The progressive farmer and the cotton plant., 1905-04-25
A STIRRING WAR SONG.

A WAX SONG.
| No. % of our series of Southern poems, which
have been selected especially for The Progressive
Farmer and Cotton Plant, brings us this week to
'.Maryland, Ny Maryland" one of the most stir.
ring and spirited of all those thrilling melodies
that fired the Southern heart in the days of storm
and battle four decades ago. Not only is the
lit and rhythm of the poem almost incom.
parable, but it glows with a passion and fervor
that leave no doubt as to the intense souearnes.
ness of it's author. Yet the man who wrote these
stirring lines has lived neglected and almost for.
gotten; and one of the most impressive passages
in Tom Watson's beautiful and pathetic new
story, Bethany" is when he turns aside ina
foot-note to tell the story of "Maryland" and to
say a tribute to its author. In connection with
our own republication of the poem we make no
apology for reprinting this extract from Mr. Wat
sons book:
"In those far-gone days there was young
school teacher in Louisiana who bore in his
tional nature every hope, fear, sympathy, yeam:
ing and aspiration of the Old South. Born and
reared in Maryland, loving his native State with
ardent loyalty, his eyes, during his Temporary
exile, were continually and anxiousy turned
homewards. His immediate environment was thai
of intense Secessionism. Southern Rights was
heart echoed it. But he was Marylander
louisiana had seeded, what would Maryland do!
Her sisters of the South we're in deadly peril, her
help was needed, what would she do?
"By day and by night the black-eyed Creole
looking school teacher pondered, hoping, fearing
sick with suspense. Why did his home people
hesitate? Would Maryland never act? Something
IN the newspapers caught his eye day, some
vague encouragement, and in a rush of pro-
foundly earnest feeling, he, James r. Randall as
true poet ever sang, dashed off the famous
lines
Maryland! Ny Marylandp
They electrified the South then; they move the
soul with their burning passion to-day If ever
the soul OF a man passed into poesy, it went IN"
this. And if ever deep called unto Deep
it was when the fervor of this poet made its aP
"Alas! Maryland did not come. 1t even
then too late. The bayonet pinned her down. Inc
overwhelming moral weight of the 'despOts hee
was already on her Shore But the poem made
a profound IMPRESSION not only in Maryland, but
throughout the Southern States.
In the whole range of literature is there, III
fact, more soul-stirring war-song? Is there a
poem more perfectly lyric in spirit, conception
and expression? 1t would puzzle you to name II; IL
60 read the entire poem. Consider it IN all
the circumstances surrounding its BIRTH COR
slider the variety of the chords it touches, and the
power with which they are struck. Realize tr
tempestuous torrent of feeling, gripped w1thn
the classic fold of the polished stanzas 1t Is Tie
sacred fire imprisoned within Grecian vase.
He has lived neglected-as Edgar Poe ""
neglected. When he dies we will give him mo1o
ment-as we have done for Poe And then n
exquisite verses will be collected and we VIII
weep regretful tears as we have done over roe
when We realize what a radiant spirit had d"eI
unknown in our midst After which. will c: cor
sole our consciences by sending additional mlSr