The Columbus weekly dispatch., 1907-05-16
The Irwin Russell Memorial.

nuSSeli, anu It's presentation 10 l10
State. which counts him one of her
most gifted SONS and writes his name
proudly in her Hall of Fame, was
the most impressive feature of the
recent session of the Mississippi
Teachers Association 1t is gratify-
ing to know that TO Columbian is
| chiefly due the credit of this fitting
| tribute TO the poet who was, as Joel
Chandler Harris says, among the
| first, If not the very first, of Southern
writer's to appreciate the literary pos
sibilities of the negro character and
to give it happy and perfect repre-
sentation. Miss Mary Mayo, chair
man of the Russell memorial fund,
has labored effectually and enthusi-
astically for the accomplishment of
this purpose, and to her in largest
measure comes praise for the success
that has crowned it. The originator
of the movement was Prof. w. l..
Weber, formerly of Millsaps, now of
ly as 1899, in a letter addressed to
the teachers of Mississippi, urged
that recognition be accorded to the
genius of Irwin Russell by the erec
ton of a suitable memorial. A year
later Mr.. Weber removed from the
State, and the quick response to his
call was followed by a period of in
activity. A little over three hundred
dollars had been collected, and this
fund received no increase until May,
chairman Of the committee. Into her
hands was entrusted a work, not in
its fresh enthusiasm, but after it had
Jagged and interest had grown cold.
That she rekindled general interest
and performed the harder task ably
and well, the beautiful bust of the
poet which she unveiled on Saturday,
May 4, bears evidence. Moreover, a
fuller appreciation of his work has
been brought about by the Irwin Rus
sell evenings she arranged, and at
which funds for the memorial were
collected. The schools throughout
the State contributed to the fund,
and the sum of $3.50 was reported
by the committee last summer-an
amount sufficient for the desired plan.
The exercises that marked the un-
yelling of the bust were noteworthy
and appropriate. Miss Mayo gave a
brief resume of the work and spoke
charmingly of the singer who sang
when few could turn aside from the
struggle to listen to the song which
sounded from their midst, when the
din of battle strife deafened their
ears to music" Then she gracefully
introduced Prof. Weber as the one
who should present this crystallized
thought to the custodian Of the
States literary treausres. In his
address Prof. Weber gave a fine crit
ical estimate of Irwin Russells place
in literature, a place declared to be
sure, his untimely death at twenty
six preventing greater work, for no
great poet ever reached his zenith at
this age. Accepting this memorial,
Mr.. Dunbar Rowland, director of the
department of archives and history,
made a scholarly address upon THE
Influence of Poesy on the Lives of
Nations" showing that wherever ma
tions bent toward materialism there
was a decay not only in prosperity,
but also in mental vigor. The mar
BILE bust of the poet is an artistic
piece of work, life size, and was mod
eled by Miss Ward, a talented pupil
of ST. Gaudens. While in the East
last summer Miss Mayo visited the
st. Gaudens' studio at Windsor, Yer
mont, and having the great sculptor's
hearty endorsement of Miss Ward S
work, together with the assurance of
his personal supervision and criti-
cism, gave the order to the young
artist, with most satisfactory result.
The memorial honors worthily por
tray the memory of the poet who
sketched with loving hand and true
the picturesque plantation life of the
long ago, and to whom the literary
world is indebted for the pathos and
humor, the bold and striking pictures
tIldI SuIHc IOI III III Cl1C
.'Christmas-Night in the Quarters
The Choctaw Club CotiIion.
A delightful cotilion, led by Mr..
James S. Billups with Miss Virginia
Jones of Laurel, was danced at the
Choctaw Club on Friday evening.
Those present were: Miss Amelie
Sykes of Aberdeen, Mr.. Bailey Hardy,
Miss Jones of Laurel, Mr.. J. S. Bill
ups, Miss Mabel Scales, Mr.. Hugh L.
Gary, Miss Lucille Sargent, Mr.. Bir-
ney Scales, Miss Anna Banks, Mr..
ballard RlaIP Miss Mamie Davis.