Arizona republican., 1908-02-22

dams brigade in northern Mississippi. I had read "The Diamond Wedding" ." a versified story of a social event in high life" in New York in 1859, when it's author was d young reporter on the New York Tribune, and 1 enjoyed its sparkling satire no less than it's purely poetical qualities
 A few months later, some trifling unremembered military duty took me to Memphis where l purchased Alice of Monmouth, written by Mr Sted- man, and just issued from the press It, also, was in Verse-it was a war story, and I wondered if it were not in some degree an echo of Thomas Buchanan Reads "The Wagoner of the Alleghenies." which was quite in vogue a short time before that date But I found that it possessed its own distinctive qualities, ana contained some of the best war poetry l had ever seen, while portions of it, describing quiet, pastoral scenes, were delightful ly dreamy and idyllic. l greatly en- jOyed the volume, carrying it in my saddle-pcuch until I had read and re- read il into tatters.
 After the war closed, I followed the fortunes of the young poet very close ly, for he had become one of my fav- orites. It was not, however, until the summer of 1894 that I came into any thing like intimate relations with him. At that time I helped to organize. in Topeka, a mixed literary society which was christened "The Stedman Club" l was its first secretary. and I wrote immediately to MT. Stedman apprising him of the honor conferred upon him. This was the beginning of a delightful, though desultory correspondence car ried on between us for several years. and I have no treasures more highly prized than are the letters which came from, his pen. few excerpts from them. I think, will be of interest to your readers. In most cases they ex- plain themselves.
 Under date of September 4th, 1894, writing from New York, he says:
 My Dear MT. Downing:
 Your courteous letter informing me of the honor accorded to my name by the Literary club of which you are the secretary, arrived during my va cation. Fortunately I have received it in time to prevent your members from thinking me something of a churl For see that your first meeting is to oc- cur this evening, and I have been just in time to send you a telegram ex- pressing my sense of your apprecia- tion.
 When I once wrote a long and sympathetic paper upon dear old Mr Whittier-that fiery balladist yet gen. tlest Of souls-he wrote to me asking: What! all this about only me?' With all his fame, he was perfectly simple and sincere in his remark. I have far more reason, of course, for feeling as surprised as he did when I find a literary club that evidently means to flourish, and in the capital of the Gar den of the West. venturing it's fortunes to the good or bad luck of my name.
 ''Yet it does not seem so many years since my old hero, John Brown. was put on trial, and I wrote the ballad of his Virginia fight. That piece gained me the friendship of Emerson. and of Mrs. Browning and her husband. So. I am disposed to connect your state with my most hopeful superstitions.
 T beg that the club will accept the set of my critical and pOetical writings which I send you today by express. Accept the books with all their in 
 The club decieded to give a public literary entertainment on November 10th. 1895. A few weeks before that date ! asked Mir. Stedman for some verse from his hand to be read upon that occasion. He replied 4th, 1895:
 ''I send you soma verse that may do at a pinch for use on the 18th. ! Kindly see that it is not published at least not in full. as I am reserving it ] to put ere long in a collection of my | later poems. That is the only reason | | happen to have even this on hand. | the truth being that the magazines | have got from me every line that l