Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-05-29

Aalcs UoNs'as& " iSsi' Au''ohe VI te iteoeGSu I'M IcHcloLc
ks and o1 , = w s, ,He . ss,n .n viii, n annsa n 2 y ~ !, su ,.a sa ,ns.o :, - a uI'ap
president. Mr.. George Meredith. Mrs. Wiasln md Lord Collins
lines are Mrs. Virgins contribution to tho speeches OF the even.
Mr.. Chairman. good friends, fellow authors ut tablc.
+ fear / shall find mysclf not very uho
10 deal with that difficult subject "Tlc Guests"
still. one cannot cynde Dir. Go1cs5 bchcsts.
If only he'd said; Talk of-.paatcs OF snais'
The , Uses Of Of , saaia y. Women nn@s,,i IT. 5a ais.
rhc Prospects Of Holland. or 'Rumors Of Wars
YOU can read mp" such topics In cncyclopacdius.
You're sure of your facts. If you're frequently tedious!
myself am a rucst from acrn $ the blue wave,
"rhe land Of the free and the home Of the brave
Native singers have STYLED it, and vet. j suppose.
we cannot nonoponze6 phrases like those.
Notwithstanding your Princes. YOUR Kings. Courts. and Thrones.
Institutions our infant Republic bemoans-
Your "freedom,' your "bravcry!' needless to tell
Appear to be standing the test rather WE'LL
Do YOU know what 1 sec IS ! stand her the guest
OF the flower OF London. its chyercst, best.
It's poets. its editors, novchsts, sases?-
i sec YOU as you are. then as heirs of tho ages!
Your laureIs arc green, I see others unaded
Tho centuries cold r the broMs they once shaded
sec ghosts OF inmortals whose eloquent words
Made England u forest OF rare singing birds:
yamcians whose tales ire still fresh TO tie car.
They spoke. they still speak and the world bends to hear.
I own tho same tongue 50 I share in the glory
Tnns makes Britain famous in song and in stor,.
I'VE &inpcrflled our heritage slightly. you'll say.
a But moi one Pilgrim sailed for his bleak Plymouth Rock
Till Shakespeare was born. SO we're stock of his stock!l
later. gods grey NOR scarce and the half-sods anneared.
III was the same IN III side. lower affairs VIC reared
When our Emerson. Lonsfcrow. Whittier passed.
with Hawthorne and Holmes. and dear Lowell at last.
Yet though, VI meet often the Homer who Mods"
we must still pour lbaions to gods and .hnR-gods:
Those who smue,-arave. serene ron n heights OF OLYMPUS.
And smaller ones. somewhat addicted to sinners:
we must bow to a genius whenever w SEQ one.
RI heroes aren't uorshippcd thcrc1l soon cease to be one!
They used to be big. now the little ones lead:
They can always write books il they can't ALWAYS read!
soon, among the small fry. with their. hustlinGs. and iostlns
Instead of a critic like Gossc We'll find Gosselngs!
Our pedcsta1s5 stand rather cmptv Of late.
Each for Its Colossus doth, patiently watt
One is Just newly filed: golden voice. heart of fire.
What. eloquent strains he has swept from his Tyre!
The thrushcs that sing DER that freshly made grave
Make music n swecter thai Swinburnc once gave
TO a world that thinks less of u poets brd-notcs
Than armies and nnvtcs and feminine votes.
Isit this that put bitterness into the heart
OF a singer who lives for. but not by Ills art?
Poor John Davidson's gone: he was homeless and sad;
If now he's at peace we can only be glad
That the "weariest rfvcr' when once it flows free.
Finds somewhat and somewhere its path TO the sea.
Now from sorrow TO gratitude: blessings arc many,
Tho ND to this moment I've not mentioned any!
There is splendid voice that is still ringing true.
One worthy to rank with the immortal few. -
Old n Young. he's as full as a reed is of pih.
Your president. God bless him! George Meredith!
The novclsts need MT lose courage and NOPE
For while they have Hawkins they always have Hope!
Or. IL they're depressed in a casual way
There's n tonic lust out. Wens's "Tono-Buueay.'
With the knowledge that cheers us. encourages. hcartcns,
THAT nothinsls tie matter with Herr .Ntaartcn Martens
III give hin his pen name. my Muse ncycr courts
a. Dutch rhyme like Herr Van der Poortcn und scIwartz!.
These then. fellow scribes. arc the thoughts of a guest
Who tnculy III her first sentence, confessed
She hadn't a notion Of speeches att dinners
For on these occasions the men arc chief sinners
I4tnnk dear Edmund Gossc for the honor conferred
IN letting III speak for the. guests this brief word.
Lord Collins I thank for dividing the toast
Especially when in himself he's a host.
And last. friends and authors. TIM glad to be here.
Not alone for the wit and the n1irth aud good cheer.
But because we are sounding the praises to night
or an art in whose service lies kccncst delight.
Talk of angels: Poor angels. they play and they sing.
But never Il quill do they pluck from n wing!
THEY'VE only their harms: II o rs Der. no ink:
I'd rather be author than angel I think!
I'm nearly submerged III a crowd Of my5bcucrs.
But proud TO be known rs a woman OF tiers: