The Gastonia Gazette from Gastonia, North Carolina • Page 7

THE GASTONIA GAZETTE, Jan. 23, Another Fine Book Of Poems By Dr. Archibald Rutledge Weekender Literary Editor Past The Flame Of Words A collection of poems from the 1965 Brotherhood contest has been published by N.C. Poetry Society. This contest was open to verse writers all over the country.

That the response was eager and enormous is evidenced by the fact that the booklet includes entries from Indiana, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Florida, Texas, California, as well as the two Carolinas. In addition to winning poems, the collection includes 23 others selected for merit citation by judges and editors. Space limitations prohibited the use of many excellent entries. "Past the Flame of Words" presents many different images of man reaching out to his brother and will tend to enlarge the reader's vision of his fellowman and God's yearning for man's realization of his brotherhood. Three Gaston Coun- tians are included in the brochure Naomi Cunningham and a Ruth Minges, this city, and Nita Bolin, Stanley.

Mrs. Cunningham is executive director of Gaston Heart Association. Miss Minges is a member of the faculty of Wray Junior High School. Mrs. Bolin is Mrs.

Banks Bolin and is librarian at Stanley Branch, Gaston Public Library. Poems by the three local women are given below: BEYOND THE GATE I stand a closed gate eager to enter in and yet I hesitate What mysteries lie beyond of love and hate: Unexplored vistas beckon hurry before too late! I long to enter in, to open the gate my heart cries enter: Why do I wait? Naomi Dukes Cunningham IN THIS TIME "Am I my brother's keeper?" A scornful Cain once said. As he walked away indifferently From Abel who lay dead. His counterpart, a modern sage, Stands haughtily astride The buried hopes of other men, In arrogance and pride. Daily the world grows smaller In this time as no other.

Am I my brother's keeper now? I'm am his brother. Ruth Minges RECOGNITION Now I am aware, of you. Is this the first time I've really looked? Looked at more than a mower of grass, A sower of seeds, a cook? Are you ttie same? The one who came to my back door? You walk proudly now beside me asking for what all men Iwld dear. When I clasp your hand in mine do you know how much I've grown? How much I care? brother of mine, do you know? Bolin THE BALLAD OF THE HOWLING HOUND AND OTHER POEMS By Archibald Rutledge. Dietz Press, Richmond, Va.

That the muse of the poet laureate of South Carolina never slumbers nor sleeps is amply evidenced by a and very fine book of poems by Dr. Archibald Rutledge, which is fresh oft' the press. Dr. Rutledge has an astonish ing and astounding number of books to his credit. Seventy-one, as can best be estimated.

Twenty six volumes of poetiy in the highest sense of the word and 45 prose volumes. He recorded 75 poems for the Library of Congress, more than 60 of wriich have been set to music. He holds 17 honorary degrees, and 30 citations from the John Burroughs Society for nature writing. Believing in Macaulay's saying that "the first business of a writer is to make his meaning understood," Dr. Rutledge has a passion for clarity of expression.

Commenting once, in his kindly, gentle way, on the veil of obscurity with which a certain group of verse- writers shroud their output, he said, "Having nothing to say, they say it profoundly." Dr. Rutledge lives a part of the year in Spartanburg, S. and a part at his ancestral mansion, Hampton House, i McClellans- ville, S. C. Visitors from all over the country annually visit Hampton House, which has a beauty and a stateliness be- description.

On the front grounds is an oak tree whose trunk could not be girdled by There Is No DR. ARCHIBALD RUTLEDGE living and afraid. The book is dedicated to the memory of Archibald Rutledge who died in 1961, and this poignant quatrain follows the dedicatory words: "My cardinal, forgetting How far my music's fled. Upon a flame azalea sings Love-songs above my dead." The book, as a whole, is just what Rutledge readers expect from him uplifting thoughts, i culous craftsmanship, the output of a genius offered to readers who recognize all of this, and beauty as well, when they see it. Space limitation is always a problem, but here's one more of the quatrains that say so much with suca a giant.

This is known England and on the con- as the "Washing ton tinent, should introduce economy of words: Oak," since, on a visit an animal a to Hampton, Washing-- mythical one into a ton was asked his ad- ballad of grace and vice on where to plant beautv. 6 Treatment of the title now stands to the caused this re- amazement of all com- viewer to think back on ers. Edgar Lee Masters' "The Ballad of the "Spoon River Antholo- Hownng Hound" is Hut- Jh. ledge writing that is a aUke Mr Masters' little different but no people were speaking less musical and clear- from their graves am cut. The ballad projects Ann Rutledge Bean air of mystery at the loved of Abraham Lin- unexplainable behavior and Dr.

Rutledge of a werewolf on a lone- records the terrified rely mountain top prophe- actions of people still sying impending disas- THE LOOK "The solemnest sight that I have seen Upon this earth, beneath our skies. Beyond all other looks has been The heaven-lost look in baby's eyes." -Country Kfchen- Lowcil-Near Hope Rd. Pbont VA 4-IK4 Parly Room Available: Frigate Like A Book ter to the mountaineers by his insidious howling throughout the night. Each terrified listener interprets the howled message as personal to himself and his family. And it's no wonder that Dr.

Rutledge, recognized as the foremost nature writer in the country and whose books have been published in A SOUND SAVINGS PLAN years as you did in the past fifttcn years you save 2s much in the next fifteen will there be adequate funds for old age? If not let's talk over a plan which will work without fail! P. C. Froceberger Jr. 1M Commercial Bldg. Tele.

865-1261 CHINESE MATHEMATICIAN and STENOGRAPHER Height 8" Antiqued Bronze Louvre Museum, Paris. Sculp tors Vhe" no longer satisfied with religious inspiration and turned to realistic motives of everyday life, so beautifully represented by these figures the public stenographer and the mathematician. Distinguished as individual pieces, as a pair they make exquisite book ends. 0-C-PMCARcOMPANY "Distinctive Offices" 176 Wesf Franklin Ave. Gastonia, N.

Phone 865-123frj.