The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1915-09-10

POET &SIL
of REAL,
BY EDWARD B. CLARK.
~ YRoN r. NEWTON is an as
T: 7. ! =. :. ! !. !: :. !.
sistant secretary Of the
United States treas
- ury, a newspaper man,
a watchman and a
N& poet.
Poet comes last in
H<S@A(U the list but as mat.
tA&Ag w ter of fact II ought to
stand abreast of the
names OF Mr.. Newton's other occupa-
tions, and mayhap later 1t will lead
them all Perhaps some explanation
is necessary in connection with the
word that Mr.. 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 Mr.. NewtOn's call
ings, but if he were not a business
man he would not be where he is to-
day. Some day when the whirligig
of time or OF politics whirls Mr. New
ton out of his present Washington
place he may find himself in a business
position Of high responsibility. Such
things frequently happen to assistant
secretaries Of the Treasury. Witness
Frank A, VarGiGS,p, who from an as
sistant secretaryship IL 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 sew
eral other former assistant treasury
secretaries, who are pillars Of some
of the big private financial structures
Of these United States.
Vanderlip, Bailey and Newton all
were newspaper men, but it is not
known that either Vanderlip or Bailey
ever were poets. When Mr. Newton
goes TO some position Of business re- !
sponsibility other than that which he
now occupies, it can be taken for
granted that he will not forget that he
is a 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 poet cannot
help writing poetry. 1t is no harder
for him to sing than as the old Eng
lish saying has it, it is "difficile for
a black bird to whistle" It is under |
stood that Mr.. Newton speaks rather |
lightly Of his poetry. But it is recog- !
nized nevertheless as being worthy. |
When this assistant secretary of the |
treasury was only sixteen years old |
he apostrophized his fiddle in verse |
We had forgotten to say that Mr. New |
ton also is a musician. Here is what !
he said to his fiddle:
TO MY FIDDLE.
Queen Of the Heavenly Muse, my magic |
In every varying strain thy chords do
Whether in major joy or minor riddle,
First, out doth come an oath and then |
my fiddle.
When mirth doth reign, play the A or
For IN this voice thou well dost make
But if my mood demands the sadder clef
drop thee down to solemn c or F.
But sad or solemn. soft or high or low.
bow;
Entranced the world doth hear thee, great
and small,
In every cabin and in every hall.
I would to God it were not aught Of sin.
ia wish myself Remenyis violin.
Now it must be remembered that |
this poem was written when Mr.. New /
ton was only twice eight years old.
1t 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 poet, Mr..
Newton is wholly unforgetful that he
Is by training a newspaper man. Ev-
cry newspaper man knows the value
OF proper publicity for any worthy OBJ
1ect, be it charitable, governmental or
what not
Some of the official bureaus of
Uncle Sans government had been hid
ing their bright and shining lights I'M
~-~-o-o~~~~--~.~o--~~~o-