Omaha daily bee., 1921-08-14
Famous "Smile" Verse
Written by Omaha Man
Delectable Bit of Poetry
Has Made Rounds of
Newspapers 20 Years
Under Various Au-
thors' Names.

Betscy Ross built the first flag
but it took George Cohan to make
it popular. The flag waved DER the
land of the free and the home Of the
brave many moons before people
really got to know what it was. Then
George began writing popular
songs and he had the happy faculty
of putting in a strain of Francis
Scott Keys immortal song, here and
there, and George even waved the
flag on the stage at times. Finally
people just had to recognize the
Star-Spangled Banner.
George also made people realize
what the Fourth of July was for,
not because it was Georgic's BIRTH
day, but because it was what it is.
The smile has been known to
countless generations. 1t was Cleo
patra's smiles that made a bum out
OF Antony. 1t was Juliet's smiles
in the moonlight that brought
Romeo to an early grave. Smiles
have done much in the worlds his
tory, but it remained for an Omaha
man to make smiling an international
pastime.
You've Read 1t.
You have read the following little
verse many times and smiled because
of the pure philosophy Of the thing:
Smile awhile:
While you smile
Another smiles
And soon there's miles
And miles
OF smiles;
And life's worth while
II you but smile.
The author of this bit of fugitive
verse, which has been printed in al
most every language and on thou
sands Of art cards, postal cards, cal
endars and wall mottos, is Zane
Thompson, 13l North Thirty-hrst
avenue, formerly with the old Chi
cago Record-Herald, but now mem-
bersbip secretary for the Omaha
Automobile club.
Verse Goes Rounds.
Mr.. Thompson is som what in the
position of father who has famous
SON., The little verse, written 20
years ago, has gone the rounds. 1t
hiss been accredited to many famous
aathors, the latest being James Whit
c.irt,e Riley, as late Edison record
declares. Mr.. Thompson has watched
his brain child go into the world, be-
coming famous, hobnobbing with
celebrities, being quoted by states
,nea and prohibitionists as well as
suftragists and saloonkeepers. 1t has
BEEN used at banquets, political ral-
li.a ald prayer meetings.
"Yts wise father that knows his
oxn child" Mr.. Thompson says.
Tho verse has been printed hundreds
Of smes and like most verse that
t:e.s into print appears before the
public limping and mutilated.
Gives Original Version
But as Mr.. Thompson knew the
verse before it became famous he has
given the original version.
Mr.. Thompson contributed the
verse to the Chicago rd-Herald
when S. E. Kiser was conducting a
column entitled alternating Cur
rents" Each Monday he had col
umn especially for contributors
which he called Dipped From the
Streets" 1t was in the latter col
umn the verse first appeared.
Soon after its appearance it was
printed and reprinted. Authors
claimed it. Papers fought for the
honor of having been its father and
above all it started an epidemic OF
smile" verses that was national.
Feminists Claim 1t
When the verse first appeared Mr..
Thompson suffered the usual indig-
nifty of those who burst into song
and print, OF having his name
spelled "Jane" instead Of Zane. SO the
feminists have always claimed the
little verse.
Mr.. Thompson himself sue
cumbed to the disease he had start
cd and wrote other smile verses, but
none that could compare with his