The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1922-01-26
SATURDAY AFTERNOON cLus

At meeting of te Saturday After
noon Club, January 21st, the Kansas
Day program was held. The meeting
was held in the Woman's Building at
the Fort Hays Normal A number Of
outside clubs were present by in
vitation. The following very inter
esting verses, composed by Mrs. a.
B. Stewart, were read:
KANSAS FREE VERSE
Crown jewel IN the diadem of states
Kansas, on this thy anniversary day.
Thy loyal children greet thee; and rejoice
That all unruffied by the flight of time
Thou still pursuest thy pathway to the stars.
We drink thy health today. o. Queen of
statess>
In sparkling water; (since all else is barred
Stern was thy fight with Prohibitions foes.
And somewhat doubtful vet the conflict o-riu,
For men still gather in secure retreats
To whisper secret formulas, the while
Cellars and silos far too oft are found
Stocked with the product of sequestered
But, like true sportsmen. we have stalsed our
Upon the outcome of thy bone-dry game.
To back thee to the limit; till the last
Bootlegger signs upon the dotted line.
And all. thy water-wagOn proudly ride.
We drink. fair Kansas. to thy varied moods.
Today we gayly spin open Fords
Along thy summery, sun-kissed boulevards
Tomorrow hibernate by blazing hearths
While Boreas hurls abroad his icy blasts,
And snowy drifts rise higher still without
Today, with thrOats unclad, maidens
Tomorrow shiver in their fur-lined coats.
And haste to don their full-length- hosiery.
But what of this We still rejoice thou hast
That wide variety that spices life.
We also drink-confusion to thy foes.
The loud-mouthed foreign radicals. that spurn
To walk with thy sober, peaceful paths
But claim the rights of loyal citizens.
All undesired. and un-American
Misrule and anarchy their chosen creed,
o. may our corner of the 'melting-pot'
Soon for these transients prove too ferceIy
Speeding the day that watts them from our
shores,
The while we close and bar our alien doors
And swear by all Puritan forbears,
Henceforth no unwashed alien need apply
Kansas. proud commonwealth, we love thee
still
And laugh to scorn the envious sister states
| Who steal thy dear-bOught thunder. Ahi
Such "PiHe biilowy Sy's miles of 4heat and waving
Such mOrns serene. such nights so cool and
Such kindly friends or warm eOmDan-
So here we pledge allegiance anew
Despite thy noisy FOrds that haunt our sleep:
/ Thy many insect-pests that add to toll
| By rude invasion of our homes and fields.
! Thy floods that sweep away hard-wOn
stores;
| Thy drOuths that mock at us from skies Of
brass:
| Thy willy politicians that evade
! The laws themselves did make. Thy prof
iteers
That gouge patient public day by day;
| Thy moonshine brewers that defy thee still
! Not all these ills. thrice ten thousand
! more.
| Shall swerve from our love and loyalty
| Dear state with all turmoil and unrest,
! Past, present, and for aye. we still are thine.
/ For well we know that when at last stand
! At good st. Peters gate if but wear
| A Kansas sunfiOwer. and Kansas smile,
| Displaying both with all undaunted front,
| By these credentials viii the wise saint
know
! Our earthly status; and forthwith proclaim.
| The while he opens wide the pearly gates.
! IF thou hast come from Kansas. welcome,
friend.
! Our good recording angel doth declare
! Thou hast earths tribulations braVely borne.