Memorials James Lorimer Graham Jr.

1 memorials

1.1 george henry boughton
1.2 algernon charles swinburne
1.3 bayard taylor
1.4 edmund clarence stedman
1.5 richard henry stoddard

memorials
george henry boughton

dear , old friend, jas. lorimer graham, me, young , struggling artist, sort of deputy providence. when providence seemed carelessly looking after seemed youthful mind minor matters, lorrie not there there see i, one, did not become prey of black despair want of either moral or material light or sweetness (or coin of realm). remember did not love him on principle of if not kind me care how kind be! rather seemed radiate kindness , graceful fellowship him. appeared draw him rare gift of personal magnetism of best of human sympathy. love of loved him love, light of life. love religion, , hate 1 thing, meanness. narrowness disliked; tolerate when confused idea of exclusiveness. merely looked on disease. memories , experiences of lorrie many, , varied , intimate, hesitate parade latter, , have no pardonable time inflict former. may simplify saying when days darkest , hopeless, came little god clouds, , charmingly , gracefully, , patronizingly, , darkey hymn says, jest rolled dem clouds away! will, sure, knowing him, believe me, , fancy saw how did it. lorrie born practical joker, , kindest acts partook of light side of nature. joke not practical; kind object , outcome of never failed welcome success. owe lorrie graham of brightest , best memories of life. if went detail, should need more space spare me. among books given club may book of fellows. in see bit of parody me, faint hint of thought of him then. , since believe me light has not been dimmed memory. intensely glad has left bookish treasures dear old century club. lovely books soul s delight, , (quite uncalled for, m sure) prayer is, may love , treasure , enjoy them sake, , practically forever.

algernon charles swinburne

epicede
in memory of james lorimer graham, jr., died @ florence, april 30th, 1876,
i.
life may give love death
little; life s gifts worth
to dead, wrapt round earth?
yet lips of living breath
sighs or words fain give.
all yet, while yet live,
life may give love death.
ii.
dead long before day,
passed out of italian sun
to dark done,
fallen upon verge of may;
here @ life s , april s end
how should song salute friend
dead long before day?
iii.
not kindlier life or sweeter
time, lights , quenches men,
now may quench or light again,
mingling mystic metre.
woven of men s lives his,
not cleaner note this.
not kindlier life or sweeter.
iv.
in heavenliest part of earth
he living loved light,
light , song, may rest aright.
one in death, if strange in birth.
with deathless dead make
life lovelier sake
in heavenliest part of earth.
v.
light , song sleep @ last ;
struggling hands , suppliant knees
get no goodlier gift these :
song holds remembrance fast.
light lightens death, attend
round graves have friend
light , song , sleep @ last.

bayard taylor

when departs.
i.
when departs, sun-like glow
has warmed our light, convivial air —
whose music taught our own flow —
who gave our meetings grace fair.
should not meet, now, greet
and pledge him in our heart of hearts;
to stay wine , song feet.
when departs?
ii.
when departs, gentle shade
shall touch mirth loved wake;
the jest shall droop, wit shall fade.
the wine in dimmer sparkles break:
yet hours these shall still appease.
with joy remembered, memory s smarts.
and keep him ours, o er lands , seas.
when departs!
iii.
when departs, love him most
who wins love wakes regret:
if wine tears, still should toast —
if wine blood, d pledge him yet!
so warm , kind, s linked , twined
with s fondest in our hearts.
and firmer friends leaves behind
when departs!
iv
when departs — yet, ah! strain
but our fervent feelings wrong:
our hearts confess tenderer pain
than hovers round lips of song.
delaying still, will,
we ll check to-night sigh starts,
and 1 last cup of gladness fill
when departs!

edmund clarence stedman

ad grahamum abeuntem.
take, france, whom take much
of wisdom , of folly.
take shall reward clutch
and leave melancholy!
receive within sunniest part.
where life s ripe fruitage mellows,
this comrade boon of song , art
and peer of fellows.
-
though @ envious bidding led
to leave here regretful,
your beauty cannot turn head
nor make heart forgetful;
so, mind, d have kindly treat,
fair france, lad lend you.
and may find service sweet,
and may love befriend you!
-
our wits grow warmer wine.
but henceforth spare it.
while s across brine —
not here share it ;
see how painters hang heads,
the poets sorry.
and long to-night ll shun beds —
so loth lose lorry.
-
alack! years run race,
and waxing grayer,
but shall have, in every place,
our benison , prayer:
he ll our toast in land.
we ll posset yonder:
no seas, loosen hand hand,
shall keep our souls asunder.
-
but how red, red wine shall pour,
and how wit shall waken.
when, sunny france, once more
he claims seat forsaken!
the word shall flit mouth mouth.
and every 1 name me
shall bring, north or east or south,
his welcome hame jamie!
-
then barker s handsome face shine,
and kensett s eyes glisten,
and lang shall sing our auld lang syne,
and gray punch shall christen;
venetian cranch again shall chant
the fate of little billee,
perennial stansbury descant
upon latest filly;
-
and bowles across continent
shall haste share our glory,
and barstow, ere night spent,
shall tell hundredth story;
while mitchell sabine farm
will gently glide atween us,
with virgil yet beneath arm.
to greet returned maecenas;
-
and bond shall bind again, now.
our circle-ends together.
and smooth broad, judicial brow,
and make sunny weather;
bierstadt leave artist-throne
among hudson breezes.
and hunt , thompson, famous grown,
their architraves , friezes;
-
and boker s laurelled head loom
in mediaeval splendor,
while taylor s muse shall hush room.
and stoddard s true , tender:
methinks draughts ll swallow up
will strain each swollen kidney.
while curtis won t refuse cup —
for once unlike sidney.
-
there s courtly blodgett here
and fisk share our rations.
and dodge — hold virtues dear
as though wem t relations!
and, if send greeting back
to france our hearts desire,
undaunted field shall not lack
nor field s immortal wire.
-
even may heaven keep all,
each young , elder brother.
through weal , woe — whate er befall —
to make night another!
and should fate clip dull career
who reads these wanton numbers,
be sure spirit s here
altho body slumbers.
-
then gently, france, receive guest;
bright ways before him.
and these portals of west
in own time restore him.
free float ship, no rude gales,
no evil sprites retarding —
but favoring zephyrs fill sails,
with angels guarding!

richard henry stoddard

what can give him, hath given,—
that princely heart, on kind me,
who, richly guerdoned both of earth , heaven,
holds friends heritage in fee?
no costly trinket of golden ore, 5
nor precious jewel of distant ind:
ay me! these not hoarded in store,
who have no coffers grateful mind.
what gift then,—nothing? stay, book of song
may show poverty , thy desert,
steeped in love, , love’s sweet wrong,
red blood ran through shakespeare’s heart.
read once more, and, fancy soaring free,
think, if thou canst, singing thee!