The Denver star., 1915-10-23
FIRST i: FEMALE E POET or THe
coLoRED RACE IN AMERICA
philiis Whsatisy Was Clever Writer
Of Verse Over Century Ago.
D. Jot1N E. BRUCE -cRIr.-

~ JOHN e. BRUCE "CRIf."
Yonkers. N. Y.-Not 80 many of our
people are familiar with the wonder
full intellectual powers Of Phillis Wheat
ley, the slave girl Of Massachusetts,.
whose poems attracted international
attention nearly q century and half
ago, as should be.
Her poems and letters include many
verses which do not appear in the 1918
edition. together with a collection Of
her letters. charmingly phrased, ad-
dressed to different friends of hers on
various topics. OF this edition only
uinety five copies have been printed.
and the plates destroyed. Each Of the
three volumes is adorned with a hand
some steel engraving Of Philiis and Is
printed on Alexander Japan paper. A
photography of her writings by Charles
Fred Hartmann deals particularly
with her writings and her history up to
the period Of her death.
Many pages of her unpublished
poems are reproduced In facsimile and
many Of her fragmentary poems which
had appeared in the newspapers and
magazines Of the day are here for the
first time published in one volume. Her
poem to Washington is printed in full.
together with WashingtOn's letter to
her acknowledging its receipt and his
thanks to ''One SO favored by the
muses." etc. In this poem occurs
stanza which. 1t would seem. entities
her to he called the first to proclaim
him the Father OF His Country-''first
In war;" etc. The idea has been adopt
ed and used by others. but Phillls con-
ceIved II. These are the lines:
Thee first in place and honors: We de-
snand
The grace and glory of thy martial band
But Phillis Wheatley. while she en-
joyed the distinction and. wOrthily SO.
Of being the first poctess Of North
America and the only woman Of any
race on this continent 20 recognized
and acknowledged. had q friendly r.
val and admirer In the person OF Jupi-
ter Hammon. u Negro belonging to Jo-
seph Lloyd Of Queens. village OF Long
Island. who. on behalf Of himself and
u number Of his friends. presented her
with nm address. n poem OF twenty-one
verses. Of which the following excerpts
thercfrom will give the reader pretty
clear idea of what was back Of the
Negroes mind in those days. Hammon
was a full grown man. and his frag-
mentary verses have never been col
lected. This poem appeared I'm one OF
the continental papers Of the period
and was published at Hartford. Conn.
Aug 4. l773 Note the saiutation Of
the gallant poet:
"Niss Phillis, pray give leave to ex-
press as follows:
Oh. cou,c. you p,ous youth. adore
The wisdom of Ghy God
In bringing thee from distant shore
To learn his holy word.
--EcciesiEstea Ri
Thou mtghtst been left behind
Amidst . dark abode:
Gods tender mercy still combined
Thou hast the holy word.
Psalm cxxxv.
Fair wisdom's ways arc paths Of peace,
And they that walk therein
Shall reap tho joys that never ceas~.
And Christ shall be their king.
Psalm I. L.: Proverbs Ill Z.
Each verse OF this interesting poem
Of Harmon IL Scriptural reference
showing that he Was man well vcrseti
In the Bible and understood how to
apply itx teachings The warmth snd
fervor Of the nddress also show that
unlike some modern poets and authors.
he wasn't jealous Of Phlllis popularity
As a poctess. The third volume of this
rare collection Of wheatleyana Is
broadside of many pages. containing
In facsimile the title pages OF every
edition Of Phillis' poems published In
America and elsewhere. some forty
Ave or more in all, which is strong
proof Of her popularity as a writer OF
clever verse during the Revolutionary
period.
The Negro race owes much to Charles
Frederick Heartmann. who has not
brought out these books to make mon
ey. but primarily to establish the fact
which American writers have been
loath TO admit. that a black woman OF
the Revolutionary period was the only
and greatest poctcss America hsd pro
duced.