The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1906-08-02
A TRIBUTE TO GRASS.
Poetic EuIogy That was Prcicunced
by senator Ingalls,

by senator Ingalls,.
The following tribute % grass. writ
ten boy the late Senator Ingalls, OF Kan.
sas. should be preserved.
Majestic. fruitful. wondrous plant.
The corn triumphant. that with the aid
Of man hath made victorious process
sion across the tJftcd plain and laid
foundation Tor the social excellence
that Is aul is to be. This glorious
plant. Transmitted 10y the alchemy or
God. sustains the warrior IN battle, the
poet in song aud strengthens every
where the thousand arms that work
the purposes OF lie
Next iu Importance to the divine
prufusipn ~ water light and air. those
three great physical facts which rem
der existence possible may bc rcck-
oucd the universal bcucuccucc of grass.
Exaggerated 10y tropical heats aud va
pors 10 the gigantic cane cpugcstcd
with It's sIccharluc secretion or dwarf
cd 10y polar rigurs to the hbrous hair
OF northern solitudcs. embracing be-
tween thr-c cytrcucs the maize. with
It's resolu,c pcuu'ns. the rice plant Of
southern svawps. the wheat. rye. bar
I ley. oats aud other cereals. no less
3 than the humber vcrduyc of the bill
. side. pasture aud prairie iu the tom
/ pcrate zone. grass is the most widely
distributed OF ali vegetable hciugs Jnd
! is nj once the tyne ot our life ,d the
/ emblem of mortality. Lying Ia the
, sunshine among the huttcrcups and
] 81 H..H .E.rIN..
/ In intelligence than the minute ten
ants Of The mimic wilderness, our ear
/ llest rcCullcrjiuus are of grass aud
when the ntml fever is ended and the
/ foolish wranglc Of the market and the
/ forum is closed grass heals over the
scar which our descent into the bosom
| of the earth has made. and the carpet
OF the infant becomes the blanket Of
the dead
! Grass Is the forgiveness Of nature.
her constant bcucllction. Fields tram
pied with battle. saturated with blood,
torn with the ruts Of cannon. grow
green again with grass. aud carnage
Is forgotten Streets abandoned 10y
traffic become grass grown like rural
/ lanes nnl Y'iiicratcd. Forests decay.
haryc2W perish flowers vanish. but
grass Is Immortal Bclclgucrcd 10y the
sullcl lD.l ot winter. 10 withdrnws
into th" upgrmIblc fortress of lis
suhicruuDgu vitality aud cmcrgcs up
on the first solicitation of spring. Sown
by the winds. by wandering birds.
proDagatcl by the subtle horticulture
of the elements. which are It's ministers
aud servants. Il slftcns the rude out
line of the world. Its tenacious hbcrs
hold the earth iu its place aud prevent
It's soluble compuncuts from washing
into the wasting sea. II invadcs the
solltudcs ~ deserts. climbs the lac
cessiblc slopes and forblddlng pima
clcs Of mountains. moditics climates
and determines the history. character
and destiny OF the nations. Unobtru-
sivc aud patient IL has immortal yigor
and aggression Banlshcd from the
thoroughfarc and the field. II bldcs It's
time 30 rctJrn. aud wher vigilance Is
relaxed or he dynasty has i,rrishcd II
silently resumes the throne from which
II has been expelled. but which II new
er abrogatcs. IL bears no blazonry Of
bloom 10 charm the senses with fra
Francc or splendor. but It's hpmcly hue
II more enchanting than the lily or the
rose. II Yields no fruit II, earth or air.
and ycf should It's HARVEST fail for n
single year famine would depopulate
the world"