Tombstone epitaph., 1915-09-12
POET SZP[EE[lDS l([][[]]L]L[[0IN[S
 CEREAL [D0[LlL&\lR& A}A
By EDWARD 8. CLARK.


 names of MT Newton's other occupa- tions. and mayhap later 1t will lead them all Perhaps some explanation is necessary in connection with the word that MT. Newton is a watchman. He helps to guard the interests of Uncle Sam. which means that he has a hand in the work of seeing to it that our uncle does not spend his money foolishly or is not, as the saying goes, done out of it." Every conscientious assistant secretary of the treasury is a watchman.
 Business man was not included in the catalogue of MT. Newton's call ings. but if he were not a business man he would not be where te is to- day. Some day when the whirligig of time or of politics whirls Mir New ton out of his present Washington place he may find himself in business position of high responsibility. Such things frequently happen to assistant secretaries of the treasury. Witness Frank A. Vanderlip. who from an as- sistant secretaryship in the treasury. went to undertake the responsibilities Of the job of president of the great City National bank of New York Al so Witness Robert o. Bailey and sev- eral other former assistant treasur- secretaries. who are pillars of some Of the big private financial structures of these United States.
 Fanderlip. Bailey and Newton all were newspaper men, but it is not known that either Vanderlip or Bailey ever were poets. When Mir Newton goes to some position of business re- sponsibility other than that which he now occupies, 1t can be taken for granted that he will not forget that he Is poet, and the world probably will not forget that he Is a good one.
 It is said that poets are born, not made. This means that a poet cannot help writing poetry. It Is no harder for him to sing than as the old Eng fish saying has 1t. 1t is "dificile for a black bird to whistle" It is under stood that MT. Newton speaks rather lightly Of his poetry. But 1t is recog- nized nevertheless as being worthy. When this assistant secretary of the treasury was only sixteen years old be apostrophized his fiddle in verse. We had forgotten to say that Mir. New ton also is musician. Here is what he said 10 his fiddle:
 TO MY FIDDLE.
 queen Of the Heavenly Muse. my magic In every, varying strain thy chords do swell
 Whether in major joy or minor riddle. First. out doth come an oath. and tben my fiddle.
 When mirth doth reign. play the A or For in this voice thou well dost make a Bu, if my mood demands the sadder cls, ofop thee down to solemn C or F. But sad or solemn. soft. or high or low Ihou art the same old catgut. pitch and En'raneed ans the world doth hear thee. grea, In every cabin and in every hall.
 would to God 1t were not auzht or si, I'd wish myself Remenyi's violin. Now t must be remembered that this poem was written when Mir. New ton was only twice eight years old. It had more than a suggestion Of prom ise of what he would do later.
 While he is assistant secretary of the treasury and is to a degree unfor- getful of the fact that he is a poet. Mir. Newton is wholly unforgetful that he Is by training a newspaper man. Ey. cry newspaper man knows the value of proper publicity for any worthy ob- 1ect, be it charitable. governmental or what not
 Some of the official bureaus of Uncle Sam's government had been hid ing their bright and shining lights un.