The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-12-25
COWBOY POET IS
NOW REAL Student
Professor Dale, Only 26, Be
gins His Career at Harvard.
Has Written Poems.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass, Dec. %. tBy In
ternational News Service. )--Speaklng Of
COWBOYS. poets. policemen and college
professors, the career Of Prof. Edward
Everett Dale, Of the history department
Of the University of Oklahoma Is most
absorbing, Just at present he Is on
sabbatical lease from his university and
studying for degree at Harvard uni
yersity
From chasing bucking bronchos on
the Oklahoma pla us. from rapid days
and lights as a member OF shertfts
posse In the bad lands, to writing Poe
try TO n maiden's eyes, and a profess
sor's chair are pretty far leaps, ac-
cording to general off-hand opinion,
Yet this Is the experience Of Prof. Dale,
Prof. Dale at 20 years OF age, with
only a back country eighth grade educa-
ton. knocked off cattle branding, laid
down his six shooteR and took up Latin
books and the French grammar with
such avidity that now he Is n full
Pledged professor, q poet and curator
Of a museum Of Indian relics. Just at
this minute he is, however, studying
for his Ph.D. at Harvard. In the late
police strike Prof Dale did yeoman
service In South Boston.
Which was Il very dangerous way to
spend his honeymoon" said little Mrs.
l&Ale, bride Of three months But !
hadn't any idea 1t was SO bad till il
was all over You see, here in this
house where William Dean Howells
used to write his books when he lived
in Cambridge, It Is all quiet and peace
tul enough,
Prof. Dale Is the author OF collee-
ton of cowboy poems immoftalizing
long night watches over thousands OF
cattle loose on the range. He writes in
somewhat the same rugged style as.
Robert Burns. There Is one, for in
stance, Of the cowboy who Is just
little weary OF his sojourn gapart from
the nearest neighbors. That cowboy
has reached the stake where he wishes
TO be "plueked "-7matrimonially speak
ing. As lie remarks in the following
Loem;
THE COWBOY LARlAT,
| work for Bin Mcdonald
The Flyin' Diamond boss;
III rope or shoot with any man
That ever rode a boss.
I'm allus writn' verses
Wherever | am AT,
An SO the boys all call me
TIL Poet Larlat
like a game o. poker,
like to rope steer,
| like nip o. whisky
Or just a little beer.
| like TO smoke u cigarette.
! like to set an chat
But most Of all like to be
\ Poet Lariat.
think Ill quit the punchin'
or gay and festive steers,
| An get a wife an settle down
IN my declnin' Years,
I'll take q claim an build a shack
An keep Q dog and cat,
An be il family man, but still
A Poet Lariat.
The girl has said she's willin
She thinks she wouldn't mind
To have a man about the house
II he was good and kind
I'm sure Ven pull together
An never row an spat
An she will be most happy
With her Poet I.ariat
Perhaps this story should end with a
cowboy poet professors little poem to
his bride. Here II is.
You are the apple OF my eye,
Though far beyond my reach.
You've had such careful raisin'
You surely are peach
Your fathers plum disguised,
And vet why should he care?
For almost everyone would say
We make Il lovely pear.
l never saw man go
To such extremes as he.
HE says he wants no damn
Son-tn-law like me.
fear You'll have to berry me
Unless you give me hope.
SO tell me, deurest tell me quick
just why we canteloupe?