Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1867-04-12
YOUNG WRITER'S.

There are great number of men In IN
world who fancy that they can edit a news
paper better than those who have been rear
ed In the profession. Likewise there are
great number Of young men and womer
who imagine that their great forte is in writ
ing fG the newspapers. A majority Of these
tune their thoughts to rhyme, aud wher
they succeed in accomplishing a fair piece o
measure they post il off TO the editor of som,
popular newspaper and IL il fails to appearir
the first issue thereafter, the editor is sci
down as a soulless fellow, and one who
has not particle Of appreciation for the beau
tiful.
Many an editor has had reason to lamen,
the popular fallacy which induces so man,
young ersons TO fancy they are "bori
poets" He is compelled, not only in iustic,
TO himself as respectable journalist, but
out OF respect 20 his volunteer contributors
to throw piece after piece into the waste
basket, often giving mortal offense by SO do
ing. But could the hungry asprants after
fame fully understand the nature of the law
which governs his action, they would realize
at once that the editor was really befriend.
ing them in destroying their worthless man.
uscripts.
Thousands of men write verse, while /,
takes century to produce poet There is
large number OF men who might, perhaps
rank as second rate, q larger number who
are third'rate, while a much larger number,
who have attained considerable popularity,
fall considerably below these grades. They
are clever poets and nothing more
They have in them none of the elements OF
greatness necessary 10 preserve THEFT songs
for any considerable length of time. Amer
the generation in which they live shall have
passed away, they will soon Yield their
places to younger bards, and be forgotten,
while the few volumes of their works, that
remain in print, are hid away in the dusty
corners of unused book shelves.
The fact that good poets are the exception
and not the rule, should deter most attempts
at verse making-but especially the publica-
ton OF them unless with the advice of a
compent judge. II is matter Of much case to
write any number of smooth, hgh-sonnding
rhymes, but it must be remembered that this
is one of the least essential things pertain
ing TO poetry. In fact it enters very slight
ly into poetical composition. Some of the
greatest epics we have ever read were pro.
duced in plain prose- and though there was
no effort at rhyme or measure, the music
was apparent in every sentence, and sound.
ed down into the sonl, producing such
an effect as is only the result only of fine
poetry.
Poetry is by no means series of mechan.
ical executions. II is something more
something that is limited by no rules or law
save that of effect upon the mind of the reader.
1t pleases, awes or teriies as the writer may
desire; but it ceases to be poetry when its
beauty depends upon The manner of its exc
cution. Poetry hallows every theme II cele.
brates. 1t treads the highways of life and
plants flowers in all the desert places. Be.
meath Its touch the rugged and uncouth be.
comes grand and noble.
Poetry is deep as metaphysics, solid as
logic. II is capable Of weaponing itself in
lo'an instrument of torture which brings
wrongs to the rack and reforms and regener-
ates social and political evils. It's mission is
elevated and holy, and so viewing it, It be-
comes sacrilege for unskillful hands to
toy with the thunderbolt of the div inc
Jupiter.
Our advice to young writers Is always to
let poetry alone. II the mood comes frc-
quently to induce you to attempt it, write
Your verses if you wish, but lay them asi e
until your maturer judgment decides in their
favor. Thousands Of authorlings, through
indiscreet editors have published what they
have lived to deplore. Age is harsh critic
and just one. 1t damns without mercy
And when mans age sits in Judgment up
on his youth, H. rs an awful tribunal and
one that never leans TO the side of mercy.
We hope no one will take offence at what
we write. We say nothing that is not die
tated by sound reason. We make no recon-
mendation that Is not prudent and judicious.
We are glad to do all in our power to en-.
courage young writers, but we hold that we
cannot render aiem better service .than by
declining to publish what they would be
likely to live TO regret. Pope, one of the
most finished writers Of any age, worked for
years upon single poem, and days upon a
single line. He held his reputation too sa-
cred to be stated upon a hasty expression,
or loosely worded thought. He still lives,
and will live as long as the Anglo-Saxon is
spoken. Why not initiate his example p
Labor like him II you wish to live like him.
He strove not TO attain the speed of the
swallow, and made the strong flight of the
eagle, He is model to be studied-s pat
Tern to emnlate.-Ladies' Home.