Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-14

The flower play festivals In the United
States are Of recent origin, but In Germany,
Italy, Spain and France they are of ancient
date. The flower festivals in France orig
mated In Toulouse many centuries ago. and
the contests were held in that city on the
1st day OF May annually for many years
under the supervision of the Academy de
Jeux Floraux. In Germany, in the city of
Mayence on the Rhine, the flower festivals
date back to the fourteenth century. The
contests were also held in that city on the
LIST OF May, at which time the victorious
poets received the title OF doctor of tine
gave science" and a golden violet and va
rious flowers Of silver.
Louis XIV raised the society OF poets In
France to tho Academy de Jeux F1oraux,
and since that time the contests have been
limited to few and conducted in an ex-
elusive manner; but In Germany the poet
ical festivals have maintained their popular
character to the present.
To the Germania Club for Literature and
History Of Baltimore Is attributed the
honor OF the introduction of the flower
plays In the old German style In the United
States. It Is stated, however. that the
| first movement to elevate German lyric
poetry in the United States by means Of the
flower plays was originally suggested by
the Washington Club for Lyric Poetry.
This idea was first carried out In the con-
tests between the poets Of Washington and
Baltimore, which took place at Turn Hall.
In Baltimore. May l, 1903.
A Contest Arranged.
Six months ago, 1t Is stated, DR.. Ernest
Heinrich, chairman Of the committee on ar
rangements for the flower plays. sent out
through the German press Of the country
circular letter inviting all German
American poets In the United States to
participate in lyric poetry contest for val
liable prizes, to be held in Baltimore April
u of this year. Rules and regulations
governing the contest were also published.
The committee received 305 poems for criti-
cism and Judgment. OF this number nine
did not conform to the conditions pre-
scribed The remainder of the number
were submitted to the board of judges, and
Herr Konrad Mes of ST. Louis received the
first prize.
In the large collection of lyric poems a
vast number OF themes were treated, but
predominant among the many rubrics are
the poems of love, home liberty, patriot
ism and religion. In these poems 1t Is
considered that the German Ameriean has
much that compares favorably with the
contemporaneous lyrics in the fatherlanq.
Two prominent features in all this volume
of poetic production, from the pens of near
ly three hundred poets, are exhibited, and
two great themes are emphasized-the love
of nature and the love of freedom.
The Coronation
The ceremony Of browning the successful
poet, WHICH tOOk pl1CS lu IouAtAhoA0 eho
latter part Of last month, was an interest
ing event In the center of the large Ger
mania Hall a throne was erected for the
queen of flowers, which parsonage was rep
resented by Miss G. w. Gail. In solemn
procession the queen Of flowers was led to
the throne, followed by the victorious poet
and Miss Anita Schade of this city, who
had been selected to recite the prize poems.
The queen Of flowers recited festival
poem of greeting composed by DR.. Ernest
Henrici and the president of the Baltimore
Germanica Club. Mr.. q. H. Hilken. and DIR.
Heinrich made eloquent addresses on the
subject of the flower plays. Miss Schade
then recited the prize poems. interspersed
with vocal and instrumental music. The
successful poets received their prizes from
the hands Of the flower queen.
AS previously stated, Herr Mes received
several first prizes in the contest. but his
best lyric production. and the first-prize
winner in that class, was the ballad enti-
tied Der Rache der Waelder," or THE
Vengeance Of the Forests"
This poem has been translated into Eng
lish by Mr.. VIM. F. Meyers Of Washington.
The translation Is considered as an excel
lent piece Of work in itself, and as MAIN
tanning the spirit and poetical sentiment of
the original German. The English trans
lation Of the poem is as follows:
The Vengeance Of the Forests.
BY KONRAD MES.
Translated by William F. Meyers
At night. when the sun sets at sea and strand,
And the clouds BY the storms are sweeping,
Like the outiawed justice weeping. sA ''s' 'A'''
From the Catskills it comes, where the oak tree
From Marylands mineral fountains;
From the frs. where the Minnesota flows;
From Texas valleys and mountains
1t breaks forth from the ar and pine, its mate;
From Rocky mountains, deep roaring;
From P1n the giant redwood DIVE, at the Golden Gate
From east and west. from south and north,
1t sweils in laundering storm accord: |
=, Rsvsnse . the so forest s,.s, ys Po ,s .
By the red son. favors heaping;
We offered him shelter and weapons dear.
And love In reward we We're resping;
We were growing in peace, we were sprouting |
The country we sheltered and shielded.
Then crossing the seas. pale faces were seen,
They owe their country, their hearth and their
The pale face, the coward, succeeding
In rayaging greedy. where the Indian: roam.
We guards Of the highlands and watchmen of seas,
Since olden times beneft spending:
They hew US down heartiess our gorgeous great 1
On boarding Of gold they are bending.
Submit to mans greed and ia falling-
Hear storm u.s. and earthquake. and fre and food, |
All powers for revenge. we are calling.
Our loving companions from eternity's time.
Tie heavens have lent you the weapons.
So grant US now vengeance, revenge ye this crime;
The worst to the greedy let happen!
Whatever is built from body and crown
The walls of the city and spire.
Tear II down, thou o Storm, tear II down. tear II /
down!
Consume 1t in fames thou O Fire.
The bridge of the river. the ship on the
They built, and death demanded
Consume them Flood, till bulwark and tree,
Destroyed lay demolished and stranded,
Oh, bury thou Earth them, thou mine and thou
shaft
Contained in our bosem's great recess.
Up, up to the fight, We comrades of tn craft,
TIL the works of the men dash to pieces.
Thus pealing and sounding In chorus of hate.
Through cliffs and through mountains resoundfng,
Inland from the Hudson to the Golden Gate,
The outlawed cry wrathful. astounding.
And daily and hourly 1t chilleth the blood,
When men In disasters defeated,
And Stormwind, and Earth and Fire. and Flood,
The Forests revenge have completed.
s. -o- i
Just Hint.
From the Philadelphia Press.
Mr.. Sloman--eIt's so strange that wo |
have no national flower. We certainly
should have one"
Miss Waite significantly Yes,
.hink the orange blossom would be NICE"
Kind Lady-.But If give you this dime
I'm afraid ! win be encouraging you to
AXE drink
Th,rstv Tim-ssDon,t yousa be erIarmed