Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-11-01
eu1uae AMERICAN POETS.


ramund Clarence stedman Feels Very
Hopeful AZ to Them
In n recent conversation Edmund
Clarence Stedman, referring to the
older poets OF America, remarked az
follows: "In the case OF the two Old
est survivors In song-Mr. Whlt'ier
and Dr. Holmes-we observe their ad'
mirers grow more extended in num-
bers with the spread of culture IN ous
land. II their voices are not heard ~
frequently rs formerly. 1t is not Dc,
cause they have grown less strong ana
sweet, for with each new utterance as
1t comes TO us from time to time we are
unable to detect any variation In the
tones we all long ago so easily learned
to love.
Lowell is less often heard now-a'
days than he used to be. but 1t Is not
MS we know, because OF any dimlnu-
ton in the quality of that voice whose
music is so appreciated by all culti-
waited people everywhere. Our only
regret is that we don't hear more OF II
AS we have reason to hope we may
when Elmwood is again graced
by the presence OF its mas
ter. Stoddard, whose work has
never been appreciated az II
should be, continued to be loyal to
his first love. and from time to time,
Notwithstanding advancing years and
physical infirmities, adds to the poet
ical richness OF our literature | can
not help feeling that the outlook for
poetry in this country is encouraging,
though, and will not deny that with
the younger and coming singers alto
gether too much stress is laid upon the
more painful forms of verse. The
volumes of verse emanating from
month to month from the younger
writers do not contain that distinctive
character of work such as belonged tc
tina. formative period when Bryant.
Longfellow, Whittier and Lowell, ans
the writer's Immediately following
them. wrought for waiting people.
Longfellow's Lost Youth" in itself
was sufficient to establish the reputa-
ton of any poet who could produce
such masterpiece. How few of oul
younger writer's give us any thing like
this. And yet there is no reason why
such poems can not be written to-day
as in Longfellow's early years. M.
advice to our coming singers is--dt
not give so much attention to tn,
lighter forms of verse-m making, bu
seek to produce something which
shall be full of real character
and shall stand apart, as it were, from
the dainty order of verse referred to
These bits of verse are all prett,
enough, and of course are in a givel
sense promises of something better t,
come, but that is all. Still, as hav
said, there is much encouragement +
believe that the outlook for poetry i
this country is bright, since every nov
and then some striking instance is al
forded as evidence of this fact, as i
the case of Woodberry's 1.-The Mort
Shore Watch" one of the finest elegia
poems of recent times; also in the cas-
of Millers Songs of the Sierras," an
several of Sidney Lanier's compos
tions, such as the Song of the Chatta
hoochee," The Revenge of Hamish,
and 'The Marshes of Glynn." 1 trus
the day is near AT hand when shall b
free from the pressure of outside dt
ties and cares. and can give more a.
tention to poetry than | have been abl
to devote 10 it for some time pas
With the completion of the work o
''American Literature" on which
have been engaged for considerabl
period of time, l shall feel that | ca
once more take up the work nearest m
heart, in which service toll is only
refreshment and delight. N. Y. Ma
and Express.