The Kadoka press. [volume] (Kadoka, S.D.) 1923-current, 1924-04-11
MAJOR COURSEY ON
SOUTH DAKOTA AUTHORS
Address before the teachers Of
Washabaugh County at Wanblee
Saturday April 5th.

Upon an urgent lnNltatlOn OF
SupGrIntendent ). M. Noo0s a.l
M"i"f -. ". Aoul>vs ti.~ .~pol I,
oi tlc ress WAS IayoIeu wLsn an
/ opportunity to near lne lecture on
south Dakota Authors" 10y the
soldier, educator and poet Of the
sunshine state before the teachers
meeting at Wanblec last Saturday.
A lecture on literature has always
been the last public meeting the
kadoka pencil pusher would at
tend. AS q matter Of fact ne
would much prefer to pay for
the privilege OF staying away. he
was preJudlced against all lectures
on literature.
However the balmy spring breez-
es and the good company cnroute
enticed him from the smell of inks
and oils into the open.
After smooth slide down the
governors highway as far as it is
finished, and then few appetite
giving bumps on the remaining
stretch to Wanblee made the reser-
vation visitors ready for a good
meal, such as was served them
appetizingly by Mrs. Clark.
Farmers and ranchers joined the
teachers and the hospitable town
folk of Washabaughs center of
population just to hear the state
wide known gentleman from Nit
chell.
Washabaugh school superintend-
ent j. NJ. Woods appropriately in
troduced the speaker with q cordial
smile as the man who showed
South Dakotans what a great state
they really were in n literary way"
After brief explanation of his
inability of bringing Superintend-
ent Christoffer of the Milwaukee
railroad with him on account of
other duties, he ventured to prom
Use them to bring the gentieman
early IN the summer and the good
peonle of the reservation are look
ing to Mr.. Coursey to keep this
promise.
He then told his attentive listen
crs that he felt right at home
among them and lOnged for the
day when he might spend his days
IN the fresh air next to nature and
away from books and offices.
L like this fine country of yours
continued the poet rs ne got
firmer grip on his audience. Il
shall always hold Washabaugh
county dear to my heart, for it was
here that was baptized some years
ago and reconsecrated to this great
country OF yours when nv friend
Nh. j. II. Dithmer immersed me
IN Corn Creek on one of my visits
to your fine country"
The Spanish-American war vet
eran was telling the truth. SOME
flve years ago when Corn creek was
on one OF its seasonal stampedes,
the crossing was dangerous. Mr..
Dlthmers auto got beyond control
ana ms lone passenger was un-
eXpectedly thrown clear of the car
and submerged in the creek as the
chilly breezes of early May waited
over the reviving prairies. This in
cldent Mr.. COursoV never forpets
and will serve him as a vivid re-
minder of that trip some five
years ago with John the Baptist
nee Henry Dithmer.
with fiery earnestness the sneak
e. tncl "iVed straight for hiss
ffavorlte topic, the literature of
south Dakota. He clearly proved
his title to speak as one having
authority for he had known person.
ally all the writer's of the state for
the last forty one years.
tie divided our state literature
INTO two classes and discussed II
from the standpoint of b;stor, anJ
then from the view point of geop.
raphy. ~ VI Seos
9 There is room here for only the
iirst' the second phase viii he
taken up in an earl issue.
treat historic events brought
Iorth such poems aa "Thc Star
SSJpangied Banner. Sheridans Ride"
Col. McGrays 'In-Flanders F;aIdv
and Doan Robinsons History nf
thc Spapish-American War" ybon
south Dakotas own sons returned
from that war. ~ '"'''c"