Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-06-20
4 BRILLIANT VERMONT ORATOR.

The numerous people Of Vermont who
have listened to the Hon. Wendell Phil
lips Stafford's eloquen. speeches on
different occa sions or who know him by
reputation do not need TO be told that he
Is an orator who shines on any platform
to which he may be called, and 1t is
gratifying to his host OF admirers to
know that he is rapidly acquiring
cognition as a finished, scholarly and
forceful speaker. The latest instance
OF his eloQuence was in connection with
the thirty-f1rst annual commencement
exercises at John Hopkins University,
and Judging from the manner in which
the Baltimore Sun and the Baltimore
American, two of the ablest and most
influential Journals in the country, speak
OF his address, he more than sustained
his local reputation as an able orator
The Baltimore American says that
shortly after the procession consisting Of
the trustees OF the university. members
OF the faculty and candidates for degrees
entered the auditorium, associate Justice
Wendell P. Stafford. Of the Supreme
Court Of the District OF Columbia, the
orator Of the occasion, escorted by Judge
Henry d. Harlan. came Upon the stage.
According to the American Justice
Stafrord's speech, the subject Of which
was Gospel of Poetry. was magnificent
and eloquent Throughout he was warm
ly applauded. Possessed of a striking APP
pearance and a splendid delivery. he APP
pealed to the audience from the very
first words he uttered, and as the beauti-
fully worded periods rang through the
auditorium, applause broke forth from
the listeners. In beautiful poetic words
he surrounded the most humdrum things
OF daily life with a shining vestnent of
rhythm, and in a glowing tribute he re-
ferred to Kipiing as the avenger OF the
sons of Martha, those toilers OF the soil
and hewers Of wood who for centuries
ifoN We biVN uiiShi6. liz Nn'NN betChtIoA ~
the fact that about the most sordid cases
that come up in the courts there Turk ele-
.ents OF poetry, conflicts Of passion. and
heart-burnings. The dignity of the Law
courts, which, he said, was but an ex.
preston O poetic respect. should. he In
sisted, be as much enhanced in this
country as abroad"
II look for the day." he cried, "wher
justice in this country shall be clothed
with all marks of dignity which pre-
walls in other countries"
Much amusement was caused by hi.
criticism. tina the lack In Washington
ofiany statues to a single American poet
in contrast to the large number OF e.
quest rian statutes. was evidence to the
ca sual tourist that "the national hers
was q certaur instead OF singer
| That America has had singers worth,
to be placed among the foremost singer.
OF the race IN established by reading th'
| works Of such American poets as Elmer
| son. Whittier. rIongfeliow and Poo Tit
latter he referred TO as csothed with
mantle OF unapproachsble grandeur. Th'
memory OF these great poets. he said
| gave encouragement to the hope that thu
future will add other great singers to tn,
| list but. he argued, the lack Of appre
citation in the way of monuments Il
| those poets OF the past Ia rea
son for the present dearth In this coun
try OF current writer's OF good poetry
THIS same reason. he added, placed al
obstacle in the way Of the future great
ness of America in poetry.
The Baltimore Sun quoted thes
gems from Justice Stafford's address
1.-The sentiments that give human
life dignity and charm are invariabl!
poetic. Hospitality. for example. wha
is It but a poetic view OF the relation
between host and guest?
1.-THE subtlest and most powerful ap
peal that can be made to human ma
ture Is the appeal that takes for grant
ed the inherent nobleness OF tho per
son addressed. II It is at heart a kin,
of fattery 1t Is a fiattery worthy OF tn
courts of heaven. whore the prince
are gods and the courtiers are angels
Then there Is patriotism. Who doe
not know that the patriot Is a poet
He is a lover. and the lover is Away
a poet. We have seen whole nation
turned poets overnight by some sud
den peril to the land they hardly knew
Ia