THE GREAT HORSE

This is a narrative poem -- and a ""discoverers' selection"". There have been several narrative poems this season, -- Painsford's Maid of Orleans, Rodman's Lawrence. This is the best of the lot, though it is not consistently poetic and is uneven in interest. The story of Joseph Smith, whose work was continued by the better known Brigham Young. The story of the Mormon trek, and the descriptive passages of the bleak, inanimate plains are far superior to the narrative passages. The story of a dauntless group, in search of God and freedom, and of Lucinda whose husband is killed and who finally escapes to marry a doctor. The title refers to the symbol of the Horse, variously interpreted as the pioneer spirit, liberty and achievement. Simple poetry -- two rhyme schemes -- a neat job.