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THE EVOLUTION OF A LOCAL POET. 
By THOMAS PRESTON. 10th March, 1903. 
«Tt is not my intention to-night to go into the merits or 
demerits of our local poets, known and unknown, departed or 
still with us. With regard to poets, it has been held by some 
critics that anyone with a keen appreciation for, and who delights 
in the works of Nature—in the productions of our great artists— 
or in the writings of the poets, comes within the hallowed grove. 
These are necessary elements in the equipment, but in addition, 
there must be an inherited gift of imagination and expression. 
Lord Bacon says that poetry has something divine in it, because 
it raises the mind and hurries it into sublimity. It gives to 
incidents a more heroic cast. Auburn tresses become locks of 
shining gold. The poet’s eye 
“* Glances from heaven to earth, 
From earth to heaven.” 
His ‘‘ Imagination bodies forth 
The form of things unknown.” 
Poetry is the outcome of a national spirit, and is no privilege of 
a select and polished few. Admittedly, only those who have stood 
with uncovered head before the grandeur of the Poetic Muse, 
are worthy to be enrolled among its votaries.. 
Bearing what is written in mind, I shall give you some account 
of his evolution. He modestly declines to be anything thought 
of poetically, except as the least of our many local poets. Our 
connection has been life long, he has always preserved a young 
and ardent mind. He has entrusted to me his literary and bio- 
graphical data. I have had full access to all the family papers 
and correspondence in his possession. I shall give his verse as 
he has left it, red hot from the forge, and, in many cases, lacking 
that sharpening and polishing which is absolutely necessary to be 
done if high expression, accurate rhythm and perfect cadence are 
to be attained. As to Evolution itself I found a curious solution 
among his trifles. It reads: 
‘« Heredity comes in the first, 
To mould for right or wrong, 
Paternity, however nursed, 
By weak forbears or strong,— 
Must take full share, for weal or woe, 
And offspring chances give, 
As only those well schooled below 
Evolve and higher live.” 
