Hillsdale College - Winona Yearbook (Hillsdale, MI)

Page 8 text:

. ,, . . Y will Glarletun HE year 1919 is the hftieth '1l'l111VL1'S'l1'y of the graduation of Will Carleton the poet of lblichigan from 1-lillsdale College. The class of 19 have called themselves the Carleton ubilee Class since they graduatc just fifty years after Carleton, without doubt the greatest among the number that claim Hillsdale as their Alma lVIater. So it is particularly fitting that the Wiiioiia of 1919 should contain something in commemoration of the poet of whom all Hillsdale men and Women are proud. 1Vill Carleton was born at Hudson lX1ich. on Oct. 71 1845. He received his education in the public schools of that place, and later attended Hillsdale College Graduating in 1869 with the degree of B.S. After his graduation Carleton took up newspaper work in Hillsdale and then later in Detroit, Chicago Boston, and hnally in New York. During all this time hon ever, he was a regular contributor to Har- pers VVeekly, and had established his reputation as '1' popular poet. In addition to his literary work Carleton was a very successful reader and lecturer, giving readings of his poems on the lecture platform in both America and Europe Among his poems probably the most famous and vs idely-know n is Betsy and 1 Are Out first published in the Toledo Blade in 1871. In the same year he pub lished his first volume of poetry followed in the next year by Farm Ballads collection of dialect poems xx hich gained instant approval. Others of his volumes of poetry are Farm Legends farm Festivals, City Ballads City Legends 1n Old School Days, and Drifted ln. Carleton dealt with simple themes, treating them with sympathy pathos, and often with a kindly humor. At .the tim of his death which occurred December 18 1917 he was probably the most popular of Americas poets, his poems being read in every home over the country. He had struck thechord nearest the hearts of the people, and they revered him as their own Such was the poet of whom 1VIichigan is justly proud, xx ho graduated from this :ollege just fifty years ago. Surely Hillsdale College has in the memory of VVill Carleton a heritage xx orthy of being kept alive throughout the years to come -1 11 ,-7 . 1 C C I , 1 C Y A LC C C an X 11 r c , 7 1 K A z 7 1 c ,D c c C 1 1 -' 1 1 1 13 1 1 1 ' 1 1 , 1 1 C 1 , c C 1: 1 1 11 1 xt 11 1 1 1 3' 1 1 cr 11 ni 11 rr 11 ic 11 5 1 1 1 xr 11 cr 11 Y C 1 7 S 1 1 ' 1 -'1 1 b 1 7 1 Page S efven

Page 7 text:

VVILL CARLETON '69 Page Six

Page 9 text:

THE ELM OF '75. Page Eight