The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1908-05-07
BOOKS OF POEMS
From the Pen Of Harrison Conrard,
a Former Highland County
Boy, Reviewed.

Harrison Conrard, the author of the
two small volumes of poetry reviewed
in the following article by Mrs. Mary
B. Yeoman, was born in Dodsonville,
this county, about forty years ago,
and was one of large family of chill
dren left to the care of most excel
lent mother, under whose careful
training and instruction they all gave
promise of successful careers in after
life.
One of the sons is now at the head
of a division of the P. o. Department
at Washington, D. G, and the author
of these volumes is prominent in liter
airy and business circles at his home
in Arizona, and all have met with
abundant success at their chosen
places of abode.
AS a boy and young man he lived
near neighbor to Capt Il. @. Dawson,
who attracted by his bright personal
ity took an especial interest In him
and has followed with much interest
his successful career, predicting the
brilliant success he has attained.
The FIRST poems of Mr.. Conrard that
we're ever published, first appeared
In the NEWS HERALD some twenty
years ago.
"Of making many books there is no
end. The thud of the press has brought
two volumes of poetry, one a slim
green-bound booklet called "a Juniors
Poems" by Harrison Conrard, 1891.
The Forrester's Song, The Queen of
May, and a beautifully told story of
st. Maritime Day, are eaOily the best.
In them you recognize the poet-soul
cropping for expression, battling for
the ultimate, even while coaxing the
muse.
"In "Quivera," published In 1907,
you recognize that the poet has un-
locked the golden gate, the opening
prophesy of legend of the golden land
by the gate of gold.
"The full note strikes you-"Greed
Is and full of blame the red desire
THAT prompts its murderous pas
sion"
"From Quivira The Legend, we go to
"Arizona," an invocation then fol.
lows "a Hopi Prayer" linked with a
"a Hopi Pastoral A group, breath
ing the spirit, distilling the essence;
of strange borderland country and
peoples. The Navaj)s Wooing and
tenderly sweet A Brown Mothers
Lullaby with its haunting refrain
Under the low mesquite,
Sumah sumah my sweet"
"The Legend of The Gclld Cl1olis
something to commit to memory and
then forever hold Perhaps the most
ambitious poem, save the opening
one (Quivira) is one entitled "Soli-
tude" a subject every poet has tried
his hand on. The stampede" full
OF the spirit of the plains, the story
OF man and caballo, and wild night
rides, told with rythmic swing,
"Strongly religious in tone are GER
tain groups, the religion of Rome
and the Mother Church, character
lied in the Christmas Hymn, The
Nativity, Gethsemane and Easter
Morn showing the spiritual atmos.
phere and the touch of the devotee at
the shrine.
"Among the verse of lighter strain,
The Masters Tale, Yosemite, an ex.
quisite thing, "a May Fancy" and
the very last from which we are COM
PEELED to quote,
"In old Tuscon, in old Tuscon,
What cared how the days ran on
brown hand trailing the violstring,
Hair as black as the ravens wing,
Lips that laughed and vo ce that clung
To the sweet old airs of the Spanish tongue
Had drenched my soul with mellow rime
Till all life shone, in that golden cline
With the tender glow of the morning time
In old Tuscon, in old Tuscon
''If this appeals to your ear, to your
Imagination, If 1t "drenches your
soul with a mellow rime," then bor-
row, beg, buy or steal a copy of
"Quivera" shutting out the madding
crowd, Read till the stars are dim
and the fires are cold"
These volumes are dedicated to a.
@. Dawson, of Hillsboro, o.