The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-12
The RHYMES OF IR0NoU1LI,.

to succeed H. Clay Evans of Tennessee?
MT Ware Is. in deed, better known in
minor literary circles than he is to the
ranks OF the Grand Army. Yet he fought
through the civil war, enlistinR in Iowa
and serving in both infantry and cavalry.
He had attained the rank of a captain of
cavalry at the close of the war.
Mr.. Ware is best known as the writer
OF fugitive newspaper verse signed 'Iron-
quill. These little poems were going
the rounds of the newspapers in the '8O's
and '9Os and their author finally gathered
them uo into book called ''Some of the
Rhymes of Ironauill.' which was pub
lished by Crane & Co., at Topeka, Kan.
In 1899 the book had already gone into
its ninth edition.
James Whitcomb Riley early in his ca
reer sig1aled "Ironquill's lone bark with
a poem telling how
Ma she read and read along and cried as
women will,
About 'The Washerwoman's Song In
Rhymes Of Ironquill.''
And then she made me read the thing and
found my specs and all,
And I just leant back there, jing! my chair
against the wall
And read and read and read and read all
to myself ontil
lit the lamp and went to bed with Rhymes
of Ironquill.''
PERHAPS the best idea of Ironquills
muse can be gained by reprinting entire
1.-THE Washerwoman Song which is the
most popular poem (Mr. Ware ever write
It Is often compared to Hoods Song Of
the Shirt It runs as follows:
THE WAsHERWOMAN's SONG. :,
In a very humble cot,
In rather quiet spot,
In the suds and In the soap,
Worked a woman full Of hope;
Working, singing, all alone,
In sort of undertone:
'With the Savior for friend
He will keep me to the end"
Sometimes happening along
I had heard the semisong
And often used to smile
More in sympathy than guilsi
But I never said word
In regard to what I heard,
AS she sang about her friend
Who would keep her to the end.
Not In sorrow nor In glee
Working all day long was she,
AS her children, three or four
Played around her on the floor;
But in monotones the song
She was humming all day 1ong:
with the Savior for friend.
He Will keep me to the end"
It's song do not sing
For scarce believe thing
or the stories that are told
OF the miracles Of old;
But know that her belief
Is the anodyne of grief
And will always be- friend
That will keep her to the end.
Just trif1e lonesome she.
Just as poor as poor can be:
But her spirits always rose
Like the bubbles in her clothes,
And, though widowed and alone,
Cheered her with the monotone,
OF Savior and friend
Who would keep her to the end.
have seen her run and scrub
On the dashboard in the tub
While the baby sopped in suds.
Rolled and tumbled in the duds;
Or was padding in the pools
With old scissors stuck in spools:
She still humming OF her friend
Who would keep her to the end.
Human hopes and human creeds
Have their root in human needs;
And should not wish to strip
From that washerwoman's lip
Any song that she can sing,
Any hope that songs can bring;
For the woman has friend
Who will keep her to the end.
There is also humorous note in many
OF Ironauilps writings. Speaking Of the
Homeopathic Doctor" he asks:
II like cures like
Explain to me, my brother,
How is It doctors
Cannot cure each other?
The Rhymes Of IronQuil1" are in the
Minneapolis public library and will repay
an evening spent with them If one cares
for the so-called minor poets.
AS to what kind Of pension commits
sioner he will make that Is another story
the time for telling which has not ar
rived. On the general principle, how
ever, that good common sense is the best
equipment for public office, there appears
to be no reason to predict failure on
Wares part.
80 y Z