Famous Single Poems
For the benefit of future biographers, the following facts are here set down about Young E. Allison: born at Henderson, Ky., December 23, 1853; printer’s devil at 13; “local editor” at 15; city reporter on a daily at 17; city editor Louisville Courier–Journal; managing editor Louisville Commercial; founded The Insurance Herald, 1888; sold it and established The Insurance Field, 1899; editor-in-chief Louisville Daily Herald, 1902; chose Champion I. Hitchcock to carry on The Insurance Field, 1903; resumed editorial management of The Insurance Field in association with Mr. Hitchcock, 1905. Is the author of two tales, “The Longworth Mystery,” and “The Passing of Major Kilgore,” and of various poems, the best known of which after “Derelict” is “The Ballad of Whisky Straight.” But it is a long way after!
“I do not pretend to be a poet,” says Mr. Allison in a recent letter. “Since boyhood, indeed, I have not had the habit of reading much poetry. I have written a lot of verse, but mere ‘mood satisfiers,’ not put out as literature. Among this lot were lyrics for four operas, the librettos of which I prepared for music composed by Henry Waller. One of them, ‘The Ogallallas,’ was produced by the Bostonians thirty years ago. Another, a tragic grand opera called ‘Father Francesco,’ was brought out at
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