The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1918-11-30
any likely individual, especially in
the newspaper service.
THE NOTED PROSE POET

any likely individual, especially in
the newspaper service.
Dwight, ILL.,, had come into promi-
nence because of its institution for
giving the gold cure to inebriates. A
branch Kelley cure was established
at Blair, Nebraska. One day a few
of Mason's friends bought him
! ticket and loaded him onto the train
for Blair. He was given the cure
because his prominence would be a
walking advertisement OF the insti-
tuition.
I eventually heard of Mason at
Beatrice, Neb.. where he was editing
a weakly little publication. His
work lacked the life and humor OF
the old days on the Nebraska State
Journal. The poor fellows writings
made one think of an old furnace
that has been burned out, a volcano
that has spouted it's last lava.
I never knew that Walt Mason
went back to his cups until 1 read
his personal article in the American
Magazine. I saw his prose rhymes
in the papers, after they were syn
Dictated, but never knew his history
during a long period of years in be-
tween.
I have been told that Walt Mason
is a Welshman in blood. He has a
huge head and, in the old days. it
was covered with a thick, heavy
thatch of hair. There was a facial
expression about the eyes similar to
that of f. B. Knox. His form was
similar to that of mayor Magney
but less calmly and, in walking, he
Waddled like duck. His face, as
a whole, was solemn when in repose
and rather expressionless, but it did
not take much to bring a smile and
humorous squint to the small.
half-closed eyes. Physically, Mason
was something Of caricature, droll.
odd, out Of the ordinary, just like
his writings.
The noted American prose poet
had an extremely sensitive sense of
humor. What made MANY people
mourn would make him laugh. What
some considered the sublime became
the ridiculous to him. For that rea-
son, he never would attend a funeral.
The weeping, the long faces and in
eidents of funeral seemed SO gro
tesque that he was moved to laugh
ter rather than tears.
At the time Of the Johnstown
Hood, the papers reported some
touching incident in connection with
a little girl. l cannot recSllect the
details. Walt Mason read it and was
moved to strike his Tyre. From the
street to the editorial rooms of the
journal was one of the longes.
Inghts OF stairs l ever have climbed.
one night, when so drunk that he
mad to go up that long flight on his
hands and knees, Mason sat down to
MS desk and, with pen and violet ink.
wrote a little poem that was a tear
starter, bas1ng it on the incident Of
the little girl in the Johnstewn flood.
Inc poem was copied in papers all
over the United States. A noted
composer set 1t to music and it was
sung Tar and near. Although his
legs had surrendered to the influ
ence or Old John Barleycorn, the
Mason brain was clear. Perhaps
the alcoholic influence gave his nro-
duction its tone of touching sadness
instead OF the customary humor.
When Gen. Grant made his famous
trip around the world the Sultan of
turkey presented him with two
thoroughbred Arabian horse. One
was called Linden Tree.
In due course, Linden Tree was
bought by Gen. L. w. Colby. a MO
neer citizen of Beatrice. Neb.. noted
lawyer and an officer in the state
militia at time of the outbreak of
the Sioux which saw the death of
Sitting Bull.
Mason wrote many jokes about
Linden Tree and Gen Colby. Finally
Colby invited the humorist down to
Beatrice to see the blue-blooded
Arab steed. Mason went at the time
OF some editorial convention, there
fore was we'll stimulated. He called
on Gen. Colby, saw the horse and
tnen insisted on riding the animal.
Walt Mason on horseback would
be like putting duck on a bicycle.
Out In the suburbs of Beatrice the
humorist fell off the horse into a
mudpuddle. The animal galloped
back to the barn and Mason picked
himself up, badly fuddled as we'll as
very wet and muddy.
Half an hour later, a prominent
Beatrice society lady had occasion
to go to the front of her house.
There, in the parlor by a stove, she
found a strange man in his under
clothes, with wet and muddy outer
garments hanging on chairs in front
of the fire.
The stranger was Walt Mason. In
his intoxicated condition, assuming
that the house was his hotel, he had
entered the door, taken possession
of the parlor and made himself at
IA