OUR CONTRIBUTORS. 



XVI. 



Mr. W. H. Nelson, who wrote the grand 

 tribute to Admiral Dewey and his men, 

 published in July Recreation, and " The 

 Men Behind the Guns " published in this 

 issue, lives in a modest cottage at Kensing- 

 ton, Md., a few miles out of Washington. 

 Though engaged in literary work for a 

 number of years past, he has not heretofore 

 been as successful as his genius deserves. 

 He has written many good things for Rec- 

 reation, and for other standard period- 



W. H. NELSON. 



icals, but has never before found a subject 

 that inspired him to such a degree as the 

 present war. Consequently his best work 

 has not been done until now. Indeed, it is 

 a question whether it has yet been done, 

 but, as stated in an editorial note in July 

 Recreation, his poem on Dewey will ever 

 hereafter rank- with the best examples of 

 heroic verse in the English language, and 

 his name will be revered by future genera- 

 tions equally with those of Whittier, Long- 

 fellow, Bryant, Tennyson and Reed. 



Mr. Nelson is a much more ready and 

 easy writer than most other great poets. 

 His verses flow spontaneously from his 

 pen, and his original drafts require less 

 revision than perhaps those of any other 

 modern writer. He never makes more than 

 2 drafts of a poem, and frequently but one. 

 In some instances the first copy goes to 

 the printer with scarcely any alterations. 



He writes first with a pencil, and, if neces- 

 sary, revises and copies it in ink; though, 

 as I have said, the first is oftentimes per- 

 fect. 



The present war has developed many 

 heroes and will doubtless bring out many 

 great writers to record the deeds of the 

 warriors; but few if any so great and who 

 will be so highly honored in time to come 

 as W. H. Nelson. 



He is yet a young man, and if he had 

 but physical strength adequate to his great 

 mental power, he would be a second Whit- 

 tier. He is now engaged on an historical 

 poem, to be published in book form, re- 

 cording the facts of Gen. George H. Thom- 

 as' Chattanooga campaign, in which he 

 (Nelson) was a modest participant. 



Every patriotic American will be grieved 

 to know he is an invalid, and will pray God 

 to give him strength and spare him for 

 many years to delight and entertain the 

 reading world. 



AMATEUR PHOTO BY BOYD C. PACKER. 



A WOUNDED LION. 



Winner of Twentieth Prize in Rf.creation's Third An- 

 nual Photo Competition. 



I spend 2 weeks each year with canoe, 

 dog and gun. Am content with 6 ducks 

 a week, head shots with rifle. Am anxious 

 to see game disappear from the market, a 

 limit to bags, the prosecution of pot hunt- 

 ers and death to game hogs. 



M. A. Barnes, Lockport, N. Y. 



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