, 1877-10-21

LIE NoOEkS OF TUE MUSE.
Roch<sfer Dtalocrut.
Mr.. Dickens did not exaggerate nor set down
aught in malice when he made a distinguished
laly pride herself on her own lines to so unpoet-
ical 4 thing as an expiring frog. The human
understanding for The most part might as well
not exist SO far as verses are concerned. Intel
ligent and successful men and women NAV be
almost certainly looked upon in every instance
as strangers to all manner OF Judgment in the
poetry business. There is the liking for poetry
there, but one verse answers as well as another,
and the poorest is as likely to be cherished and
wcpt over Us the best. We may aud, lest
some hearts be hurt by these Sweep
ing remarks, that It may not be dcsir-
able to be able to Discriminatory nicely in
this matter, since the faculty is usually
had at the expense of Some gift likely to bring
money, and therefore more valuable, Anyhow,
people will die, aud will get married, and will
do other things calculated to invite the poetic
sentiment, and Mr.. Curtis has frequently re-
marked that plain words are the best. There
came to us yesterday man sufficiently solid
and practical to be able to swap horses and
make money at it. That man sneakcd in rs If
he had something to be ashamed OF, md insil,-
uated four verses on this table with the remark
that he wrote them, and the name must by no
"a But" We said, *'the verses are not good.
They must not go in in any shape. Surely you
are j0ktng!f
"Well," said the gentleman, blushing and
evidently astonished, s'1'iu not much OF
judge Of such things; but thought as an old
subscriber -"
20, you get out! !"
There are hundreds OF this class. The public
will be asto1ished, but there are absolutely
hundreds Of them, and IN the boozv moments
Of those Of them who drink you will find them
surreptitiousy taking verses from the sweat
bands Of their hats and growing sick over them.
The most frequent poetic fever, however, is
that which affects the bcreared person. i
mother has lost L child and vearns for the sym
pathy she is surely entitled to- She comes into
the newspaper Office to receive nothing but re-
spect, whether her gown be Of calico or silk,
and it is quite as likely to be one as the other.
She says q friend has written little tribute to
her lost darling, evidently thinking that the
loss is known to all tue world, SO large is her
grief aud SO little is there on earth for her out
side the memory OF that dead child.
s'The verses are as good,' she is told, "as
the average Of these verses, but -'
II think them beautiful!'' she interrupts,
nnconsciousl1 rs in liCnant as if her grief, in
stead Of the poetry, had been criticised. 'sM Ny
friends all think them beautiful md appro-
PIRATE, and it is at their request as we'll as my
own desire that come here"
She is told US kindly as possible that their
puDllcatlOn Noulh Dc 10 circuit 10 ner or u TIE
memory Of the child; that the publication OF
one such poem brings thousand more, and
it would be impossible, OF course, to print them
all,
1--WE have taken your paper several years."
she says with grieyed look, land would prefer
it Tor this purpose to any other;' aud after
moment she goes out, feeling hurt anti humil-
iu,ed, and leaving the person she has inter
viewed feeling somewhat as II he had pccn steal
ing sheep
There are thousands OF this Glass; and there
will be thousands more. Death is always busy,
and grief will have this peculiar outlet when ali
the rest arc choked. This paper has printed
about as much dreadful original verses as any
other, and looks to nerciful Heaven with cx-
trcme humiliation for forgiveness; and ut the
sasne time it has its EXCUSES. There comes into
the apartments, for instance, a lady whom the
imp of the establishment mentions for lack Of
more appropriate rhetoric and enthusiasm, rs
Old Glory. Old Glory has round, happy face,
bright eyes. the sunnicst Of lialr, bounding
step, the jaunticst OF apparel the brightest ami
most winning Of smiles. hesitating, modest
way, which ut the same time unconsciousty cx-
hibits the sauciest Ut confidence, 4 pretty
hand, aud all the rest of the sweet miraele
known to the men & and bret brethren;
to 2'd Is '0:y years o1d d and "S'' has ' never
had disappointment in her life. It would be
dreadful to disappoint her now; yet she has the
poeln-worsc still, it NAV he the obit-
uary article. Old Glo~Y is captured By the de-
based wretch who has nothing to do with the
department she's interested in, and very natu-
rally held On to.
"a little poem," she says With bright
smile.
::Thank you" says the dena5ed wretch, al
udins wholly to the smile. 1t is very pretty.
We shall he glad to print it.''
''My friends have read it. they assure me, |
with some pleasure" she adds blusting at the |
promptitude Of the decision; land my pa would |