10. Chase Henry

I wonder just how we’re supposed to feel about Chase Henry? He was the “town drunkard” and seemingly quite proud of his place in the civic structure of Spoon River. And hugely tickled by his getting one over the “prudent and pious souls” symbolised here by the Catholic Church. How are we to feel about Chase Henry? To a certain extent, at least, we can’t help but feel a little bit tickled right along with him.

To admit to a certain guilty pleasure at Chase’s one-upping the Catholic Church is one thing, to draw some deep philosophical meaning out of the circumstances is another. That Chase Henry would wish his burial next to the banker and his wife to have significance is only natural in a man who lived as a wastrel. This being Spoon River, however, we at least need to consider the real lesson to be learned. It could be, of course, as simple as the quartet of poems just encountered, previous to this one - a character lying in the womb of the earth, pointing a bony finger, either at self or others, amused or pained by human imperfection. 

Or we might divine something more, something - appropriately - below the surface, which might seem to be an appropriate place to look when reading an anthology of epitaphs spoken by characters lying in their graves.

We might do well to start by recognising that Spoon River Anthology is not fully representative of the community. The speakers of the epitaphs are occupants of the graveyard on ‘The Hill’, which is separate from the “holy ground” that is the Catholic graveyard. It is not so surprising that Protestants and Catholics should have separate burial grounds, nor is Henry’s implied charge of elitism against the Catholic Church unusual. What is important here, leaving aside the indictment of hypocrisy, is that the Protestants - the occupants of ‘The Hill’s’ graves - are either so determined to live up to their name and protest the Catholics or they are simply less determined by any sense of conviction. 

We don’t know whether Chase Henry was a Catholic - we can surmise that he wasn’t a devout believer of any kind, as a drunkard’s main article of faith is concerned with a form of Spirit not to be found in the Apostle’s Creed - nor do we know what specific reason was given for his not be allowed burial in ‘holy ground’ - whether it was his lack of devotion or his drunken antics - but it matters not a jot, for he is quite content with his final resting place, lying next to “the banker Nicholas, / And … his wife Priscilla”. What does matter is the importance of being seen to be apparently doing the right thing - not to mention being seen associating with the right kind of people - the kind of people Chase Henry can only be seen with as they lie in their graves. 

The Protestants get to feel holier-than-thou by their generosity; buying a burial plot for a wastrel like Chase Henry. This being Spoon River and knowing what we know about the people of this community, it seems unnecessarily pedantic to point out just how much satisfaction would be gleaned from such a trumping of the Catholic Church. This being the tenth epitaph of the Anthology, we already have enough evidence to show that, to at least some degree, the Protestants did what they did to be seen doing what they did, and receiving the resultant glory of others’ admiration. It isn’t at home where charity begins in Spoon River, it begins only when there are enough others around to witness its performance.

Chase Henry, as is the wont of those who lie on The Hill, cannot lie quietly happy with his lot, however. Like all the epitaphs, he must have his final say on his life, espousing a wisdom no one would have listened to when he walked, or stumbled down, the streets, begging and pestering for another drop of liquor. Not that he would ever have been in any fit state or clarity of mind to think, let alone speak, such thoughts. 

Obviously, we should see “prudent and pious souls” as another slight against the Catholics who refused him burial in their graveyard. It could, however, just as likely act as a warning to the very people who placed him in such an ideal spot. With this warning, Chase Henry admits that he “lived a life of shame” and that by entering into conflict with the Catholic Church’s decision, the Protestants have succeeded only in bestowing “honor” on one who clearly did not deserve it!