The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-11-01
FUTURE AMERICAN POETS.
Edmund Clarence Stedman Feels Very
H0naful "a to Them

FUTURE AMERICAN POe ..
Edmund Clarence stedman Feels Very
Hopeful to Them
In a recent conversation Edmund
Clarence Stedman, referring to the
older poets of America, remarked as
follows: I'm the case of the two old
est survivors in song-Mr. Whittier
and DR.. Holmes-we observe their ad.
mirers grow more extended in num-
bers with the spread of culture in our
land. If their voices are not heard a.
frequently as formerly, it is not be-
cause they have grown less strong and
sweet, for with each new utterance as
it 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 nova.
days than he used to be, but it is not,
as we know, because of any diminu-
ton in the quality of that voice whose
music is so appreciated by all Guilt
waited people everywhere. Our only
regret is that we don't hear more of it
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 as it
should be, continued to be loyal to
his first love. and from time to time,
Notwithstanding advancing years and
physical infrmities, adds to the poet
ical richness of our literature l 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 to
that formative period when Bryant.
LongfellOw, Whittier and Lowell, and
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 a masterpiece. How few of our
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. My
advice to our coming singers is-do
not give so much attention to the
lighter forms of verse-making, but
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 pretty
| enough, and of course are in a given
sense promises of something better to
come, but that is all. Still, as [ have
said, there is much announcement to
believe that the outlook for poetry in
this country is bright, since every now
and then some striking instance is af-
forded as evidence of this fact, as in
the case of Woodberry's 1.-The North
Shore Watch one of the finest elegiac
poems of recent times; also in the case
of Millers Songs of the Sierras," and
several of Sidney Lanier's compost
tions, such as the Song of the Chatta-
hoochee," THE Revenge of Hamish,"
and ''The Marshes of Glynn." l trust
the day is near al hand when shall be
| free from the pressure of outside du.
ties and cares. and can give more at
tention to poetry than have been able
to devote 10 it for some time past.
| With the completion of the work on
''American Literature" on which /
have been engaged for a considerable
| period of time, l shall feel that l can
once more take up the work nearest my
heart, in which service toll is only a
refreshment and delight. IN. Y. Mail
and Express.