The Washington herald., 1909-05-19
Railing the Chief.

6 AA1AA& III O1t~-'
Down North Carolinaway. in Uncle
Sans good city of Charlotte, great
preparations are being made for Mr..
Taft's forthcoming visit and the Incl
dental celebration OF the signing Of the
so-called Meeklenburg Declaration OF In
dependence. Whatever may be the exact
ard precise truth OF history in respect
Of that somewhat legendary recital Of
ante-nevolutionary days. it is not TO De
denied that the story rests close to the
hearts OF -arheels generally. and they
defend is entire authenticity with an en-
thusiasn admirable In the extreme. II
by some thought to be mildly uncOnvin-
cling.
Far be It from Us. therefore, IN this
glad hour to throw anything even re-
moteiy akin to cold water on the process
sion. We are delighted to learn from the
Charlotte Observer something OF the
happy and unique preparations that have
been made for Mr.. Taft's reception: We
note with satisfaction. but not surprise.
that it is to be truly royal Charlotte
has the habit Of making herself agree
able. and this tine she intends breaking
every record.
We would admonish the President, nev-
ertheless. in this crisis to consider the
burning words Of the berds and bardesses
sublime OF North Carolina more from the
standpoint OF the sentiments they seek
70 convey than from the form and con-
sructiOn Of their varied offerings North
Carolina people are gentle. courteous.
refined. and good TO know and mingIe
with; but II is a sad and melancholy fact
that they are very. very bad poets. over
in South Carolina it is different There
poems almost sing themselves into ex-
istence. Grand and lofty illusions flow
from Palmetto folks as rhythmicaIly as
brooklets purl along the meadows and
the valleys. But in North Carolina It is
not so There poetry is fearfuny and
wonderfully made; there Pegasus de-
velops the blind staggers before he gets
a good start on the job. invariably.
From a sublimely impressive welcom-
ing ode Of fifteen stanzas IN the Charlotte
Observer OF Monday last. for instance.
We clip the opening and the closing
merely 70 sustain our weIl-intentIoned
words Of admonition 20 the President
and not in response 70 the promptings Of
q wicked, malignant, and abandoned
heart by any manner Of means:
The io7sl folks q MscklcuAu.-g
Extepd the CAD nght hand:
Sweet smiles from Chzrlotte's daughters.
Tie faireSt n the land.
We've slain the Billy Posslm"
AID killed the fstted ealf"
AID STc or hea-tiest welcome
To William Howard Taft
Il viii be observed that the sentiments
herein contained are admirable. but the
facts are distorted far beyond the limits
Of poetical license. and the rhyming Is
atrocious, The hint that a 'possum has
been slaughtered for Mr.. TafCs benefit at
this time IS either palpable attempt 10
deceive OF a statement based on gross
ignorance We scorn 20 think it the for
mer. and We grasp the other horn Of the
dilemma with great reluctance. No Tar
heel 70 the manner born would dare XIII
'possum in late May. much less serve
one al table then. To suggest even
that il might be a cold storage marsupial
is unthinkabie And from that let Us
turn 10 consider the rhyming: 'Possuu''
and welcome rhyme very doubtfuIly. we
think; and as to calf" and Taft words
faII Us utterly
and 50 We say 10 1Ir- Taft that he must
consider the substance and not the form
Of North Carolina poetry fashioned in
his honor The poets mean well. but they
move in eccentric circles. and cut most
amazing seallops- It IS hard to tell where
they are going. though rarely is there q
doubt that they are CT their way. But
the President. if he be mindful Of our /
friendly tips. viii have 10 trouble reach /
ing the conclusion that their motives are
good in inverse ratio 10 the impossibiHty !
Of their verse.