Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-03-16

have burned,
Bent bare beneath ruthless sun.
That Banner which Is now the type
or victory OH fled and flood
Remember, its first crimson stripe
Was dyed by Attacks willing blood.
And never-yet has come the cry
When that fair flag has been as
sailed
For men to do, for men to die.
That have we faltercd or have fail
ed.
And never veto naughty Land,
Let us, at least, for this be praised
Has one black. treason-guided hand
Ever against that flag been raised.
These lines are musical and they
contain statements which will on
courage and enthuse every citizen Of
color in the United State.
Author Johnson lives in tho North
land" and he must have noted some
of the experiences Of his own color.
else how could he have written, ''The
White Witch" Here are some of the
lines:
o, brothers mine take care! Take
care!
Tho great white witch rides out to
night,
Trust not your prowess nor your
strength;
Your only safety lies In flight;
For in glance there 10 snare,
And in her smile there Is blight.
O. brothers mine. talk care! Take
care!
The great white witch rides out TO
night.
o, younger brothers mine. be ware!
Look not upon her beauty bright;
For In her glance there is a snare,
And in her smile there is blight.
IF not too late to do any good we
suggest that those lines and the
others that we have not reproduced
be circulated in Chicago, ILL.,, where
the white witch" has ruled practical
sorrow for moro than decade even
our. good friend, Jack Johnson hav--
ing fallen a victim to her wiles. Here
is II musical poetic selection Of only
one stanzn:
L hear the stars stiT singing
:, TO the beautiful silent night,
As they speed with noiseless winging
Their ever westward flight,
I hear the waves still falling
On the stretch of lonely shore,
But the sound of n sweet voice call
ing
shall hear alas! no more.
Poet Johnson reminds us OF Poe's
"Raven" when he writes:
l love to sit alone. and dream,
And dream, and dream;
In fancy's boat to softly glide
Along some stream ~|
Where fairy palaces Of gold
And crystal bright
Stand all along the giistening shore;
A wondrous sight.
My craft is built Of ivory,
With silver oars.
The sails are spun Of golden threads,
And priceless stores
or precious gems adorn its PROV,
And round its mast
An hundred silken cords are set
To hold 1t fast.
MY galley slaves are sprightly elves
Who, as they row
And as their shining oars they swing
Them to and fro,
Keep time to music waited on
The scented air,
Made by the mcrmaids as they comb
Their golden hair.
And | the while lie idly back,
And dream, and dream.
And let them row me where they Will
, Adown the stream. .
Poet Johnson Is so entrancingly be
witching with his lines that it is a
source OF qualification to know tina:
some one has been bewitching either
to him or to his friends. How else
could he have pcnncd the following
lines?
Old Devil, when. you come with horns
and tail,
Wi N diabolic grin and crafty lcer;
I say, such bogey-man devices fail
TO waken in my heart single
fear.
But when you wear a form l know
So well,
A form so human. yet so near di
vine;
"Tis then I fall beneath the mage OF
Your spell,
"ris then I know the vantage is
not mine.