Preface. The design of this work is to afford the reader a general view of Colorado's contributions to poetical literature, as well as to present in one volume such productions of our poets as are especially worthy of preservation. We have aimed to include selections as widely representative as a reasonable standard of excellence would permit; to quote so much from our best authors as would give the reader a comprehensive view of their attainments in poetry, and to do this, so far as possible, without note of comment, leaving to others the field of criticism. It was believed that such a work would have interest for Colorado lovers of literature, outside the circle of friends each author represented, and that in view of the large number of excellent verse-writers of our state, selections of poems could be made having sufficient literary value to commend the volume to the attention of careful readers. If our design has been skillfully executed, the work should have some additional value from the nature of the enterprise itself. If much can be said in favor of compilations from well known authors, whose works are to be found in every public library, certainly a service worthy of the labor is rendered in gathering and preserving what is worthy of preservation from writers who would otherwise be lost from public view. The general reader in Colorado who turns from the news matter of the daily press to seek out such literature as reflects the more refined part of the intellectual and emotional life of our people, will be surprised at the large number of excellent verse-writers of the state. Doubtless the atmosphere of freedom peculiar to western life, and which belongs especially to the mining camp, has lent its share of inspiration to writers. Perhaps the exceptional grandeur of our highland scenery has done much to awaken the poetic instinct which exists partly dormant in nearly all human hearts. But added to these things is the fact that our population includes many persons whose active intellects and refined natures have |