The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1914-12-30
mus Mr. Cum,

truth and yeraetty. Thus nIr. Cum,
taxes q mot at the Chicago eonxen
tfon Of 1880! giving; seyen atanzas ID
the balloting. For instance:
on the frst ballot Seward notes
one hundred three ana seventy votes.
WINE Lincoln got twice 81 sSi
And so went TO Cameron
and so on. The school boy compel;
ed to commit this poem to memory
would thereby imbibe and preserve 10
mind detailed knowledge concern.
ing the great emancipator's life, the
exact vote received at any given mo-
ment, the dates and length OF his
speeches, and 80 on, surprising that
Of perhaps the ripest living states
man. To drop into a poetic figure Of
speech ourselves we might say that
school boards could do worse, and
possibly will, than to supply this Gum
for our American infantry, in order
that the youth of the land may be-
come familiar with the intimate de-
tails OF Linco1n's career Finishing
eff the Chicago convention Mr.. Gum
notes that
Then for Vice President was taken
II. Hamlin, OF the State of Maine,
Last letters three Of Abraham
with the first three of his last name
thereby providing against the faded
interest of his reader by the insplra-
ton of an unexpected but none the
less stimulating charade or rebus.
giving variety and excitement to the
perusal Of his worse.
No less than sixteen stanzas are
devoted to the Llncoln.Douglas de,
bate. Mr.. Gum opening this volley
with the remark that
In 1858
The most remarkable debate
The nations OF. the world had seen
Occurred in Illinois between
the well known gentlemen mentioned,
who arc described in their physical
appearance in the lines,
The latter tall and bony, met
The former, low and heavy set.
The third stanza in this group opens
the debate:
On June 16 Abe Lincoln spoke
At Springfield and the silence broke,
Judge Douglas on July 0 replied
And at Chicago told his side.
Comparatively few Americans
much as they respect the memory Of
Lincoln. keep these momentous dates
und places strictly in mind, but Mr..
Gum is nothing If not mindful Of the
obligation Of the poet to fidelity to
dates.
AT Springfield stood both men next
night FIJI 5
Continuing their gallant fight.
Not only the dates and places but
tile trend OF the argument is faith
fully portrayed.
October Z the fifth took place
Before the Galesburg populace;
October 10 Quincy met
And listened to the sixth debate.
One Of what we might call tho
massive and concrete" passages Of
this poem converts into rhyme, with
close fidelity to the prose text, Lin.
coins Gettysburg addresst, following
brief account of the election result
of 1861
The Sth day of November came
And people stood by Abraham.
It is question whether Mr.. Gum
does not at times carry fidelity to de-
tail thought too far, as when he de.
scribes the beloved martyr President
rs 'assassinated in the rear" yet on
the whole we doubt il any human will
get moro enjoyment out Of this his
toric biographical poem than would
Lincoln himself, Judge Of poetry ana
e lover Of the appropriate and fitting
or all occasions. with a keen sense OF
times. seasons and proportions, with
all Of which this work of Mr.. Gum
abounds. In his epic Mr.. Gum may
indeed, like the Lexington farmers.
lave fired another Shot heard round
the world"