The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-03
ADVICE TO A POET.

ALBANY. Jan. 30. 1880.

A. p Rr--o~l E,7
MY FRIEND Your favor Of Thursday reached
me this morning. for whish many thanks l
have little to tell. but can only answe letters
at all by replying on demand. and 1 certainly
shall not make yours an exception.
As to the NeD Yorker and such matters, I close
my engagem emit here on Wednesday. Feb. z.
and make tracks forthwith for New York 1
do not intend to back out OF the Neic Yorker
this year. though may. There is some pros.
pect that Il will begin to support itself all but
the editing. which must be done for lovel.
and II II will ever do this am content to do
my share toward editing It for nothing and
pick up living by odd Jobs Of editing. letter
writing. &c. | expect to take charge OF tho
Daily WING whereby to earn my johnnycake
after I get down to New York. l must do
omething to live BY for tho JcSersonidn has
supported me and something more this year.
and that resource will now cease.
The Wings here would like to have the JET
fcrsontan continued. but really am weary OF
this destruction OF mind aud body between q
multiplicity OF places as well as duties. / write
for several papers besides my own two: and
have to write for tho Neto Yorker now at great
DISADVANTAGE to the paper rs we'll as myself.
Moreover my wife Is in bad health. and IL left
utterly alone in New York through the worst
part OF the year-a circumstance which pleases
neither OF us / got sick OF the sight OF
steamboat this last season. mean to take
my journey in tho summer. and hope to take
Poultney In my way. though am not sanguine
that can GO even. I think I shall enjoy the
pleasures Of Anticipation at least. though all
else should be deniei me.
When you write for the Ne,c Yorker. write to
me. will take care Of all beyond. l meant
to have sent you two or three transcripts OF
your Old Year verses. but suppose have
forgotten it They were fair. but not so vi0or-
Gus nor so finished as "Rizpah." think II.
by far tho best universal verse that has APP
pesred In tho Mem Yorker this year. Benia-
minis excepted: and he writes terribly. His
ST. Paul Sonnets were execrable, Think you
may write a volume OF creditable verse ina
few years II you persevere. We're I you. I
would write with great circums pection and
care. Quantity Is rather a hlndrance to repu-
taton and eminenco: and as there is hardly
a possibility Of pecuninry advantage, It 10
far best to bring every effort to the
highest attainable perfection. l think you
may win distinction II you have perseverance
and patience Iwish you would look with q
critics and poets eye on the tale OF :" Tho
ONYX Ring" now printing in the Netc Yorker.
It is selected after my own heart. and think
1t rather extra. To tho mob It will seem too
metaphysical; but relish it vastly. and think
you will The author has q GermAniZed mind.
but q full one, and he writes with purpose.
Why don't you send me some Poultney news1
Deaths, marriages, courtships. or even scandal
would he better than nothing 1t cant be that
you merely vegetate like oysters tas Murphy
would say up there. Do stir up something.
As to books, there Is a very cheap and de-
cent series OF the British poets published In
Ave octave volumes by driggs Philadelphia.
think Wordsworth. Coleridge. and Southey
perhaps its Coleridge. Southey. and Lamb.
one In one volume. which has no necessary
connection with others. No. 1t is Coleridge.
Shelly. and Keats. which 10 better than Moore
Campbell and Rogers. In another volume. and
30 on. These ought to be in Poultney Library.
II that venerable institution had not gone TO
seed Bryants poems are published in one
neat volume tlS35 or o. and so are Halleok's
only the best Of IL 3 are left out will some
time send you HAlleek's Fanny. IL can get IL
Percivafs Is a volume do not remember to
have met with. II you would ike any books
send me word by somebody next spring
The American Anthology died before it was
born. Had 1t lived to see the light It would
have been enough to physic horse. This en-
balming all the trash that is written Is atrocI-
ous. The editor should have been condemned
to read his own proofs
l have strung out a great deal OF nothing.
Yours HORACE GREELKY.