JAMES RYDER RANDALL. James Ryder Randall was born at Baltimore, Md., January 1, 1829. He studied at Georgetown College, and later removed to Louisiana. Since then he has held several editorial positions in the South. Randall was one of the leading poets of the Lost Cause. His production was prolific; his style is fresh, spirited, and chivalric. My Maryland is his best lyric. There's Life in the Old Land Yet has in it very quotable lines. Among others of excellence are John Pelham, and the poem beginning, "Weep, Louisiana, weep." Randall's fault, if it be one in a war song-vituperation-is more than atoned for by his energy and vividness. MY MARYLAND. The despot's heel is on thy shore, Maryland! His torch is at thy temple door, Maryland! Avenge the patriotic gore That flecked the streets of Baltimore,' Maryland, my Maryland ! Hark to an exiled son's appeal, Maryland! My Mother State, to thee I kneel, Maryland! For life or death, for woe or weal, Thy peerless chivalry reveal, And gird thy beauteous limbs with steel, Thou wilt not cower in the dust, Maryland ! Thy beaming sword shall never rust, 2 Remember Carroll's sacred trust, 3 Remember Howard's 3 warlike thrust, Come! 't is the red dawn of the day, Maryland ! Come with thy panoplied array, Maryland ! 1 Baltimore, referring to the conflict of the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment with the people of Baltimore, on passing through the town. Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, Revolutionary patriot, born at Annapolis, in 1737, 3 John Eager Howard, a distinguished military officer, born in Baltimore Co., Md., in 1752. 1 With Ringgold's 'spirit for the fray, 2 With fearless Lowe and dashing May,' Dear Mother, burst the tyrant's chain, Maryland ! Virginia should not call in vain, She meets her sisters on the plain, Sic semper!" 't is the proud refrain That baffles minions back amain, Maryland ! Arise in majesty again, Maryland, my Maryland! Come! for thy shield is bright and strong. Come! for thy dalliance does thee wrong, Come to thine own heroic throng Stalking with liberty along, And chant thy dauntless slogan-song,' Maryland, my Maryland ! I see the blush upon thy cheek, Maryland! But thou wast ever bravely meek, Maryland ! Major Samuel Ringgold, born in Washington Co., Md., in 1800. 2 Watson; Lowe; May; Maryland soldiers of local fame. 3 Slogan Song, war cry; used first of a Highland clan in Scotland. But lo! there surges forth a shriek, Maryland, my Maryland! Thou wilt not yield the Vandal toll, Maryland ! Thou wilt not crook to his control, Maryland ! Better the fire upon thee roll, Maryland, my Maryland ! I hear the distant thunder hum The "Old Line's" bugle, fife, and drum, She is not dead, nor deaf, nor dumb; Huzza! she spurns the Northern scum She breathes! she burns! She 'll come ! She'll come ! Maryland, my Maryland ! Edmund Clarence Stedman was born at Hartford, Conn., October 8, 1833. He studied at Yale College, and in his varied career has been editor, critic, essayist, stock-broker, and last but not least, poet. Stedman's largest literary work of general interest is his Poets of America, but his Victorian Poets has won fame for its thorough knowledge of the subject, and for its keen yet temperate criticism. Of his own poems, those which deal with war subjects have won the largest measure of appreciation, and, by their force of unconscious sincerity and passion, are considered to surpass their author's more ornate poems on classical subjects. Wanted-A Man is the chief among these war ballads; others that ought to be mentioned are Sumter and Treason's Last Device. An exquisite fancy, one of the most charming productions of American verse, which does not belong to the war ballads, is the Pan in Wall Street. |