The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-27
AROUND CAMP FIRE.
How Gen. Hugh Cameron Celebrated
Christmas.


To the Editor of the State Journal:
The Kansas Hermit Illuminated Camp
Ben Harrison Christmas eve with such
campfire would GLADDEN. the heart
of the old soldier and delight the young
person who has heard of the wonderful
fires around which his father sat in COM
pany with the jovial comrades of 81 and
49, The genial host spared no effort to
make the illumination entirely successful
Although his wounded foot has been ex-
for days dragging the heavy logs to his
camp
The curious visitor is always more i'm
pressed by the Hermit's external sur
rcundings than by the real value of his
ideas. He sees in them nothing but mat
tiers for criticism and sport because he
will give neither the time nor the
thought to look beneath the surface.
1t was IN answer TO remarks he had
heard expressed by careless onlookers
that Gen. Cameron closed the Christmas
illumination with the following words.
You think it is a strange big D
To have a girl uproot the tree
That grew between the Bluff and Dam,
Planted before the birth of Sam,
And eight score years fore Bowersock
Made his dam strong with piles of rock.
The Hermit's purpose was to see
If any living girl was free
From Mother Grundy's tyranny
(That rules the University
III us ROCK. NSfdiA. QlVGTSlIN)-
Who would on independence day
Majestic womanhood display;
And on the Bluff the flag unfurl
And there be crowned THE Kansas GIRL
With courage to ignore false pride
Though maSculinity deride.
Till its close standing ranks divide,
And all the foolish virgins chide
With empty lamp, Propriety.
The full lamp, Notoriety-
This girl plucked up the great elm tree
AS type of masculinity,
ind voting trust monopoly,
Allied with asininity
To debaSe all virginity
And to promote disunity
This great elm tree, this strong elm tree
This type of masculinity-
/ And voting trust monopoly
That upholds inebriety
And every form of infamy,
This girl plucked up-whereby you see
What in the future is to be
The fate of masculinity
And voting trust monopoly,
When all the girls combine, agree
To crown their queen virginity
And dcbased motherhood restore;
Then Blue Boards rule shall be more
The girl that plucked this great elm tree
Said to the Hermit. II am free.
| 'Cording to the Declaration.
Magma Eharta of this nation,
My father must have been born free;
John Brown and Phillips and Pardee)
The rule that made great Kansas free,
And rules of free heredity,
Mother and I were born so, too
These rules are the reverse of view,
Endorsed by Father Abraham,
BY Moses and by Miriam,
By Jesus and by Uncle Sam"
The Hermit said, "Oh, yes, see
To fight for liberty you're free.
| The flag that floats on younder tree
Makes maids and mothers wholly free.
The bird-ensign of liberty
| That scars aIoft 'bove flag and tree,
Suggests completes equality.
It's plain if all men are born free,
Mothers and maidens. too, must be.
But serpent fashion and false pride,
| Tho men with women do abide,
Have to the petticoats denied
The great inherent right to guide
The omnibus in which all ride;
The inherent right to hold rein
That reckless driving could restrain
G..