# The United Amateur/May 1915/Department Of Public Criticism

The United Amateur
Official Organ of the United Amateur Press Association of America
Department of Public Criticism
The Blarney Stone for January–February is replete with good literature, amidst which may particularly be mentioned Arthur Goodenough’s harmonious poem, “God Made Us All of Clay”. The theme is not new, but appears advantageously under Mr. Goodenough’s delicate treatment.
M. W. Hart’s short story, “The Redemption”, is intended to portray a righteous transformation from conventional false morality to true Christian life, but in reality presents a very repulsive picture of bestial atavism. The meaner character was not “reformed by mercy”, but merely witheld from wholesale vice by isolation. Mr. Hart is so plainly in earnest when he relates this dismal tale as a sermon, that we must not be too harsh in questioning his taste or condemning his free standards of civilized morality; yet we doubt seriously if stories or essays of thin type should appear in the press, and especially in the amateur press. Two or throe technical points demand attention. The word “diversified” on page 2 might better be “diverse”, while “environment” on page 4, could well be replaced by “condition” or “state”. On page 6 occurs the sentence “All intelligence..... were..... instinct”. Obviously the verb should be in the singular number to correspond with its subject. Mr. Hart is developing a prose style of commendable dignity, unusually free from the jarring touch of modern frivolity.
H. B. Scott is proving himself a finished scholar and a thoughtful editor in his conduct of The Blarney Stone; his able essay on “Personality” is eminently worthy of more than one perusal.
The Boys’ Herald for May presents us with a highly interesting account of Robert Louis Stevenson’s career as an amateur journalist, together with a fac-simile reproduction of the cover of “The Sunbeam Magazine”, Stevenson’s hand-written periodical. The column of reminiscences, containing letters from various old-time amateurs, is extremely inspiring to the younger members, showing how persistently the amateur spirit adheres to all who have truly acquired it. “Nita at the Passing Show” is a witty and entertaining parody by Mr. Smith, illustrating the theatrical hobby of Miss Gerner; one of the latest United recruits. The Boys’ Herald discharges a peculiar and important function in the life of the associations, connecting the present with ​the past, and furnishing us with just standards for comparison.
Dowdell’s Bearcat for December opens with a Christmas poem of great beauty and harmonious construction from the pen of Dora M. Hopner. The thoughts and images are without exception lofty and well selected, and the only possible defect is the attempt to rhyme “come” with “run” in the last stanza. Edward H. Cole’s review of a recent booklet in memory of Miss Susan Brown Robbins, a former amateur, is more than a criticism. It is a rare appreciation of the bonds of mutual esteem and respect which grow up amongst the congenial members of the press associations. Mr. Cole is peculiarly well fitted to deal with his subject, and no praise needed beyond the statement that the review is characteristic of him.
Dowdell’s Bearcat for January marks the mectamorphosis of that periodical into a newspaper. With youthful ambition, Mr. Dowdell is resolved to furnish the United with the latest items of interest concerning amateurs. While the general style of the paper is fluent and pleasing, we believe that “Bruno” might gain much force of expression through the exercise of a little more care and dignity in his prese. For instance, many colloquial contractions like “don’t", “wont”, or “can’t” might be eliminated, while such slang phrases as “neck of the woods”, “make good”, “somewhat off”, or “bunch of yellow-backs” were better omitted.
Dowdell’s Bearcat for Marth is notable for an increase in size. “A Visit to Niagra Falls", by Andrew R. Koller, is an intelligent and animated piece of description, which promises well for the development of its author. What looseness of construction exists may be charged to youth. “An Ambition and a Vision”, by Nettie A. Hartman, is a neat and grammatically written little sketch, probably autobiographical, describing the evolution of an amateur. Greater cultivation of rhetorical taste would improve Miss Hartman’s style, and we are certain that it possesses a fundamental merit which will make improvement an easy matter. With the usual regret we observe an instance of “simple spelling”, which Mr. Dowdell, who does not fall into this vice himself, has evidently overlooked in editing. The news items this month are timely and vivacious, exhibiting “Bruno” at his best.
The Lake Breeze for March inaugurates a very welcome revival of the United’s foremost news sheet, now to be issued monthly. Mr. Daas is so active an amateur, and so closely connected with the development of the association, that his ably edited journal has almost the authority of an official organ.
