Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1854-10-12
WEEKLY TELEGRAPH
Friday, October Is, 1854.



Very few persons possess that peculiar
Genius which makes the real Poet-such
as were Shakcspear, Byron, Burns, &c
not one in thousands of the really learn
cd and ablemcn OF the world; but there is
scarcely well educated person, of good
intellect, who cannot, if put to the task,
write perfectly, correct smooth, sensible
rhyme-rhyme that for sense, measure,
grammer, and all the Secere or scientific
elements of poetry, will pass the strictest
ordeal of poetry. But these persons,
knowing that it requires something more
than this-somcthing understood by the
word genius, but not to be explained or
defined by any woodland they nerer
perpctrate any doggerel verse.
There is a class Of persons of a lower
order Of mind, who do not understand
orthography, syntax, nor any thing of
the neutrality-suspicious. Of poetry, who
are filled with vain ambition, and who
can string rhymes together which do not
possess sense, grammar or rythm, who
are continually pouring upon newspaper
publishers their illusions
And as they are almost always from
political, personal, or business friends, or
arc the relations or friends of such friends.
the local editor has not the courage to
refuse to publish them; and he, by force
of this dire necessity, wades through the
stuff, making it grammar, mending its
photography, punctuation, altering, mend
ing, and supplying lines so as to get it into
some bearable presentablc shape, till he
wishes in his soul that the whole system
OF rhyme and poetry was buried in oJliv-
ion, never to be restored.
This state of facts has drawn forth the
following from the n. Y. independent:
Hints 40 Poets.
We are overwhelmed with poetry.
Either the drouth has not touched the
Castalan fount, or the autumnal rains
have swollcnit. Much of the poetry that
comes INTO our hands is written upon
such delicate paper, and with such ele-
gantpcnmanphin and is accompanied with
sucn modest notes from ,-'"@in authors.
that we arc at our wits end to kI.2w
what 80 do with it. How can we dc, me |
publishing what has been prepared with
so much pains, and is proilered with such |
delicate consideration? In order to re- |
cover our Judgement sufficiently to de /
eide upon the quircs Of elegant rhyme
paper before rs, we beg that the MUSES.
will he more sparing Of their EtvorS for
at least two months to come. AMI for
the guidance Of those who mediate such
favors for us in the future. we beg leave
To submit the following hints:
/. DO not take Il psalm tune and make |
a jingle of words to match it. GreenvilIe /
and Coronation are capital tunes. hnt I
they do not always inspire gooi poetry. |
,. DO not take a rhyming dictionary |
and select Il row Of words, and then pre- |
iiX syllables to make out the requisite
number of feet. Poetry constructed up /
on that principle usually requires to be
read backwards.
3. Do not take foot rule and measure |
of inflated prose into blank verse. This |
is apt to confuse the reader as to the !
proper use of capitals and the pauscs Of
the sentence.
H. Do not exhaust the adjcctives and /
interiections of the English language up
on rhymes against Senator Douglas and !
the surrender of Burns. Turn your
rhymes into votes.
5. Never send lis anything upon the
Recommendation ofjudicious friends, who
desire to see it in print"
6. After composing, lay asid your piece
until the intoXication of the first inSplra-
ton has subsidized. Keep it month and
then read it over.
:. Do not be mortified if your piece IS
not published but take it for granted
that YOU would be more mortified If 1t
was.