i68 A RAFT PILOT'S LOG 



rising from an ample base, is surmounted by a bronze 

 statue of Victory, seventeen feet higii, weighing 8700 

 pounds. 



The cost of this memorial was thirty thousand dol- 

 lars, of which the state of Illinois paid five-sixths and 

 patriotic citizens of Alton the remainder. 



There is a medallion of Lovejoy on the south front 

 and below it this inscription: 



ELIJAH p. LOVEJOY 



Editor of Alton Observer, 

 Albion, Maine, November 8, 1802 

 Alton, Illinois, November 7, 1837 



A MARTYR TO LIBERTY 



I have sworn eternal opposition to slavery and 

 by the blessing of God, I will never go back. 



Look up in "Americana" the whole story of the 

 tragedy on which this beautiful memorial is founded. 



Lovejoy was killed, his press thrown in the river and 

 the building burned by a mob, on account of his articles 

 denouncing slavery and showing its actual abuses. 



WHEN THE MISSISSIPPI WAS THE GREAT HIGHWAY 



I'm a guest on shore with you gents tonight, 

 Where the smoke is thick and the wine is bright. 



But my thoughts go back to the long ago, 

 And the river that sings to the sea below ! 



I'll tell you the story as best I can, 



For I'm only a weather-worn river man. 



But the world was sweet and its joys were real. 

 To the men who stood at the steering wheel ; 



And I've not forgot how it used to be. 



In the good old days that are gone for me. 



For the pulse beat fast and the heart was gay 

 When the Mississippi was the great highway ! 



