Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-05-13
RUSKIE As LAUREATE

Mr.. Gladstone has offered the place OF
poet laureate to John Ruskjn. Perhaps
the distinguished art critic may be
poet biz enough for the Hosltion-eer-
tainly he has written great deal OF
brilliant prose, and moreover he has
been reported once or twice TO be crazy.
But, with all these qualifications for the
court poets place, il may be that Rus
kin will decline the ofer.-Hdruord
Times.
1t is, however. practically certain that
Mr.. Ruskin will not accept the title I'M
less disencumbered of the duties OF
chronicling in pretty language the
births, deaths and marriages or royalty
and generally yoking Pegasus 10 the
shafts of a vehicle fulfilling the COM
bined functions Of a court circular and
a dynastic Organ.-PittSbltTg Dispatch
II Ruskin accepts the place the court
will probably feel distinctly uncomfort-
able on every occasion which seems TO
call for the exercise Of the laureate's
functions. It is his practice TO vent his
righteous wrath upon whatsoever mer-
its his disapproval In words that burn,
whether they breathe or not.-Nel0
York World.
To set such man as this the task OF
writing epithalamia would be cruel, II It
escaped being ridiculous. No one will
begrudge RuSkin all the honors that
NAV come TO him. He has served art
and literature and humanity unSelishly
and we'll But Mr.. Gladstone offers
him a wreath that is sad misht.-BoS-
ton Post.
Mr.. Gladstone's tender must, we as
sumo. be looked upon as a testimonial
10 one Of the greatest Of English liter
ary men, who has given the world i'm
mortal poetry in prose form, caring
more for the sentiments and ideas than
for the form OF the garb in which he
gave them.-NelV York Mail and En-
press.
His prose Of forty or fifty years ago
was delightful, but it was always prose.
One would just as soon expect to see the
old man turn rOpewalker as trying 70
find rhymes 10 suit the royal occasions
that require the tuning OF poet laure-
ate's harp. PHtSbTg Chronicle-Tels-
graph.
Mr.. Ruskin is a distinguished art
critic, but he was never publicly &C
cused Of writing poetry. 1t appears
that he did make some poetry when be
was child aud that he is rich enough
TO be able % afford IL now when he
wants it.-1TitlUGlttee Journal
There will ba some surprise at Mr..
Gladstone's offer Of the poet laureate
T@h D.a1rfw Tho Ioffnr Ig
best known 10 she public by his prose
writings and lectures, which have often
covered topics Of the most practical
character.-Nel0 York Press.
But in poetry John Ruskin, though
he has written much, is purile. The
mighty organ-blast OF his prose, in
which every sentence responds to the
touch Of a master, sinks to trivial
piping in his verse. Philadelphia Press.
The appointment of Ruskin as poet
laureate is a recognition OF the fact, too
oftern forgotten, that there are poets
who are not verse makers, as well as
verse makers who are not poets.-PhtL-
0delphtd Ledger.
In looking around for a poet Mr.
Gladstone seems 10 have been In the po-
sition Of the Worlds Fair poetry COM
mittee-he had TO take the next best
thing.-St. Louis Post Dispatch
But it is feared that his appointment
rs poet laureate will make the aged
critic OF art and society seem the victim
OF a strpke OF satire.-NelO York Tribune.
Mr.. Ruskin will I'll the place better
~ N"am OF his predecessors nave done
write his poetry in prose-
/ TpqUireT.