The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1866-06-02
VERSE-M

NERSE-MAKING.
IT was once the custom in MANY re-
views, calling themselves Christian and
civilized, and so regarded each by its
private sect or following, to immediate
at least one young poet quarterly at the
shrine of stony-faced and rocky-bosom-
ed criticism. 1t was esteemed a charm
ing diversion, if not an act of religion, i'm
the days of Mr.. Clifford or of Mr.. Will
son Croker, to make some timid and
feeble rhymer ridiculous, to put him out
of countenance by merciless sneering,
and to demonstrate his foibles and fail
ures for the amusement of Il gggling
public. Pope set the fashion of denounc-
ing ounces, and all the writers who had
bad hearts, and could string together
ten-syllabled couplets, thought it manly
and vigorous to follow his somewhat
peevish example. Criticism, however
purposeless and virulent, is apt to as
sumo the airs of an offended and impa-
tient morality, and to take credit to
itself for shifting remorselessly and con-
cientiously. But imbecility, at least
when it is inoffensive, should be privi-
legged, and professional flaw-piclling, ex-
ercised shcerly for the purpose of giving
pain, is no more respectable than the pro-
fessional flogging and picking which
prevailed not long ago in certain parts OF
the United States. AT the same time,
while avoiding all personal application,
we may venture to point out Il foible
which is a well-markcd and not altogeth-
er an encouraging characteristic of our
own day, and to suggest to the innu-
mcrable writers of verse that, however
much they may be permitted to sing for
their own sake, the world just now has
but small need Of their wares. Goethe
once boasted that, in all his life, he had
"never thought about thinking" and
we would enter protest which we are
sure is honest, and which we think is
timely, against the making of verses for
the sake of verse-making. Metrical in
dulgence, both in England and this
country, has grown into an epidemical
and inveterate habit, not cultivated as
it should be, if at all, in corner, but
published to all the world, which is con-
tinually challenged to admire endless
variations of a few themes long ago
worn threadbare. Facility of execution,
at best natural or acquired knack, is
mistaken for genuine inspiration; nor
does there seem to be any pretence of
considering whether the world is i'm
need of any addition to its salready large
pOetical stock. 1t is with the most sin
cere kindness that we take the liberty
OF pointing out, particularly to the
young, the waste of time, of strength,
and of mental serenity which this uni
versal strumming involves.
Twenty years ago there was exhibited
in London Il machine, not the human
product of college, but literally a ma
tcrial machine, which made excellent
Latin heXameters. The unfortunate in
ventor had spent thirteen precious years
of his life in perfecting "the Eureka"
as he called it. Without wasting our
time in explaining this curious puzzle,
ground out heXameters which were like
those of Virgil in some respects, but
considerably unlike them in others.
1t seems to lis that it is very much in
this way that many modern brains pro-
duce what its authors call poetry, and
its judicious critics verse. 1t is literal
The memory is full of phrases,
the ear of familiar quantities; fashion
or accident supplies the subject, and dali
ly practice renders the construction easy.
So skilful sometimes is this species of
manufacture, that it is hard to
determine with accuracy, while we feel
its deficiency, in what that deficiency
There is modest respecta-
bility which deceives the careless reader
who accepts sound for sense, without
any suspicion of the trick which is play.
ed upon his ear. Coleridge once wrote
few verses of absolute nonsense in the |
manner of DR.. Darwin, which he read |
to lady, who rewarded him by serious
ly eXclaiming, "Ah, Mr.. Coleridge,
now | see that you are poet" This
we admit to be an extreme illustration
but there are thousands of rhymers now
spinning longs and shorts, sometimes |
them, whose work, we
must say, unfortunately, has just sense
enough in it to save ii from wholesome
and decisive condemnation. If they |
were absolute fools they would soon be
laughed into silence; but as their stan
zas are to n certain extent rational, the
public receives them with |
Il fatal atlability, and has no call to for
give amediccrity which it is too indoIent
Or too indifferent to detect. Every edi-
tor receives bushels of verses which he
might print, if he had but room for
them, without any particular discredit
to his taste or Judgment. Their authors
naturally do not understand their rejcc-
tion. SIS not this" they say, Gas good
A. TcnnysOn? Is it not, at least, very