Life — April 30, 1908 — page 9: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

James Jeffrey Roche TH recent death of James Jeffrey Roche may recall to earlier readers of Lire his poem, ‘The Vase,” which ap- peared in our number of June 5, 1884. This bit of verse, at once copied all over the country, illustrates the delightful and unfailing humor that characterized Koche’s daily intercourse with his a ciates: THE V-A-S-E From the madding crowd they stand apart, The maidens four and the Work of Art; And none might tell from sight alone In which had Culture ripest grown—- ‘The Gotham Million fair to sce, The Philadelphia Pedigree, The Boston Mind of azure hue, Or the soulful Soul from Kalamazoo— For all loved Art in a scemly way With an earnest soul and a capital A. * * ~LIFE- ; but no one broke until up spoke Long they worshipe: ‘The sacred stillness ‘The Western one from the nameless place, Who, blushing, said : “What a lovely vase.” Over three faces a sad smile flew, And they edged away from Kalamasso: But Gotha: To crush the s\ haughty soul was stirred ger with one small word. Deftly hiding reproof in praise, She cries: “Tis, indeed, a lovel aze! But brief her unworthy triumph when The lofty one from the house of Penn, With the consciousness of two grandpapas, Exclaims: “It is quite a lovels vahs!” And glances round with an anxious thrill, Awaiting the word of Beacon Hill. But the Boston maid smiles courtcouslee And gently murmurs: “Oh, pardon me! 453 I did not catch your remark, because I was so entranced with that charming vaws!" Dies erit praegelida Sinistra quum Bostonia. James Jefirey Roche. In the following lines Mr. Herford— also a personal friend—pays a tribute to the dead poet: es TO JAMES JEFFREY ROCHE Lyric Heart was tuncd to beat » madrigals and measures sweet ; rless he trod, yet feared to gain A foothold on another's pain. Mirthful his glance, and yet serene His gaze upon the things unscen; Childish his faith, gentle his creed,— Whom the Gods loved, died young indeed. Oliver Herford. the Vaudeville, which I represent, has been removed, the Drama should be placed on its legs. By E. H. Harriman: ‘This is a great day for our common coun- try. Now that Bill Taft is free to speak his own mind, and I've been vindicated by my board of directors, there being no further danger of my ornamenting a jail, a New 2 of Prosperity and high-minded specula- tion should dawn upon the American people. ‘The following messages were received : From the Czar: If I can arrange matters and secure my new bomb-proof auto in time, I will meet you at Doubrofskayaski. Nictoias. From the peror William : Expect me to join you somewhere on the Me and Gott are with you. Wiiram. It must be confessed that the journey overland, while it had been accomplished without serious accident, had tried the courage of the intrepid Metcalfe. The unexpected and bitter Arctic experience in the Fairbanks zone, the persistency of the Theatrical Trust and the constant contact with Dub Comstock were in them- selves enough to weaken anything but the true Yale Spirit. “Old man” said Bill Taft, in a burst of confidence, “if we had been graduated way ww that this menace to Dramatic Art and - from Harvard or Princeton, would we have gotten through those snowdrifts?” And Metcalfe, with the shade of Old Eli strong within him, replied: “Never!” Buoyed up with the thought of these strong reinforcements, the Zip once more resumed its journey from San Francisco to Valdez, Alaska, and from thence to Nome. Later—We have just received the fol- lowing dispatch from Metcalfe, dated Point, Alaska, on the way to nding this on to Valdez by our last carrier pigeon, with instructions to wire. Pleasant journey from from the fact that the crankshaft twisted, the bevel gear on rear axle worn, the carbureter float split, the connecting rods loose from the coupling pins, four cylin- ders scarred and the reverse cut through, the car is in fine condition. Have had Comstock working on it day and night. Drifts here pretty bad. Have seldom scen them worse in the streets of New York. J. S.M. P.S.—Up to the hour of going to press, no further message has come in. We have learned by wire from Valdez, how- ever, that so far as can be ascertained, ide was Frisco. Comstock left the car beyond Isaac’s Point, with instructions to push on to Solomon. It is feared that he is lost in the snow. P.S. No, 2—Great anxiet for whereabouts of Anthony who had not, up to last advice Solomon. It is understood Taft stationed himself on radiator of car, where he could be seen for miles around, but Comstock made no signal. is now felt Comstock, , reached that Mr. Summit, N. J.—Nothing was talked of here to-day but the missing reformer. Mr. Metcalfe was criticized for sending him out ahead, but it was pointed out that Comstock was used to being frozen out of all circles and that there was no reason why an Arctic one should feaze him. It is still hoped that he may show up. Metropolitan Museum of Art—Groups of people gathered here all day to-day and discussed the situation. The news that Anthony Comstock was probably lost in the snow was grected with profound silence. “What will be the effect of Mr. Com- stock’s loss on American art?” was asked one of the directors. “We fear the worst,” he replied, moodily. (To be continued—it is hoped) comicbooks.com