, district, village
and hamlet had the post office address OF
an aspirsnts on the list for the contest
was confined 10 residents OF the state.
But both sexes and all ages were In evil
dence the youngest effort being that OF a
girl OF IL years, who submitted very
creditable quartet of stanzas.
IL was shortly past the hour OF o'clock,
yesterday afternoon. when the five mem
bers OF the commission assembled I'm
their office in the state house and table
heaped mountain high. soto speak. with
manuscripts confronted them The ar
duous ask did not seem I'm the least dis
concertng for there were humorous, as
we'll as serious phases, discovered in the
course or their duties. No rule had been
made as 20 the size, color or degree Of
cleanliness OF the paper upon which the
verses were 10 be written. Consequently
there we're all kinds. from the dainty col
ored monogram paper that apparently
came from "a lady's escritoire To the
sheets that had evidently been torn from
an account book and from the blank re-
CENTS of business firms TO the letter
heads of manufacturing corporations.
According 10 the system adopted by the
commissioners In judging these songs the
manuscripts were all first numbered and
then distributed two at time. 10 each
member of the commission. m the COM
missioner decided after reading these
over that one or both were Of sufficient
merit 10 deserve further consideration
he made a note 20 that effect The two
songs were then passed 20 the next judge.
and so on. After all the members had
thus read the entire Sc. OF 10 a vote was
taken and those manuscripts which re-
ceivcd a majority OF votes were set aside
ing rejected at once. In this way each
ia ge read the entire l1S songs submit
ted.
After the first reading Il was found
that % had been voted by the majority OF
the Commission to be worthy OF a second
reading, an the same plan was again
carried out. AT the end of the second
reading this number was reduced to 10,
and Al the end of the third only six were
left. After considerable discussion OF the
relative merits of this half-dozen the
commissioners unanimously rejected
three. This left three TO be considered,
and the selection of one of these as the
prize winner proved the most difficult
part of the undertaking.
IL was agreed that amongst the three
there was no choice TO be made upon the
relative merits of the verse, so that IL
was necessary TO consider their relative
adaptability TO the occasion for which
tney were intended. In uolnk tnlS the
judges took under advisement the merits
OF the airs TO which the words were TO be
sung and finally decided after four hours
of careful consideration that the song
submitted by DR.. j. Edmund Brown OF
3H Broad street, this city, best fulhlled
the requirements of the contest. The
title and song are as follows:
HAIL. RHODE IsLANDl
CTune, Austrian Hymn)
l.
Hail. Rhode Island. gem of beauty!
Jeweled on New Englands shore.
Join we now--exalted duty
In thy praise our songs TO pour.
Land of freedom fair plantations,
Born In faith by deeds made free.
Hail, Rhode Island. all We nations.
Land OF peace and liberty!
Q
Hail. Rhode Island now and everi
Land where Roger Williams came
And with firm, sincere endeavor
Worehipped. toled I'm freedoms name.
Land of hope. of art, of treasure,
Temperance. truth and purity,
Here I'm song with striving measure
Pledge we now our lives 20 thee.
g.
Great Creator hope Of nations!
Thou hast always been our guide,
Now we bring our poor oblations.
May we in Thy love abide
MAY the germs OF freedom glorious.
Which i'm this state had their birth.
Far extend, through Thee victorious,
Till they cover all the earth.
or the other two effusions which caused
the commissioners 80 much concern. one
by Henry Winslow Hall of East Provi-
dence Centre, was considered OF such
merit that the commission decided. II Mr..
Hall would consent. 10 have the produc-
tion printed as a poem and further TO
invite the author 20 be the guest OF the
commission az the Pan-American II he
would agree 20 reclte his poem as a
part OF the program for Rhode Island
pav.
The third song which was In the final
contest for the prize is by Rev. Will
lard G. selleck pastor OF the Church Of
the Mediator of this city. Mr.. Selleck's
production is tuned 10 the hymn Corona
ton" and considered worthy Of much
commendation The contributions on the
whole however. are very creditablc 10
their authors. and were written with a
noticeable degree Of care
DIR. Brown and Mr. Hall will be invited