The editorial entitled “Ashes and Roses” is a powerful and convincing reply to a rather weak attack lately made on the United by a member of a less active association. Mr. Daas uses both sense and sarcasm to great advantage, leaving but little ground for his opponent to occupy.
“The Amateur Press” is a well conducted column of contributed reviews, among which Mrs. A. M. Adams’ eulogy of Mrs. Griffith’s essay in Outward Bound is perhaps the best. “What is Amateur Journalism”? by “El Imparcial”, is a sketch of the various types of amateurs, with a suggestion of the ideal type. While free from glaring defects, the essay gives no really new information, and brings out no strikingly original ideas. “Some Objections to Moving Pictures”, by Edmund L. Shehan, presents a strong array of evidence against one of the most popular and instructive amusements of today. We do not believe, however, that the objections here offered are vital. The moving picture has infinite possibilities for literary and artistic good when rightly presented, and having achieved a permanent place, seems destined eventually to convey the liberal arts to multitudes hitherto denied their enjoyment. Mr. Shehan’s prose style is clear and forceful; capable of highly advantageous development.
Literary Buds for April is the first number of a paper issued by the new Athenaeum Club of Journalism, Harvey, Ill. Though the text of most of the contributions has suffered somewhat through a slight misapprehension concerning the editing, the issue is nevertheless pleasing and creditable.
“A la Rudyard”, a poem by George A. Bradley, heads the contents. While hampered by some of the heaviness natural to authors of school age, Mr. Bradley has managed to put into his lines a laudable enthusiasm and genuine warmth. The editorial column is well conducted, the second item being especially graphic, though the “superdreadnought" metaphor seems rather forced. Clara Inglis Stalker, the enthusiastic and capable educator through whose efforts the club was formed, gives a brief account of her organization, under the title “The History of an Eight-Weeks-Old”, and in a prose style of uniformly flowing and attractive quality. “A Love Song”, Miss Stalker’s other contribution, is a poem of delicate imagery and unusual metre. “Our Paring Knife”, by Gertrude Van Lanningham, is a short sketch with an aphorism at the end. Though this type of moral lesson is a little trite, Miss Van Lenningham shows no maan appreciation of literary form, and will, when she has emerged from the “bud” stage, undoubtedly blossom into a graphic and sympathetic writer. “Co-Education”, by Caryl W. Dempacy, is an interesting but only partially convincing article on a topic of considerable importance. The author, being enthusiastically in favor of the practice, enumerates its many benefits; yet the arguments are decidedly biased. While the advantage of ​co-education to young ladies is made quite obvious, it remains far from clear that young men receive equal benefit. A desirable decline of cliques and hazing might, it is true, result from the admission of women to men’s universities, but the young mon would undoubtedly lose much in earnest, concentrated energy and dignified virility through the presence of the fair. The experiment, radical at best, has failed more than once. The style of this essay is slightly wanting in ease and continuity, yet possesses of force. “The Traitor”, by Agnes E. Fairfield, is a short story of artistic development but questionable sentiment. The present fad of peace-preaching should not be allowed to influence a writer of sense into glorifying a socialistic, unpatriotic fanatic who refuses to uphold the institutions that his fathers before him created with their toil, blood, and sacrifice. It is not the right of the individual to judge of the necessity of a war; no layman can form an intelligent idea of the dangers that may beset his fatherland. The man is but a part of the state, and must uphold it at any cost. We are inclined to wonder at Miss Fairfield’s mention of a king, when the name Phillipe La Roque so clearly proclaims the hero a Frenchman. France, be it known, has been a republic for some little time. “Penny in the Slot”, by Vaughn Flannery, possesses a humor that is pleasing and apparently quite spontaneous. We should like to behold more of Mr. Flannery’s efforts in this field.
Viewed in its entirety, allowance being made for its present essentially Juvenile nature, Literary Buds may be regarded as a pronounced success. That it will mature in consonance with the club which it represents is certain, and each future issue can be relied upon to surpass its predecessor.
Ole Miss’ for March, edited by Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Renshaw, easily falls into the very front rank of the season’s amateur journals. In this number Mr. Joseph W. Renshaw makes his initial appearance before the members of the United, producing a very favorable impression with his pure, attractive prose. The introduction, credited in another column to Mr. Renshaw, is of graceful and pleasing character, recalling the elusively beautiful atmosphere of the Old South which is too soon passing away.
