New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-28
THE UORLD'.S F4IR ODE.

The question of "a suitable poem or so"S WI
the opening of the Worlds Fair is a''rao''"I
much attention throughout the country "''
especially, Of course il the neiehborhoou VI N"l-
cago. The Fair cannot be opened "lC"o"o 81"
ode that much is settled. II is also agIc'u 'i",
the order for one should he placed SOON goo"
poets being VIGOROUSLY slow in their WORN -"
thing TO be decided now is, who shall "ri'' II
Al first il was suggested that Sir Edwin Arnol'
was the man. Several people fell IN WIN '"'
idea including Sir Edwins press AGENT ""' J.
was soon made apparent that foreigner even i
he were English speaking, would not ~ a'c'P
able to the American people. Oh COURSE p''''"
poct would. at this particular time be more ac-
ccptable than, for instance. Chllhh poc'' ''"
would probably throw soul into the work, nut
it was quickly decided that all foreigners must
bc barred Attention was then concentrated Oh
native pocts II was instantly seen that gIea'
difficulty was going to be experienced III the
selection not from lack of poets, but rathef lrln
the embarrassment of riches in this ilhe. Inc
late census showed that there are, in round NUM-
bcrs 100. 900 poets in the United States 'V'"''
of whom live in the State of Indiana and 2J,OOO
in the city Of Chicago. the rest being scltter''
throu Chout the country Naturally two ways ol
making the choice of poet suggested themselves
by competition and by lot. That choice by lou
would probably secure the better poem was carry
conceded but IT was thought, on the whole th",
il would not be fair TO the poets as geI'rai
contest with a committee of firm, hardened men
10 determine which was the best. II was there
fore decided TO advertise for sealed poems, TO he
delivered on OF before the first day of September,
1892 ar II o'clock noon, each poem to he ac-
COMMANDED by q guarantee, bIcked by suitable
hond that not over 0 per cent of il is paglarlzed
This was scarcely agreed upon when a new
d,aicnltv was encountered, namely. the lack OF
authority TO offer a prize. That the poets wouIn
compete for glory alone was clearly absurd e-pe-
cially in this period of literary renaissance when
almost any poem can be- changed about mite
and sold 10 a soap firm or tooth powder manu-
fectnrcr al n round price. But help came at this
uncturr from an unexpected quarter. The Can
field Rubber Company has just offered purse OF
s. 600 for the best poem or song 10 pe 1eal OF
sung AZ the opening of the Columbian tNposltloh'
bar none The rubber company also agrees 10 put
the first verse Of the poem on the soles OF all OF
It's poloshes for the winter Of 1892 and 'o3 in
raised letters 80 that it will De tramped into the
snow all over this country and Canada.
That the offer Of the rubber company IS liberal
in thr extreme We do not need 10 say. This IS
the way 10 build up an American Literature. II
more firms took the interest in bellies ettrS
cvinccd by the Garfield Rubber Company we could
in ten years have literature rlvalling that or
the Elizabcthan era in England The awarding
Of the prize will be done by committee appointed
by the Fair organization. We would suggest
that the original San Francisco Vigilance Com
mittrc bc secured Tor this task if possible. They
are men who would do their duty as they If.
We would also say that it seems 10 us that other
firms and corporations might come In with tie
rubber company and do something. Five thou
sand dollars is small for such prize. after all.
one OF $4,000 would be none too much. The
lard and talow interest of Chicago ought to chip
in The leather firms Of this city would do well
10 call "A meeting in the Swamp without delay 9nd
consider the question. The Standard Oh Com
pany ought 10 do something handsome.
There is one thing about the plan Of the rubber
company which seems 10 he radically wrong H.
makes the contest open 10 the world" This is
a mistake which must bc corrected without de-
lay. The patriotic instincts OF this country will
not admit of n foreigner being even given chance
~ furnishing our Columbian ode This has al
ready been settled lteSdcs, II will not DO Ia let
the MONEY 20 out Of fnc country. and in ease the
contest is left open Ia the world Lord Tcnnyson will
stand an excellent chance Of walking of with
the prize, owing 10 the absurd and unpatriptic
prejudice which exists in this country i'm favor Of
his verse AZ against the poetry of the Indiana
and Lakeside schools