Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-18
SPIRIT OF WAR BARD
Tributes to the Memory of
John G. Whittier.
QUOTATIONS FROM. POEMS
Address by Justice Stafford of Dis
trict Supreme Court.
JUSTICE BARNARD PRESIDES
Commemoration Also by Howard
University Students-Exercises
in the Public Schools.

Tho name Of John G. Whittier and his
service to the world through his writings
were themes of orators in Washington
and elsewhere yesterday and last evening.
in commemoration of the one hundredth
birthday anniversary of the great war
bard. Locally there were special meetings
held and many of the public schools ap-
proprately observed the day.
Quoting literally from the works of the
Quaker poet. and eulogizing both the works
and the indomitable spirit of the great
war bard Justice Wendell P. Stafford
delivered the principal address last night
in connection with the celebration in the
Friends Meeting House, ISL / street
northwest. Other features OF the enter
tainment included readings and songs
from Winters works.
Justice Barnard's Remarks.
The program opened with a piano solo
by Claude Lindsay, and Justice Job Bar
nard read from Whittier's works the
poem, written by the poet in connection
with the celebration of the sixty-fourth
anniversary of his birth, entitled: My
Birthday Justice Barnard in an intro
ductory way, spoke of the close union
between his ancestors and Whittier's in
New England AT least two of Whit
tiers progenitors. who were also NINE
We're among the ten original owners of the
Island of Nantucket said Justice Bar
nard. Miss Janet Brown recited I'm
School Days" and Mrs. r. P. Barnard
duced as the very best man to portray
the life and writings of the poet"
Nature seems to delight in antithesis'
Judge Stafford said. in opening. land
between the quiet Quaker birthplace and
the later life of the greatest war bard of
the age. Whittier devoted himself to con-
hlct against the then peculiar institution
OF the south. and he was practically alone
among contemporary writer's in refusing
to eliminate his anti-slavery writings
from his works after the war was over
And yet today he is one of the most
popular of poets with the south.
Regrets have been spoken because
Whittier's talent should have been de-
voted to reform. But without his talent
he might have been only a politician,
and without the inspiration of the cause
IN winch he enlisted he might not have
faithful portrait of John Greenleaf Whit
tier without placing it before the dark and
awful background of slavery
Anti-Slavery Writings.
Justice Stafford spoke of the far-reach-
ing effect of the earlier anti-slavery writ
ings of the poet. and particularly of the
Juror created by Whittiers first PAM
phlet: Justice and Expediency."
Right here in Washington said the
speaker. DR.. Crandall was thrown into
jail and confined there until his health
was SO undermined that he died soon after
belng released, simply because he ven
tured to loan to fellow practitioner a
copy OF the poets pamphlet
Justice Stafford reviewed the striking
points in the eighty-four years Of Whit
tiers life. as elaborated by the poets
nephew and biographer. The speaker re-
ceived great applause when he read from
the best of Whittier's works.
Miss p. E. Marshall read "Naughaut the
Deacon.' and Maj. John Tweedale BAR
clay of ury." B. T. Janney. who pre-
SIDED also called upon Corp. James Tan
ner' and the, latter spoke of the effect
the poem of Whittier had upon the SOL
dlers In the field. and how they were
often read to groups about the campfres
in civil war fighting days
The program was brought to a cIose nv
mrs r. P. Barnard singing barbara
F1etchie,' adapted to very pretty mel