Literature of South Dakota, O. W. Coursey

Front matter

Class VSz^<^

Book ^ S d C y

Gop}Tight ]*^^_

Preface

The History of South Dakota has been written, at various times, during the past twenty years, separately, by Armstrong, Robinson, Kerr, Bachelder, Foster, Ransom, Kingsbury and Smith; the Civics, by Smith and Young, Ross, Johnson, and Ransom; the Geology, by Todd, O'Harra, and Perisho; the Geography, by Beadle, Perisho and Visher; a History, by titles, of the published books of the state has been made by Robinson in Historical Reports, and a similar list has been compiled by Kerr. But the Literature, proper, of the state has never been written. The nearest approach to it is a book of "Dakota Rhymes," compiled by Wenzlaff and Burleigh ; but, as suggested by the title, their book contains verse only, while, as a matter of fact, much of our best literature and many of our ablest writers are found wholly in the field of prose. However, they deserve great credit for collecting the material for their book, otherwise many of our best poetical productions might have been lost forever.

The compilation of this book has necessitated hundreds of written communications and thousands of miles of travel. It covers a period of thirty-five years, and it took eleven years to collect it. In the First Edition of a work of this kind, there will, of necessity, be errors of ommission and errors of commission; however, patience and tolerance are invoked. The next Edition will be perfected, as far as possible.

Many of our pioneer writers are dead; others have scattered across the continent; few remain. To collect their photographs, their biographies and their literary productions ; and then to classify this material and decide what is really worth preserving as Literature — for Literature, proper, presupposes merit — has entailed an amount of work that the reader of this volume can never know. Over 2,000 poems were read and rejected, in addition to those that have been herein preserved. About 100 speeches, covering a great variety of subjects, were collected from old newspaper files and other sources. These were read and carefully sifted in selecting the material for the last chapter of the book. What has been kept herein of both poetry and prose has been retained to show the author's style or else because it seemed to have some special value.

However, if the book, itself, merits consideration at the hands of the public, my efforts will not have been in vain. To all those who assisted me, I hereby acknowledge my profoundest gratitude; but pnore especially to Mrs. J. W. McCarter, of Bowdle ; JVlrs. Helen D. Potter, of Canning; Miss Edla jLaurson, City Librarian of Mitchell; Mrs. Demah Flavin, of Sturgis ; Professor Clyde Tull, Instructor in English at Dakota Wesleyan University, and Dr. George H. Durand, Instructor in English at Yankton College. — 0. W. Coursey.

Note. — For a list of South Dakota authors' books, still in print, see Catalog of Publications in the back part of this book.

Chapter I. Brown, Mortimer Crane 14

Bagstad, Anna E 30

Biggar, H. Howard 86

Carr, Mrs. Daisy 42

Clark, Badger 50

Clover, Sam T 58

Cearnach, Conal (Mary Martin) 64

Carr, Robert V 70

Chamberlain, Will 80

Dickinson, Mrs. Almira J 96

Garland, Hamlin 104

Hanson, Joseph Mills 112

Holmes, Charles E 126

Lawton, Charles Bracy 138

Rivola, Mrs. Flora 150

Robinson, Doane 160

Tatro, Mrs. May 170

Van Dalsem, Henry A 186

Wells, Rollin J 202

Wenzlaff, Gustav G 218

Miscellaneous 227

(Contents Continued.)

Chapter II. Novelists 245

Historians 255

Biographers 258

Journalists 259

Political 260

Religious 260

Educational 261

Descriptive 261

General 262

Scientific Writers 264

Geology 265

Music (Instrumental) 266

Music (Vocal) 268

Money 268

Religion 268

Text Book Authors 269

Agriculture 269

Bookkeeping 270

Chemistry 270

Civics 270

Economics 271

Geography 271

German 272

Law 272

Logic 272

Mathematics 272

Medicine 273

Pedagogy 273

Psychology 276

Spelling 277

Typewriting 277

Compilers 277

Critiques 278

(Contents Continued.)

Chapter III

Branson, 0. L 282

Conklin, Gen. S. J 294

Crawford, Sen. Coe 1 297

Egan, George W 308

Harmon, Prof. T. A 320

Kemple, Prof. R. L 328

McFarland, James G 334

Perisho, Dr. E. C 339

Sterling, William B 346

COMPLETE ALPHABETICAL INDEX 352

CATALOG OF S. DAK. AUTHORS' PUBLICATIONS EDUCATOR SUPPLY COMPANY'S PUBLICATIONS

$ IN A LIBRARY ^

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* Here ages wait to speak and dream with thee ^

* Of ancient pomp and pride forever gone, ^ ^ And harps are hung, whose silver strings can free ^

* The souls of those who sang at song's first dawn. ^

4" Here paths await the pressure of thy feet, ^

* And seas of thought the shadow of thy sail, ^

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^ Whereon thy distant voyaging may meet ^

* Thought's farthest night where stars and pilot fail. ^

* *

* Here wait the guides of ages for thy call; ^

* With Dante, walk the white abyss of hell; ^

* With Shakespeare, watch in Macbeth's banquet hall; ^ S With Milton, hear the voice of Gabriel. '£

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4" Here may the burdens of thy daily life,

4» As at a minster gate, be laid aside;

* Thy soul be shut from sounds of human strife, M

* Thy mind and heart be charmed and beautified. ^ ^^ T

* Arthur Wallace Peach. ^

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