Winter Autograph, Art and Sports Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/26/2015
Autograph Poem Signed, "Sam Houston," likely as Senator, 1 page, 5.5" x 4.5", [no place, no date], a four-line poem originally inscribed in a woman's memory book. Light toning from previous matting, a few minor contemporary ink smudges, else very good to fine condition with a large, bold signature.
Apart from his reputation as the hero of San Jacinto and founder of Texas, Houston was something of a romantic. Writing in an a hostess' memory book, beneath the title "Texas" (accomplished in another hand), Houston writes in full:
"Woman is lovely to the sight
As gentle as the dews of even,
As bright as mornings earliest light
And spotless at the snows of Heaven."
Though undated, it is likely that Houston probably accomplished this poem during his years in Washington representing Texas in the U.S. Senate from 1846 to 1861. His biographer, Marquis James noted that during those years, Houston, "did not go about a great deal socially, although he was still a favorite of the type that ladies vaguely called 'interesting.'" His romanticism led one commentator to predict that if Houston ever became President, he would fill his Cabinet with women who would boss him around. (James, The Raven, 1988, p. 380).
This poem was published in Marquis James important biography, The Raven: A Biography of Sam Houston (1988), p. 380.
Sam Houston, the romantic, writes four line poem on the virtues of women
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