The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-12
TRIBUTES FOR
CIV. GTODDARD
Memoryof DeadPoet Honored
By Many Noted Writers
at Short Story Club
Meeting

ELOQUENT tribute wal. paid to tina
memory of Charles Warren Stod-
- dard by noted writer's OF this coun-
try at the semiannual meeting OF the
Short story club in Berkeley last week.
Edwin Markham. Ina Coolbrith, Herman
Scheffauer. Madge Morris Wagner,
George Wharton James and Francis
Soule Campbell sent their apprsci-
atoms OF Stoddard to Prof. Henry
Meade Bland. president of the club.
who is conducting course OF western
literature at the summer school at ths
state university.
Edwin Markham wrote from West
New Brighton. N. Y. as follows:
Please bear my greetings to the
Short Story club and accept my
thanks for this opportunity to add
my voice to the litany OF praise for
dear Stoddard- I knew him we'll.
this poet and dreamer. He was one
Of those rare beings that the years
can not touch with cid, a being
that never outgrew the fresh eye
and the eager heart of boyhood-
He seemed ever TO live on some
shining track. above the conven-
tionalitieS. and commercialism OF
our world. II he ever did go farinE
along the common road he went
as a romantic youth. his heart
keeping constant holiday. finding
the rose OF life well worth its hid
den thorn. He cheered the road for
all that travelled il. leaving friends
at the parting of the ways. All
hearts will wish him fair fortunes
on the uncharted seas where he has
now gone voyaging.
A "salve" by Herman Schefausr was
received as follows:
Gray pioneer Of poesy,
Loved. honored far, and blest;
The glamour of our skies for thee
Is fairer in the west.
And we who follow down the way
Where first the dawn burnt whiua
Salute thee, sentry OF that day
On which there falls no night.
Madge Morris Wagner wrote from
Mojave the following tribute:
To Writers: send you greeting
from the desert, and with il my
sincere appreciation OF the short
Story clubs memorial to Charles
Warren Stoddard- 1t does itself
honor in honoring him. He was the
bravest and the best Of US all: and
yet OF
Such gentle speech. such gentle miea,
And all so gently went his ways
And wrought so gently ali his days,
Al nj Lrro
Scarce knowing whom 70 praise.
The following appreciation was writ
ten by Ina Coolbrith OF this city:
You have written me that the
Pacific Short Story club will hold
its semiannual meeting on she SIN
inst and that it is proposed to
make the occasion memorial to
Charles Warren Stoddard. and have
asked me TO contribute a letter OF
appreciation Of one who. a poet. was
more than pOet-a rare and beau
tiful soul. 1 have attempted 10
comply with your request, but ind
it nigh impossible.
Mr.. Stoddard was my life COM
rade, friend between whom and
myself since the day when. little
more than boy and girl. we met in
the long ago there was never
shadow of misunderstanding or
lessening in the slightest degree Of
loyal trust and affection.
His death leaves me the last OF
a little circle in those older davS
bound together by no ordinary ties
of human friendship. and 1t is too
recent and the pain OF it too acuts
10 permit me to speak critically
and dispassionately of the man ana
MS work and so render httine trib
ute to his memory As vet the
world at large does not realize the
loss 1t has sustained, nor the fun
worth Of the legacy left by him
who uttered nothing base" The
fame of him will grow, it can safe
ly be left with time; but OF that
which was best and dearest. bis
personality, the future can know
nothing. NnO"
The letters received from sfrarv
ers asking me details OF HIS Ias+
days and the final close are eI0-
quent OF sorrow and devotion TIN
words or his sister He was 80
WAYS more than brother He W..
sls.ST, loyal TREND and aIrnoSt
me-" are so many additionsI t-5ht
utes 10 that which was svS-
greater than his genius. the e5ont
nant note OF his nature-loVe