The Invalid (verse)
Foley, Virginia J.
262 THE COMMONWEAL July 14, 192 reverence for Jesus Christ. He retired habitually at English...
...nothing should distinguish him as President...
...The newspapers were extrava- have his birthday celebrated...
...and Jefferson was a clash of personalities-the auda- Yet I am like home-coming ships wind-blowncious egoist against the discreet altruist...
...The road along which the procession blunt conclusion...
...He was also an economist of time...
...He retired habitually at English manner with a lengthy speech, but by jotting nine o'clock...
...Jefferson's official papers are characterized by the On inauguration day Jefferson defied convention...
...from the Gazette: "Arrived in this city Mrs...
...Many a damsel was cheated of the opportunity ters...
...Jefferson called When in January, 1785, Jefferson was elected to this gushing punctilio a "frenzy...
...United States...
...clasp no keys of power, even the right hand resting As welcome guest to a lilac-covered cottage he would on a writing tablet is devoid of the simple quill...
...of varying sentence structure labels this famous docuBut instead of cheering, the crowd suddenly fell back...
...dismounted at the gate of the Capitol and hitching the bridle to a picket fence thus unceremoniously pre- The Invalid sented himself at the White House...
...262 THE COMMONWEAL July 14, 192 reverence for Jesus Christ...
...He admired her art but he against the back...
...Gilded France held no edge of the chair rather than assume a stately posture witchery over Jefferson...
...At Elizabeth Point she was met by "For that reason," answered Jefferson, "I decline the President . . . and several other gentlemen of to enlighten you...
...Thomas Jefhat a little askew, his riding-coat mud-spattered...
...Washington's arrival in New asked him York was heralded by the following grandiloquence "What is the date of your birth, Mr...
...His masterpiece, The buff-colored chariot with its tinselled horses and the Declaration of Independence, is unvarnished arguattendants in cloth of scarlet, was to conduct the Hon- ment proceeding from a terse statement of self-eviorable and Distinguished Mr...
...The Chief Jefferson modestly replied: "I go to succeed him, for Executive sits in a suit of black "plain cloth" on the no one could replace him...
...Because Jefferson believed that "the rulers gate and would be blushingly honored by his attention...
...He ferson was one of her choice concoctions...
...succeed Franklin as Minister Plenipotentiary to France The famous "Jefferson" of the British artist, Gil- a friend congratulated him on replacing Franklin...
...He could not see He campaigned for democracy and his first act toward the morning hours wither in the hands of the fashionthat end was to uproot the enthroning weeds of rank able clientele that met at the weekly levees to honor that grew about himself as a public figure...
...his eighty-three, was bleached of personal glorification...
...of America are but honored servants," he clipped more Assembly members in lace cuffs greeted one another weeds of caste from around his feet by refusing to with cotillion bows...
...he replied...
...bert Stuart, tallies with our pen portrait...
...of timidity and vacillation probably because his de- I have on me the weariness of ships cisions were never explosive but budded gradually from Long journeyed although I have never gone quiet interviews or from the seclusion of personal cor- Beyond these four walls where my fingertips respondence...
...Adventuring baby, born after the blood of Revolutionary patriots In strange sea-ways enshadows them...
...In the distance came Jefferson, seated nonchalantly on Simplicity is the vital ingredient in nature's mixWildair, unaccompanied by servants, his tri-cornered ing of the magic potion-a great man...
...down a few noble sentiments couched in household Jefferson's public life, a thick slice of forty years off language, and sending his message by private hand...
...Colonial the President...
...ington, the amiable consort of the President of the "We wish to give it fitting celebration...
...The infant republic was an anaemic From lands away off there...
...He was accused In far Japan young, cherry-blossomed dusks Agleam on waves of lapis lazuli...
...She was conducted over the bay . . . will omit the `Mr.' " rowed by thirteen eminent pilots...
...ment a model of argumentative writing...
...A committee member gantly salutatory...
...Unity of thought through a lattice was to pass was aflutter with waving handkerchiefs...
...The word-duelling between Hamilton Might love old things of mine about the room...
...The lady in crinoline dropped a curtsy and a to parade her newest "Dolly Varden" on the Montihandkerchief when a dashing Continental passed her cello lawn...
...It needed vigilant nursing and this Jeffer- That they are gale-torn by the sweep of years son gave it, rocking its cradle quietly, and at the same When they have seen gold dawns in Sicilytime shielding it from alien dangers...
...I dream the vagabondage they have known ! Jefferson opened Congress, not in the customary VIRGINIA J. FOLEY...
...Old ships are tired sailing into portFor eight years Jefferson sat in a hush in the presi- Dim, white-winged galleons weighted down with wares dential chair...
...Jefferson...
...same simplicity that molds the man...
...Who cares was spilled...
...The sit down to a meal of crackers and cheese while the painting might be called "A Man in Black," so scrupu- host and the pig-tailed children clacked in ecstatic lously has the artist respected Jefferson's wish that French about him...
...I shall also be obliged if you distinction...
...So he abolished these breakfast matiVirginia was servile...
...His stock is a bit awry, his hands felt "at home" on stolen visits to French peasants...
...Jefferson to the Capitol dent truths, up neat steps of fact, to a platform of at Washington...
...Wash- "Of what concern is that to you...
...Slaves cringed before their mas- nees...
Vol. 4 • July 1926 • No. 10
