For the King, and other Poems. By Robert Cameron Rogers.
(G. P. Putnam's Sons.)—The poem which gives a title to this volume shows that the writer has studied Browning to some purpose. It is a fine bit of work, the story of how the Hebrew heroes brought the water from Bethlehem to Xing David, a good subject and well done. In curious contrast are the "Lyrics from the Great Divide." "To Spain" is a spirited reply to the reproach of a Spanish paper, "The Americans are a cowardly nation." Here is the last stanza :— " We are not a warlike nation
We love living more than dying; We have little time for swagger, And the military strut.
Let old Europe pay big armies. We have better fish for frying, We have better tools for manhood Than the sword and rifle,
But :
Since we are a Christian nation, since the blood our veins are filled with,
Anglo-Saxon, Celtic, Teuton, will not keep forever cool When we see weak women starving, helpless, ill-starred children killed with Filthy water, air empoisoned, Just to eke out Spanish rule ; Slime we end that Cuba's Cuban, and the Spaniard but a tenant Who defiles the house he lives in, then our duty stands out plain We are masters in these waters, at the mainmast files our pennant :
Ind this bell on earth or bark ye : Eastward lies the path to Spain !"
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