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Youth's Golden Gleam |
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chronicle, obviously suggested Stephen's "My Old Kentucky Home."
In the local society of cultured people there were two literary men whom Stephen particularly admired. One of these was his friend, William D. Gallagher. Poet, literary critic, and public official, Gallagher exerted a formative influence upon letters in the Middle West comparable to that of leading New England poets and critics.26 He was the first president of the Ohio Historical and Philosophical Society, secretary of the Amateur Musical Society, and an active figure in all cultural enterprises. During the 'forties, when he was assistant editor and then associate editor of the Daily Gazette, his Saturday "Miscellany" was a literary feature. He reviewed the important books, both British and American. Nearly every issue contained a poem which he selected from a wide range of publications; and numerous verses of his own, first appearing in national magazines, were reprinted. The Gazette was dotted with news of drama and of music. In all probability it was Gallagher who wrote the item* concerning Stephen's "sweet little melody," entitled "Open Thy Lattice, Love." To show his appreciation Stephen dedicated his song, "Lily Ray/' to Gallagher.
The other celebrity whom Stephen greatly admired was Edward D. Mansfield,27 a graduate of both the United States Military Acad-
* See Chapter x, p. 90. |
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