“The Humble Swallow”, an anonymous essay, praises with singularly delicate art a feathered creature whose charms lie not on the surface. The concluding paragraph, condemning the wanton slaughter of this winged friend to mankind, is especially apt at a time of hysterical peace agitation. While the well meaning advocates of peace call wildly upon men to abandon just warfare against destructive and malignant enemies, they generally pass over without thought or reproof the wholesale murder of these innocent little birds, who never did nor intended harm to anyone. “A Higher Recruiting Standard”, by Mrs. Renshaw, is an able exposition of the newer and loftier type of ideals prevailing in the United. Our association has never lacked numbers, but would undoubtedly be the better for an increased standard of scholarship such as is here demanded. Mrs. Renshaw’s work as a recruiter is in keeping with her policy, and this, together with Mr. Moe’s work amongst the English teachers, seems destined to raise the United far above its lesser contemporaries. “An A. J. Suggestion”, by Mr. Renshaw, deals ingeniously and logically with the always difficult problem of selecting a printer. Though evidently written quite independently, it ably seconds Paul J. Campbell’s original suggestion in the United Amateur. The advantage of having one printer for all amateur work are many, and the well presented opinions of Mr. Renshaw should aid much in securing this desirable innovation.
The poetry in Ole Miss’ is all by Mrs. Renshaw, and therefore of first quality. “Some One I Know” is a lightly amatory piece of tuneful rhythm. “Night of Rain” gives a peculiarly pleasing aspect to a type of scene not usually celebrated in verse. The only jarring note is the rather mundane metaphor which compares the trees to a “beautiful mop”. Though Mrs. Renshaw holds unusual ideas regarding the use of art in poetry, we contend that this instance of rhetorical frigidity is scarcely permissible. It is too much like Sir Richard Blackmore’s description of Mount Aetna, wherein he compares a volcanic eruption to a fit of colic; or old Ben Johnson’s battle scene in the fifth act of “Catiline”, where he represents the sun perspiring. “Man of the Everyday” is a noble panegyric on the solid, constructive virtues of the ordinary citizen, portraying very graphically the need of his presence in a world that heeds him but little.
Considered in all its aspects, Ole Miss’ is a notable contribution to amateur literature, and one which we hope to see oft repeated.
The Passing Show for February is the “second annual production” of an excellent though informal little paper by Nita Edna Gerner, a new member of the United, and the daughter of an old-time amateur. Miss Gerner is an enthusiast on all matters pertaining to the theatre, and has impressed her hobby very strongly on the pages of her publication.
The dominant theme of the current issue is that of amateur romance, exhibiting the press associations in the role of matrimonial agencies. “The Twos-ers”, by Edwin Hadley Smith, is a long list of couples who became wedded through acquaintanceships formed in amateur journalism. This catalogue, recording 26 marriages and engagements from the earliest ​ages to the present, must have cost its author much time and research. “A Romance of Amateur Journalism", by Edward F. Duns, is a very brief statement of facts in unornamented style. “An ‘Interstate’ Romance”, by Leston M. Ayres, is more elaborate in treatment, and displays an easy, colloquial style.
The editorial column, headed “Through the Opera-Glasses”, is bright und informal. We note with regret that Miss Gerner has seen fit to adopt the popular mutilated orthography of the day, a fad which we trust she will discard in time.
Pearson’s Pet for April is a bright and attractive little paper throughout. “Burnin’ Off” is a delightful specimen of dialect verse which conveys a graphic Image. We have never witnessed such an agricultural function as Mr. Pearson describes, but can gain from his clever lunes a vivid idea of its weird impressiveness. “How I Met Elbert Hubbard” is narrated in commendably easy prose, which same may be said of the sketch or editorial entitled “Broke Loose Again”. Mr. Pearson is assuredly a competent exponent of amateur journalism’s lighter and less formal side.
