The bursting trouble from his breast,— You were the guardian of this child; Of what his waning life had lost. And when he came with footsteps slow, With his Highland Mary and Faithful Jean! Ben Blewett By George J. Tansey Between the above dates, what? Sixteen years of boyhood in a home surrounded by loving care and gentle, up-building influences; four years of intensive study in Washington University and nearly fortyone years of service as teacher and director of education in the public schools of St. Louis. In 1876 Ben Blewett graduated from Washington University, having during the four years of his college course maintained himself, and paid for his tuition by his own labors. At graduation he was at once tendered a position as Superintendent of the Cote Brilliante High School. Teaching was his chosen profession and his worth was speedily recognized. Steady advancement through the recognition of his capacities, enthusiasm and sincerity of purpose carried him as Principal of various schools in St. Louis from the extreme limits of the city on the West, then to the North, then to the South and later to the central section of the city, again to the middle West, and finally to the position of Superintendent of all the schools of our city. When a Committee from the Board of Education, seeking for a man to be placed in charge of our educational system, visited noted educators and educational institutions throughout the country they were told with unanimity: "Return to St. Louis. The man you seek (Ben Blewett) is at your hand; better qualified for this work than any that we could name." He was ever guided by the highest ideals and might well have taken for his motto, "There shall be no compromise with error." He was deeply religious, but without religiosity. In his dealings with teacher and pupil he was ever gentle, for gentleness was the basic portion of his composition: but when firmness was demanded he could be firm without being harsh. The death summons came, as he would like to have had it come, while he was in the performance of a public duty, delivering an address on "Constructive Patriotism" at Washington. His last breath was given in the service of his profession and to his country. We, of the Burns Club, who knew him in the delightful intimacy of our meetings, as man, teacher and public spirited citizen, had full opportunity in those off-guard moments, when a man best shows himself, to realize the kindliness of his nature, the sweetness of his disposition, the generosity of his heart and his powers as a man. The record of his career will be an inspiration to the teachers who follow him, and his benefaction a substantial asset for all time to the teaching corps of the St. Louis Public Schools. Though dead, his spirit shall live, and we, his intimate friends, will cherish the recollection of that friendship and rejoice that we knew him in the fullness of his powers and feel that this world is a better place for his having lived. "His life was gentle and the elements So mixed in him that Nature might stand up, THOMAS AUGUSTINE DALY of Philadelphia, was the guest of honor at Burns Night of 1916. Mr. Daly's visit to St. Louis to participate in the annual meeting of the Burns Club was brought about by his personal friends, William Marion Reedy and Frederick W. Lehmann, both members of the club. Of Mr. Daly, Mr. Reedy said: "His verses in 'dago' dialect portray with tenderness and humor the aspects of life as it appears and appeals to Americans of Italian origin. His poetical interpretations of the spirit of the Irish in America are of like charm. His child verse is of as rare quality as that of Father Tabb or Robert Louis Stevenson. In the Lyric Year competition some years ago for the prize for the best poem of the twelve month, his lines "To a Thrush" received the second award, the first going to Orrick Johns, son of one of our club members, who read a fine poem on Burns at a former celebration. Mr. Daly's poems have been published in three volumes, entitled respectively 'Carmina,' 'Canzoni, and 'Madrigali.'" Mr. Daly read a charming narrative in verse written for the occasion, "The Birth of Tam o' Shanter." Members hailed this as a most valuable contribution to their next Burns Nights book. "The Birth of Tam o' Shanter" was printed and sent to Burns Clubs throughout the world. "Lines to Robert Burns," dedicated to the Burns Club of St. Louis by Irvin Mattick, the St. Louis poet, were read. A letter from James Whitcomb Riley made pleasant acknowledgment to President Bixby of one of the Burns Club books. It referred to Mr. Riley's own poem on Burns, speaking of Burns as his most loved poet, in these words: "Sweet singer that I lo'e the maist O any sin wi eager haste, I smacket bairn lips ower the taste O hinnied sang. I hail thee though a blessed ghaist In Heaven lang. Wi brimman lip and laughin' ee Thou shookest even grief wi' glee, Yet had nae niggart sympathy Where sorrow bowld, But gavest a thy tears as free |