October 26, 2020 Thank you, Barbara Schock, for sharing your extraordinary gift of these vignettes of Galesburg & 19th century American history.
Back in Galesburg By Barbara Schock
Carl Sandburg’s first book was published in December, 1904,
in Galesburg. The title was IN RECKLESS ECSTACY and it contained thirty-nine
pages. The book included both poetry and prose. Professor Philip Green Wright of Lombard College had been
Sandburg’s instructor and mentor during his student days. They had continued
their friendship after Sandburg left school. Wright had purchased a printing
press and established a publishing company in the basement of his home. His wife
and sons carried on the printing work. When Sandburg returned to Galesburg from Aurora he continued
to write. One of his classmates, Athol Brown, had become editor of THE EVENING
MAIL. He hired Sandburg to write a column entitled “Inklings and Idlings.” (This
title is still used to identify the quarterly newsletter of the Carl Sandburg
Historic Site Association.) This opportunity helped Sandburg develop a
journalistic style of writing and he enjoyed doing it. He also wrote unsigned
editorials for THE GALESBURG LABOR NEWS. Sandburg bought a second-hand Bleckensdorfer typewriter and
taught himself to type. When he wasn’t working at the Brooks Street fire
station, he would be heard clacking away in the upstairs hallway of his parents’
home. After only eight months in Galesburg Sandburg decided to go
to Chicago and seek his fortune there. He had become acquainted with the
publisher of a small magazine, TO-MORROW. It printed poetry, fiction and
commentary. The publisher and editor was Parker Sercombe and he gave Sandburg
another chance at having his writing published. Sercombe maintained a home,
business and open house for writers in a mansion on Prairie Avenue. Sandburg also became acquainted with the publisher of THE
LYCEUM, a magazine about programs for the lecture circuit, such as Chautauqua,
which was a popular entertainment at the time. He was hired as advertising
manager and assistant editor for $25 per week. He now had a means of support and
could continue his writing—for him, it was the best of both worlds. The writings of Walt Whitman had been a guidepost for
Sandburg. During this time, his own writing began to turn toward a more free
verse form. His writing voice, subject and verse form came together. It would be
several years before he published another book of poetry, but he was on the way
to a lifetime of writing. IN RECKLESS ECSTACY is now considered a culturally important
work and has been declared a part of the knowledge base of civilization. Copies
are available to read on the internet and for sale to the public. This is a short poem from the book: Survey Ambition is a crested wave That leaps and lunges toward the shore, To break and scatter on the sands With one long, loud, baffled roar. These have dared to cross the deep To those dull sands, for such success It may not pay, and yet, I think, They buy a peace with restlessness.
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