The Piper for May is as pleasing and meritorious as the first number, both in its verse and its prose. “The Modern Muse”, exhibiting Mr. Kleiner in a somewhat humorous mood, is very forceful in its satire on the altered ideals of the poetical fraternity, but is marred by the noticeably imperfect rhyming of “garret” and “carrot”, it is barely possible that according to the prevailing New York pronounciation this rhyme is not so forced as it appears, but we are of New England, and accustomed to hearing the sounds more classically differentiated. The defect is trivial at most, and mentioned here only because Mr. Kleiner professes such a rigid adherence to the law of perfect rhyming. “The Books I Used to Read” is the most delightful appreciation of juvenile literature that has appeared in amateur journalism within our memory. There are few of us in whom this poem will fail to arouse glad reminiscences. “Spring” is a pleasing poem on a subject which though not exactly new, is nevertheless susceptible to an infinite variety of treatment. The four stanzas are highly creditable, both sentimentally and metrically. Apart from the poetry, criticism seems the dominant element in The Piper, and it would be difficult indeed to find a more lucid and discerning series of reviews. Mr. Kleiner’s unvarying advocacy of correct metre and perfect rhyming is refreshing to encounter in this age of laxity and license. Perhaps he is a little stern in his condemnation of the “allowable” rhymes of other days, especially in view of his recent “garret-carrot” attempt, yet we admit that there is much to be said in favor of his attitude.
The Plainsman for February contains a gruesome moral tale by Ricardo Santiago, entitled “The Bell of Huesca”. It is proper to remark here, that an important sentence was omitted at the top of page 3. The passage should read “‘Sire, thy bell has no clapper!’ ‘Thy head shall be the clapper;’ said the king, and he sent him to the block” etc. Whatever may be said of the aptness of the allegory, it is evident that Mrs. Santiago possesses the foundations of a pure and forcible prose style, and a commendable sense of unity in narration and development of climax. This story is undoubtedly worthy of its distinction as winner in The Plainsman’s post-card contest.
The Spectator for June–July, 1914, though somewhat trite in title, is the first number of a magazine notable for its quality. Walter Join Held is without doubt one of the most enterprising youths who have ever joined the ranks of the association, though his views on paid subscriptions and advertisements show his still imperfect acquisition of the true amateur spirit. Mr. Held mistakes commercial progress for artistic development, believing that the aim of every amateur in his ascent toward professional authorship is to write remunerative matter. He therefore considers a publisher’s advancement to be best shown in ability to extract an odd penny now and then from a few subscribers who really subscribe only out of courtesy. We wish that Mr. Held might come to consider amateur journalism in its higher aspects; as a medium for improvement in literature and taste; an aid to the cultivation of the art for its own sake in the manner of gentlemen, not of cheap tradesmen. The selection of commercial prosperity as a goal will ruin any true literary progress, and dull the artistic aspiration of the student as soon as his mercenary instincts shall have been satisfied. Besides, there is really no sound business principle in the so-called “sale” of little papers. No youth could ever found or sustain a real magazine of substantial price and more than nominal circulation. The various ten-cents-a-year journals which some ​“amateurs” try to edit are no logical steps toward actually professional publishing. The latter comes only after literary skill has been attained, and literary skill must at first be developed without regard for immediate monetary profit.
But the merit of Mr. Held’s work is none the less unusual. “The Frank Friend” gives evidence of considerable critical ability, despite the touch of arrogance, apologized for in a latter issue, shown in imperfect appreciation of Mr. Edward H. Cole’s phenomenally pure English. Mr. Held, in his enthusiasm for “local color”, forgets that all the English speaking world is heir to one glorious language which should be the same from Cape Colony to California or New York to New Zealand.
The only poem in this issue is Olive G. Owen’s “How Prayest Thou”? a piece of true sentiment and artistic beauty. The only fault is metrical; the use of the word “trial” as a monosyllable. This tendency to slur over words appears to be Miss Owen’s one poetical vice, as exemplified in the imperfect rendering of “jewel”, “realness”, and “cruelness” elsewhere.
The Spectator for August–September is marred by a resurrection of the ever odious topic of Consolidation, but is otherwise of remarkable merit. Elbert Hubbard, a professional advertiser and writer of considerable popularity in certain circles, relates in an interesting way the history of his most widely known literary effort. Mr. Hubbard’s prose style is direct and pointed, though rather abrupt and barren. “The Midnight Extra”, by Dora M. Hepner, is a humorous short story of unusual merit, leading from a well created atmosphere of terror to a clever and unexpected anticlimax.
The Spectator for October–November contains much matter of very substantial worth. “Creation”, by Edward R. Taylor, Dean of the University of California, is e beautiful bit of poetical sentiment and harmonious metre, while “Hall-past-twelve”, by Miss von der Heide, is likewise of great merit, both in thought and in structure. We have lately been told that many apparent metrical defects which we have noted are really no more than typographical errors, wherefore we will here content ourselves by expressing, the belief that the third line of the second stanza of “Half-past-twelve” was originally written thus:
“Across the dark their shrilling laughter floats”.
