Wyoming Arts Council

1890 statehood celebration featured suffragists, poetry and fireworks

Featured News | July 10, 2015

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Wyoming celebrates the 125^th anniversary of its statehood from 3-10 p.m. in downtown Cheyenne. We plan on having a rockin’ good time. But it appears that the 1890 celebrations that celebrated statehood were wild, loud and delightful. This news item from 1890 comes to us courtesy of the Wyoming Newspaper Project:

“Judge M.C. Brown in a felicitous introduction presented Mrs. I.S. Bartlett, the poet of the day, to the audience. Mrs. Bartlett then gave the following poem, entitled “A True Republic.” The production was well delivered and was received with genuine applause.”

Here’s an excerpt from Ms. Bartlett’s poem:

The first republic of the world

Now greets the day, its flag unfurled
To the pure mountain air;
On plains, in canon, shop and mine,
The star of equal rights shall shine.
From its blue folds, with light divine-
A symbol bright and fair.

The flashing presence of to-day
Startles our ancient dreams away.
Wrapped in her shadows dim
Old memory flees, with vivid glance
To-day uplift her shining lance,
Her arm is might, her brow is light,
Her voice a thrilling hymn.

Read the rest here: http://newspapers.wyo.gov/exhibit-wyoming-statehood-celebration/speeches-and-poem/poem-the-true-republic

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