Telegram-herald., 1889-08-01

he Fe~is hAs ths Oasleoz for Poetry il
tAts Csass4y - r e..tt4sgt4E.
CoPFetarr l,sl

AAe i-L.4EA A.1A
IN rscent couversation E1mrni
Clarence ss-lmzl r-as4A-a tAat the
sec.al and other demands npeu IL tIn-
outside ot rl=rs bt.-.Arss rL-.a-,rrneaL- hasi
49, ned within f-v years such a mag
nItlls tIat be could hardly say that as
time was nis own any logger
Daring The Last halle dozen and more
years, sad II. Stedman. my CORES
poud-nce Lss grown 20 such an extent
that. II 1 should attempt 70 90 10. it would
be simply iwpossio.e To- ne 10 answer
Informally in person one quarter OF the
letters that | receive. no. only from per
sous Ia this couutry, bat those residing
abroad. OF courss / AN always very glad
70 get letters from any friends wherever
they are or whoever they may bs. bat IL
j. .m possible FOR me - reply 70 them as
they would Ike 10 have NE. doubtless,
and 50 l have been compelled 10 use a
printed form ia the great majority Of
Instances. which kindly beg my friends
10 accept in lieu OF what l should other
wise De only TOO glad 10 send them. 1t IS
no unusual thing for lie 10 receive As
many as hundred letters a day, an d
those too outside OF mere business letters.
Think OF it.
Mr. Stednan remarked IA follows: in
the ease % the two oldest survivors IN
soug-Nr. Whittier aud DR.. Hoimes-we
observe their admirers more exi ended IN
numbers with the spread OF culture IN our
land. II their voices are not heard as
frequently as formerly. IL IS not because
they have grown less strong and sweet,
for with each new utterauce as 10 comes
70 - FRO fo frr,a A "a PAL A
detect auy variation IN the tones we all
long ago so easily learned 10 love.
Lowell Is less often heard now -a-days
than be used 10 be. but it IS not, AS we
know, because OF any dimlnution in the
quality OF that voice whose music Is 50
appreciated by all cultivated people
everywhere Our only regret IS that
Wa 10 not hear more OF it-as
we have reason to hope we may
when ''Elmwood" is again graced by
the presence OF its Master. Stoddard.
whose work has never been appreciated as
i, should be, continued to be loyal 10 his
first love, and from time to time, notwith-
standing advancing years and physical
inflrmities, adds 10 the poetical riches Of
our literature l cannot help feeling that
the outlook for poetry In This country is
encouraging, though. and Will not deny
that with the younger and coming singers,
altogether too much stress is laid upon
the more painful forms OF verse. The
volumes Of verse eninating from mouth
TO mouth from the younger writers. do
not con tain that Obstructive character OF
work such "a belonged 70 that formative
period when Bryant, Longfellow, Whittier
and Lowell, and the writers Immediately
following them. wrought for a waiting
people Longfellow's Lost YOUTH" in
itself was sufficient TO establish the repu-
tstion of any poet who could produce such
= masterpiece How few OF our younger
writer's give US anything like this. And
yet there IS no reason why snch poems
cannot be written to-day as in Long
fellows early Yeas. Ny advice TO our
coming singers is-do not give so much
attention to the lighter forms OF verse
making. but seek 10 produce something
which shall be fall OF real character, aud
shau stand apart. as 1t were, from
the dainty order Of verse referred to-
These bits OF verse are all pretty enough,
sud OF course are n given sense promises
OF someth ny better TO come, but that is
all Sill. as | have said. there is much
encourage ment % believe that the ont
LOOK for poetry IN this country IS bright
since every now and then some striking
instance l. Afforded a. evidence Of this
fact. as 10 the case Of Wood berry : The
North Shore Watch" one OF shs finest
ele4isc poems % rec-nt Shines . also in the
case o. Milier's songs 0f the Sierras." and
several of SIDNEY L@nier's composition.
such "a the song % the ChattahOochee."
The Revenge % Hsmish." and The
Marshes of o. vunF / trust ta- day i
near az hand wnen I sh ; D. free from the
pressure 0s outside duties aud cares, and
give uors attention 20 poetry than have
ben she 70 devote 20 it 4or soHefime
past With TIE completion % the work
on American Literature. oa which have
been engaged for = considerable pcriod c.
time. shall feel that I can once more take
no the work nearest NJ heart. in which
servics toll l. only . reireshmsnt arI
delight" CHAs :. BUTLz2