The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-03-16
BY JERRY SHERIDAN

"NTOST people think Indiana
AVA poetry begins and ends with
James Whitcomb Riley" said Lu-
ther Dickerson, Indianapolis Ii
brarian, "but this is far from the
truth. Indiana had poets much
earlier than Mr.. Riley, and I will
go so far as to say there will be
a poet or two who deserves to be
included after the Hoosier Poet"
I began to warm up to the sub
ject, and we pulled our chairs
together and started on this
poetry business in earnest. Then,
from the files of the library-baf-
fling things themSelves-from Mr..
Dickerson's memory, and with a
little help from DR.. Christopher
Coleman of the State Library, we
called back few years from the
history of Indiana poetry.
It seems the grass needed cut
ting around the Capitol building
in 1850, and things we're in a
terrible condition for Gov. Wright.
He invited the other Governors of
the western provinces to take bed
and board with him while they
talked over the Interests of the
Union and of peace.
Nov Nathaniel Bolton was state
librarian at this time, and part of
his chore was the cutting of what
ever grass was missed by the COWS
and goats in and around the Cap
itol. g.
This grass, we learn, was soon
dried into a fine bit of hay and
the thrifty Mr.. Bolton was al
lowed, under his ironclad con-
tract, to sell this for whatever
gain he might make.
DUT to poetry-Mrs. Bolton,
- wife of the versatile librarian,
was proud, and torn carpets in the
legislative chambers were no part
of Mrs. Bottoms scheme of things.
She bothered the Governor until
he bought some carpet strips. Mrs.
Bolton called in the ladies of the
day, and they sat Ill circles, hence
the name sewing circles, sewed to-
gether these strips for the House
and the Senate.
But as she rocked Mrs. Bolton
must have thought in terms of
verse, for it was during this sew
ing business that she wrote pad
die Your Own Canoe" recited and
set to music 30 years ago.
The esteemed Mrs. Bolton wrote
other verses, of course, but this
one will make her name an item
in anybody's book on Indiana
poets.
Then Mr.. Dickerson reminded
us of Benjamin S. Parker, who
lived around Newcastle. Mr.. Park
err was little before our time,
but we have read his Cabin in the
Clearing" written in 1887, which
shows considerable skill.
Then there were Maurice
Thompson, Charlottesville, and
his brother, Will H. Thompson.
1t pleased these gentlemen, when
not actively engaged in their ia
vorite pursuit of versifying, to
take a stout bow and a sheaf of
arrows and stalk game through
the woods. 1t is shown that the
MeSsrs. Thompson we're largely
responsible for the sudden revival
of archery in the seventies"
NTOW you take Meredith
~ Nicholson" suggested Mr..
Dickerson. 1t seems the now
celebrated novelist and represen-
tative of these United States in
Venezuela used to turn out poem
or two. His "Poems-1906," and
Short Flights" are out of print
but in demand.
Another gentleman from In
diana whose job included dip
lomacy and dactylics was one John
Hay whose homely Jim Bludso"
was rooted in one sort of Ameri-
can philosophy. Mr.. Hay took his
poetry less seriously than most,
for once he wrote: It appreciate
a good word for Jim, who is a
friend of mine, but I shudder in
the cellar only when the boy in
the small knickerbockers is men,
toned" He referred to a eoem
he had written on Little
Brooches.
Then We turned the withered
leaves of the record and found
some nice white crisp listings
which included Hildegarde Elan
ner, whose published verse in
cludes This Morning" Tree in
Bloom" and Times Profile"
Hildegarde is a native Hoosier,
who went to California to live.
MO account of Indiana poetry,
L Y thinks Mr.. Dickerson, is at
all inclusive without Z. Merrill
Root, professor at Earlham Col
lege. MIR. Root IS a Hoosier by
adoption.
Then that indianapolis lady,