This rendering would do away with two seeming errors in the printed copy. Olive G. Owen’s “Battle-Prayer” is powerful in its appeal and faultless in its construction. Of marked interest is “Divine Self-Tower”, a brief essay by Takeshi Kanno, the Japanese philosopher. These words in a tongue foreign to the writer, contain material for more than a moment’s thought.
“The Frank Friend” is in this number as interesting a critic as before. The passage of four months has tempered his undue severity; indeed, we fear that he has in certain cases veered a little too far toward the other extreme. The most ambitious review is that of “Pig-pen Pete”, by Elbert Hubbard, which gives Mr. Held an opportunity to display his powers to great advantage. Of the two editorials, that entitled “Life” is the more notable. Though its philosophy must necessarily be rather artificial, considering Mr. Held’s age, it is none the less a very artistic and generally creditable piece of composition. The cover of The Spectator would be less Hearst-like if the fulsome announcements were eliminated.
Toledo Amateur for April greets us in altered form, as a two-column paper. Having given over the previous issue to the credentials of new members, Mr. Porter very justly claims a goodly space for himself this month, commenting ably on the affairs and activities of the associations.
“Camp Columbia”, by James J. Hennesey, gives an interesting outline of the American army routine in Cuba during the years 1907 and 1908. “Observations of an Outsider”, by Mrs. Porter, mother of the editor, sheds light on amateur journalism from a hitherto unusual angle. We note with pleasure that Toledo Amateur remains immune from the destructive baclilus of deformed spelling.
The Woodbee for April contains “The Cycle Eternal”, a lucid philosophical article by Samuel James Schilling, wherein is described the dispersal and new combinations of the organic cells that compose the body of mankind. By the perpetual reincorporation or reincarnation of these cells in all other forms of matter, man is shown to be immortal, and in the closest degree akin to every natural object surrounding him. His outward form is merely one transient phase of a ceasless rearrangement of atoms; he is simply one aspect of infinite and eternal Nature. Save for a few slight traces of ​rhetorical awkwardness, Mr. Schilling’s expository style is remarkable for its force and clearness; the arrangement of the essay into Prologue, Body, and Epilogue is especially favorable to comprehensiveness.
While Mr. Schilling deals with mankind in the abstract, Miss Mabel McKee, in “A Gift from the City”, presents a concrete example of the workings of the human heart. Her subject and treatment are not startlingly original, but such themes lose very little when repeated in pure English and attractive style. The story is distinctly pleasing, and artistically developed throughout.
A notable feature of the April Woodbee is Miss Hepner’s fervent and unstudied tribute to Mr. Leo Fritter, candidate for the United’s Presidency. Though the editorial is bestrown with slang and distinctly familiar in construction, it produces upon the reader an impression of absolute sincerity and intensity of feeling which more elaborate rhetoric might fail so forcibly to convey. Great as is the tribute, however, we feel that Mr. Fritter is worthy of it, and must congratulate him on having such support. Our own efforts for his election, appearing in The Conservative, seem slight in comparison. The only verse in this number is “My Shrine”, by Harriet E. Daily. Though containing an attempt to rhyme the words “time” and “shrine”, this ethereal little poem of spring is of great attractiveness.
Zeppelin for March, a publication emanating from the pen of Mr. O. S. Hackett of Canton, Pennsylvania, is scarcely as formidable and menacing as its name, being distinctly friendly and fraternal in its general tone. Mr. Hackett’s prose has obviously not received its final polishing, but it is so filled with aspiration, ambition, and enthusiasm for the cause of amateur journalism, that it evidently requires only such development as is obtainable from a closer study of grammar and rhetoric, and a wider perusal of classic English literature. In one matter Mr. Hackett seems to harbor a wrong impression. The name “credential”, in the language of the amateurs, is not applied to all literary productions, but only to those which are submitted by the new recruits as evidence of their educational fitness for membership in the association they seek to enter.
Joseph R. Schaffman’s poem, “Think of Times Yet Coming”, shows the same innate sense of rhyme and metre that has distinguished his earlier work. Only the conclusion lacks perfect ease and naturalness. Mr. Schaffman has so far confined his Muse to optimistic opinions and moral maxims; we hope that in the near future he will vary his efforts and attempt to reflect more of his general reading in his poetry. The field is large for one so happily favored with the gift of song.
H. P. Lovecraft, Chairman.