The Oskaloosa herald., 1903-08-13
LITERARY IOWA.


year. ...
LITERARY IOWA.
AS Iowa is to the nation, so Oska-
loosa is to the state. While d. B.
Lyons is not exactly an Oskaloosa
boy, he married an Oskaloosa girl,
and the power behind the throne is
often more potent than the king him
self. But whencesoever the energy,
the Herald takes pleasure in congrat-
ulating Mr.. Lyons on his aggressive
ness in the good roads movement in
Iowa, and especially upon the unqual-
ified success Of the first number of
the new magazine, Ways and
Means" of which he is editor. The
need of improved highways in the
state is too patent to permit of argu-
ment, and the only question possible
is the best method Of securing the de-
sired-and practically imperative
end. This best way will no doubt be
brought and developed through the
discussions in Ways and Means" I"
and future generations will revere
Mr.. Lyons and his associates for the
unbounded wealth and pleasure their
efforts will win for posterity. Ways
and Means will be the official organ
of the Iowa Good Roads Association
and win be published monthly at
Des Moines.' The first number starts
off with an excellent article from
President Roosevelt, written espe-
cially for the magazine and couched
in his energetic and forceful phrases.
All advocates Of better roads shouri
enroll their names with the associa.
ton and by all means should have
Ways and Means on their library ta-
BILE. 1t is resonant with true Iowa
push and it's possibilities for good are
not to be measured.
The Ottumwa Independent has
been discontinued. The issue which
closes the career Of that journal was
edited by Miss Edith Evans daughter
of the deceased editor, 8. B. Evans,
and is devoted to the life Of her faith
er and extracts from his voluminous
writings. In her valedictory Miss
Evans says:
This is the last issue of the Inde-
pendent. To its patrons and friends,
it bids farewell. The main staff has
retired from the field Oh journalism
and with him the personality of a
man who gave to his readers his best
thoughts. For four years it has en-
gagged his services and attention.
1t was his last work. To those who
have encouraged and supported him,
his assistant returns thanks for their
friendship"
In addition to his able work on the
Independent Mr.. Evans was for years
connected with the Ottumwa Demo
crat and other newspapers. He was
a graceful writer and occasionally
dipped into poetry. The following
lines on the death of son are touch
ing and are fair example Of his ven
lures in verse:
ooh, Absolom, Ny Son! Ny Son!
1t is the old, old, cry;
Oh, Absolom, Ny Son!
Thus I become King DaVid's fellow
+ mourner, e.
And he to me from this time hence
rr. forth .-
Is no more the fierce war chief Of
/. +. Israel, -. .... ..
Nor yet the Jewish prince,
But the bowed-down father;
Whose heart, like mine, was pulled
toward the grave,
BY the fingers Of a son.
But mine, he was innocent!
And my grief is more tender
Than that Of Judah's Lord.
My son was pure, holy sweet,
His hair was golden and his eyes
were brown;
His Iips-they tasted naught, save
that
Which came from his mothers heart,
And ere he died, she pressed him to
her breast,
And begged the boon-to give him
once more, life! -
1 prayed then to all the mothers
knew in heaven, .
To take my boy and give him tender
care;
To her whose Son had died on Cal
vary,
Mother of all babes-orphans in the
skies
o, keep him, until we shall come"
One does not have to go out or
n-A ~. -.