Grafton, W. Virginia Glass Works. A carry-in boy works at the "lehr" (annealing oven) c1908

Reviewing the biography and work of American poet Carl Sandburg (1878 – 1967) reveals one composition that is all entrancing to bottle collectors.  Much of Sandburg’s work eulogized Americans working in factories and on the farm.  He liked commonplace people and wrote about them.  Some people didn’t like his free style of poetry, but he would reply, "Simple poems for simple folks."  Sandburg was awarded many honors for his writing including two Pulitzer Prizes for two of his books although some Americans found his politics and philosophies controversial.   

Sandburg’s family was rather poor; his father was a blacksmith for the railroad.   Sandburg quit school after graduating from the 8th grade which was typical for the time for young children whose families were not well to do.  After quitting school to help support his family, Sandburg worked for a dairy delivering milk, did construction work as a brick layer, delivered ice, worked on a farm harvesting wheat, was a potter’s and painter’s assistant and even shined shoes for a while before becoming a hobo.  As a drifter he traveled the railroads and earned money for food by washing dishes in various hotels along the way.  When Sandburg was 20 years old, he volunteered for the Army during the Spanish American War but, did not see combat.  After the war Sandburg spent four years attending Lombard College, but never graduated.  After college, Sandburg worked as a journalist for a Chicago newspaper. 

Having to go to work at the age of 13 must have had a great deal of influence on Sandburg’s writing.  His first book of poems, In Reckless Ecstasy, published in 1904 contained a poem titled Millville.  This poem was a commentary on young boys working in a glass factory.  This was before child labor laws and many children worked in factories and mills to help support their families.  Antique bottle collectors appreciate the poem Millville because of the very accurate and vivid description of a glass factory; not because young children had to toil long hours in a factory.  Fortunately, today we have child labor laws and other programs to make sure American children can attend school and enjoy their youthfulness. Read the poem "Millville"

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