Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1921-12-08
WISCONSIN HAS
WRITERS OF FAME
BADGER SCIENTISTS ARE
LITERARY ARTISTS
SONGS THAT LIVE
s'a'e Historical sos,eyv

IT may seem strange but ir is true
that among our Wisconsin authors, the
finest literary style, outside of pure
literature, is found in the writings of
scientists. | should like especially
to call your attention TO the style of
John Muir whom Emerson called the
Sequoia OF the Human Race, and of
Charles ID. Stewart, who came to Wis
consin as a boy, ran away from home
at IL, returned .at 19 and then went
to Wayiand Academy from which he
graduated Mr.. Stewart is a wood
cutter and engraved the figuse of Puck
at the Worlds Fair held at Chicago.
He is not only fascinating writer on
scientific topics, but also one who
ranks with Mark Twain in humor and
understanding of boy life. | have just
been reading Buck and shall not
rest until can get hold of his Fugi-
tive Blacksmith. | wish time did not
prevent me from reading few para
graphs from On a Moraine'. A read
ing of John Muirs Snow Banners
proves to you that ourWisconsin scien-
lists are our real artists in word paint
ing.
THE boyhood of John Muir is a fas-
land, he came with his family 10 Amer
lea when he was eleven years old. The
family settled near Portage where the
old homestead can still be seen and
the well which John Muir Clipped
through eighty feet of solid granite.
His only schooling was what he re-
ceived in Scotland, but now his edu-
cation was continued by the variety
nf fc ha %, tI.o
velous life of the new country into
which he had come, He found a few
books which he read so assiduousIy
that his folks had to drive him to bed
at night. He compromised by retiring
early but arising at two o'clock with
the help OF eontraption he had in
vented which tipped him out of bed
at two, set him on his feet and lighted
a lamp. He invented clocks, thermom-
eters, barometer and self-setting
saw mill. Later when he attended the
university, he invented machine that
made visible the growth of plants and
the action Of sunlight, and a desk that
automatically threw up the book he
needed and withdrew it again at close
of the study hour following it with
the next book. Later he went west
and studied the Yosemite, the Sierras
and Alaska. His writings on the Yose-
mite made him famous. His books are
written out of fund of wide and crit
ical observation and with the pen of
master word painter. When you get
tired of the best sellers read John
Muir's Mountains of California, Our
National Parks, The Yosemite, and
you will feel how beautiful are the
mountains and how near, to God.
Il regret that time forbids more
than a passing mention OF Increase
Lapham of Milwaukee, Charles r. Van
tiise and George c. Comstock, of Mad
ison, and Albert H. Sanford, of Ste
vens Point, whose scientific writings
have been distinct contribution to
the prestige and the advancement of
our state.
Song Writers
'"When we turn to the song writer's
Of Wisconsin we find pleasant sur
prises Some of the songs that never
seem to lose their hold upon our
hearts were written by Wisconsin au-
thors. Back in 1855 family moved
from New York to a farm near Apple
ton. IL the family was seven year
sionate love for flowers and fruits and
gardens and the life processes that
made them beautiful. AT "a this boy
went to Lawrence college, but was
called home before he could finish the
Senior year. His literary output in
poetry, hymns, love stories and es-
pecially in practical books on garden
ing was so valuable that in 1908 Law
pnn Ia 80
as mark of appreciation. IL was
this man who wrote, when he was but
18 years old, that immortal love song
of the middle aged Silver Threads
Among the Cold for which he received
$500 from the Frank LeslIe's Chin
ney Cover. ] need not name his many
books on Horticulture but / do wish
TO recall that Eben Eugene Rexford
wrote When Silver Threads Are Gold
Again, Only Pansy Blossom, oh
Morning Land, Scatter Sunshine by
the Way, and many other hymns. He
was not great song writer as the
critic judges them, but how many mil
lions have been made better by his
writings, no mortal can ever know.
He expressed his own idea of success
in the following lines:
Oolnrdue nine, let us help each
other,
BY words that strengthen and cheer
and bless,
The good that's done to needy
brother
God makes the measure of mans
success
Another song that swept the coun-
try five years before Silver Threads
Among the Cold, was the product of
two men that lived at Elkhorn. S. F.
Bennett, who kept drug store at Elk
horn, wrote the words and local mu-
sician composed the music of the hymn
that has been the comfort of weary
hearts everywhere, In the Sweet Bye
and Bye
There's land that is fairer than
day
And by faith we can see it afar.
For the Father waits over the way
To prepare us dwelling place
there
Joseph p. Webster, who composed
the music, was violinist nervous.