Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-20
4THE WAY OF LOVE" "
TWO GEORGE W. cRILDs AID ANOTHER
MAX SAID TO HAVE WRITTEN 1T.
A Queer Prsdicamsnt Growing Gut OF an
Alleged Humorous Editorial OF the
Few York Sun.

In the folonlng editorial article the New
York sun either unwittlngly or designedly
dt Is hard to tell which, coniuses Dir. George
W. Chlld., proprietor Of the Philadelphia
Ledger, with Mr.. George W. Guilds, lite
rdtetr Of this city, who is the author OF
"The Way OF Love" and OF other produc'
tions. prose and poetry, OF equal merit:
VINO Wrote "The wsy OF Love-?
Mr.. George W. childs appears 70 have gone to
the south. lie writes 20 rs from hlclmoni, Va,
declaring that heis The author OF tho beautiiui
sonnet. "Ths Way OF Loye.n which was credited
In the sun Of last sunday 70 Mr. Eugene fiel1'
OF Chicago Mr. Childs not only claims the au-
ttorsnp of tho love sonneS but he intlmates lhat
Ar. tIeld has stolen H.. L.
That is out Of the question Tho yefsaNe
and pyroligneous genius OF Mr. tugene Flell
has no need 70 borrow, much less 10 steal IN
stsad OF borrowing and stealing. he lends and
gives tie frequently 0Dd hapituaily prlns
some Of bis nnest poems over names tnht either
represent nrtltious persons or mat Delons 10
actually existing contemporary Poetr, hh0ss
produciiveness seems 10 him 70 be tagging or 70
need .he infusion OF new blood. In this way be
has built up dozens Of poetic regulations OUT
side OF his own. His motive Is beautiful COM
| hnatlOn Of modesty and philanthropy. IL IS
strictly honest, aud 10 would be entirely praise
worthy II Il did not sometimes lead TO CONFUSION
and misunderstanding. Ine future editor OF
II
son with an abnormally koen perception OF IN
ternal evidence IN literary matters. viii miss
and omit many OF the most chsrmipg essays OF
! Mr.. Fields fruitful yet shrinking genius.
We have the highest personal e9teem Dotn lot
| the distinguished elegiac poet and phllanthIo-
| pist at present visiting Richmond, and for me
| equally eminent sonneteer and bibhophroolslsc
\ who is the principal gem ia Chicag0s literary
| diadem. il is not a pleasant duty TO pronounce
az opinion. affecting ths literary reputation oil
| one or thdSothor OF them. But personal con-
| s.derations must have NO weight in the sxAmina-
| ton Of important a literary question as tho
| true authorship OF " Ihe Way Of Love"
I'm the nrst place the sonnet claimed by AIT.
| George ". Childs shows none Of the chhracteris-
| tics OF bis woll-known philOsophic moralizing.
and pathetic style. In order that everybody may
! Judge for himself reproduce ii here IN con
4 nection with tho latest undlsputed poem OF MI
| Childs, written, at least published, since ne
| left Philadelphia for the south:
| "rHE WAY OF LOVE.
"As ono essays some cavern 10 explore,
| Deep. dark, and vast, with rugged roof ana
| walls,
And loneliness that like a curtain falls,
| And hOlds his link 10 light his way before
| Aloft, while darkness still enshrouds the noor ;
And hears, while seeing naughi, iiko distant
The winds weird whispers waling through the
| halls,
| And fears come hidden danger more and more
So woman as she steps within mans heart
| That rayloss gloom and rugged depth unknown.
Though holding high her glowing torch OF
| love.
| She knows not how her faltring feet 70 start;
| Her fears give tongue in trusiful undertone,
Aud round her path no ray falls from above