Wisconsin in Story and Song;: Selections from the Prose and Poetry of Badger State Writers
General
Wisconsin in Story and Song;: Selections from the Prose and Poetry of Badger State Writers
American literature -- Wisconsin; Wisconsin -- Literary collections
"England had finally so arranged the price of tea that,
including the tax, it was cheaper in America than in the old
country. This exasperated the patriots, who claimed that they
were confronted by a theory and not a condition. At
Charleston this tea was stored in damp cellars, where it
spoiled. New York and Philadelphia returned their ship, but
the British would not allow any shenanagin, as George III. so
tersely termed it, in Boston.
"Therefore a large party met in Faneuil Hall and decided that
the tea should not be landed. A party made up as Indians and,
going on board, threw the tea overboard. Boston Harbor, as
far out as the Bug Light, even today, is said to be carpeted
with tea-grounds."
Wisconsin writers have attempted this type of humor. Two of
these whose lives have been more or less connected with the
history of River Falls, are mentioned here. The first of
these labored quite as earnestly to cultivate the serious
side of literature as he did the humorous. As a result his
little volume entitled "Lute Taylor's Chip Basket," is filled
with even more of the quite serious of life's lessons
expressed in poems and essays than of the ludicrous. He
mingled both in his book as a real manifestation of his
philosophy of life. This is the way he puts it: "Fun is
cousin to Common Sense. They live pleasantly together, and
none but fools try to divorce them."
Lute A. Taylor was born at Norfolk, New York, September 14,
1863. He came to River Falls, Wisconsin, in 1856, where he
became editor of the River Falls Journal in June, 1857. He
removed his paper to Prescott in 1861 and called it the
Prescott Journal. In 1869 he became one of the publishers and
editor-in-chief of the La Crosse Morning Leader. In addition
to his newspaper work he held the appointive offices of
assistant assessor of internal revenues, assessor of the
sixth congressional district of Wisconsin, and surveyor of
the port of entry at La Crosse. He died at the latter place
November 11, 1875.
When Lute was eight years old his father died, and the boy
was thrown upon his own resources quite largely from this
early age. The resulting struggle limited his opportunities
for school and academy somewhat, but it revealed to him the
blessings of persistent effort and gave him a sympathy for
the sufferings of mankind. His genial disposition and keen
wit made him see the joyous in life, so that between trial
and joy he may be said to have been a veritable "vibration
between a smile and a tear."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account