The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1922-10-05
Continued Next week).
MISSISSIPPI POETS.

Volume cf Verse Shows Best From
Pens Of Our Native Writers.
There has just been issued an at
tractive volume Of 204 pages compiled
by Miss Ernestine Devours Of Laurel,
and published by e. II. Clarke and
Brother, Memphis, entitled "Thc Mis-
sissippi Poels.1 The purpose Of The
publication is to present IN a single
volume one or more characteristic se-
lections Of each poet that Mississippi
has produced IT is surprising to
count 73 authors who have been deem
ed worthy Of a place ia the book; and
in the preface Miss DeVours asks that.
if any have been omitted, her atten-
tion be called to it, that the error may
be remedied ia future revisions. 1T
is not claimed that the bcsi selection
Of each writer is given, because often
that would have necessitated insertion
Of a longer poem than the proportions
Of the volume would admit. IN the
case Of thirty y-eight Of the authors'
separate volumes one or more Of their
respective poems have been published.
At the head Of each selection or set
Of selections very short biographi-
cal sketch Of the author Is given. and
the arrangement is according to the
alphabetical order Of the authors,
names, beginning with Henry nj.
Abney and ending with Stark Young.
Included among Mississippi poets are
those born ia the state, and also those
who lived In the state for any coneid-
cradle period Of time. About 25 Of
the 73 are still living, and about a
dozen of these are living now IA Mis-
sissippi The following are mention
ed as being resident at the present
time IN Jackson: Grace Hyer Hem
ingway, David Moore. Eron Opha
Rowland, Edmund G. Shannon. Al
berta Odell Smith.
Several Of the authors were teach
ers, several editors, several lawyers.
Miss Percy Of Greenville: one was a
Jewish Rabbi IN. M. Blen) Of Viclxs-
burg; one. 4. A. s. Adams, Metho-
dist minister; another a Choctaw min
ister, Israel Folsom. Four names
from Blue Mountain are included III
the volume-A II Elicit, David Guy
ton, Booth Lawrey, and Perrin H.
Lowrey
It is noticeable that The two writer's
deemed worthy Of the LARGEST space
in the volume We're both afflicted ply
sicapy, S. Newton Berryhli of Web
ster county, who from early manhood
could not stand on his feet, and Irwin
Russell of Port Gibson. who was blind
IN one eye and frail
RussclPs poems are chiefly IN joe
lar negro dialect: but the following
stanza from his Exchange shows that
he was capable Of dignifled strain:
So when our dau arrives,
Why cling we 90 our ivesz
Though they be clean and fair,
Or stained with sin and care,
The bargain cannot be adverse;
An old life for 2 new one,
Death cannot make a false soul
worse,
Or ever change true one.
The book ought to have such q
large circulation that it's compilation
and publication will prove q real ser.
vice, fulfilling the hope Of Miss De.
YOURS that it will help to awaken al
interest IN literary matters IN Mis-
sissippi"
The poet encourages patience, cour.
age, faith, and inspires to high ideals
He inculcates love and loyalty Eyery
one should be the better BY reading
this little volume. it's patriotic
Opportunity" by Malone: nM5
Castle BY Berryhiil, and "Question
ings," BY Herman. Henry g. Hawk
ms, in Jackson News.
While the published poems Of Rus
sell were in q light vein. there werl
some Of his unpublished writing