The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-02-09
SUGGESTIONS 10 POETS.
Professional Hints Which Amateur Verse
Makers May Value.

makers May value.
Gas for subjects" said the modern
poet, 1.-The world is simply alive with
them. In the first place, there is the
morning paper, suggesting subject
after subject. A man with an alert
eye and rather wingy imagination
will find enough material in a morn
ing paper for an epic, lyric or two.
and half a dozen assorted elegies.
Equally suggestive is observation
There are a hundred drOll, weird,
melancholy things happening every few
minutes. All you need do is to keep
your eyes about you somewhere, and
use them on the slightest provocation.
As for the melancholy things, /
wouldn't do much with them, at least
if was a beginner, with reputation
to make. Just jot them down some
where, if you want to, for future day;
but don't try to work them off at
present. The market for melancholy
poetry just now is limited. and
Tennyson is supplying it very fully. 1
would use the weird but charity; but as
for the droll just bury yourself in it.
You were asking, you know, what kind
of poetry sold the best; well, that's the
kind. In fact, in the case of an I'M
acknowledgement. it is the only kind
that will sell at all. There seems to be
4 great desire among the common peO-
pie to laugh, and u timely, well-con-
ceived jest, set to tripping and rhyth-
mical measure, will supply long-felt
need in the aching heart of the average
American citizen, irrespective of age,
sex or previous condition of servitude.
1t is not necessary to add that your jest
must be crisp and fresh, with the odOr
of new-mown hay about it, and spark
ling with the dew of early morning.
Don't imagine for Il moment that any
old gray-bcard of a joke can be dressed
Mp in the swaddling clothes of infancy
and be palmed of on the community rs
a recent arrival. 1t will be nosed from
afar, and pelted with horSe-chcstnutS.
That respect should be shown to old
are is IN excellent rule, but not appli-
cable to jokes. They must be as young
and virgin rs the Snow flakes from
heaven; otherwise they 90 into the ca
pacious NAV Of the 'ASSvrian Pup. or
the Office Cat, or other manuscript
anlihilator.
dom essay the sentimental; that is.
not for cash. for the demand is not
especially loud or Imperative. and It i
easily supplied BIZ those eminent mas
tiers % verse who have long been il the
public eve and write their names IN
three sections. The truth is. the APP
petite for the sentimental, especially
the eroiically sentimental. is not very
general. It Is confined to a number of
Yoan% girls. and to a few EnbalaaceA
persons who are on the point of pair
ing ola number comparatively small
in any wcIl-orde-ad community.
Healthy, contcased. single persons.
of course, do not care for this kind
reading, while to the married aud SET
tie ;, and eternally tied for this world
and the next lower, nothing comes 80
with the force of personal insult rs
piece OF sentimental poetrE. AVOID 1t.
If you must write it. write it. and hide
il carefully between the leaves of the |
family Bible; and perhaps some day /
your literary executor Will find it and |
give it to It ciamDr;ng world; but just
nov the world IS not clamoring.
''Oi course, yoI and both under
stand that this humorous poetry, if y0u !
prefer, is not poetry at all. But that's |
not the point. You want to know what |
You can put together in the shape o:
meter sad rhyme that will sell, and |
that's what l am telling You. We call /.
ii poetry, because that is the general |
market name for t.''-Joi5s p Lyons. /
an H.'i:cr.