St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1895-10-18

cynical, nave not Sulhclent cause |
But, of course, Petersen took my
remarks in an impersonal manner,
as might have known he would.
My dear fellow" he said, while
there is undoubtedly much truth in
what you say, you should not be
quite so sweeping. For | believe
there are many fine minds among
our literary men, much sincerity,
and true love of art for it's own
sake. At least this is what my wife
tells me; and since she has taking to
writing herself, she has become ac.
quainted with many OF her co labor
ers. And you, my dear boy, you
whose poems have met with such
marked success, who have sung, if
may say so, an inspired song, ought
surely not to take such pessimistic
view of the situation"
when our duck quacks," inter
rupted; but, waving his hand
Hear me out" he said, My wife
sends to you this manuscript | could
not help groan, but turned it into
a cough bidding me ask you to
look it over, and asking me to tell
you that whatever in it is good,
whatever valuable, whatever helpful
or noble, is directly traceable to the
influence upon her mind of your
poems, and especially that exquisite
epic, the result Of your last years
labors, Confound it, | forget the
name of it,"
Petersen" said |, you speak
beautifully, and by the card, but,
nevertheless, you wrong me. Bad
as am (and heaven forgive me for
nearly everything have dared to
write, have never yet been guilty
of an epic. Some one else has done
this thing, my dear friend, not |. |
am innocent OF this at least"
II am wrong" he answered very
seriously; ut was not an epic. |
think it was a lyric-or didyoubring
out a book of sonnets? 1t would
distress me beyond measure to have
my wife know the looked at me APP
prehensively] that | had forgotten
the name of that book. For in any
case you it is vino from the early
DAYS, even before she was married,
inspired her with the love OF litera-
ture and with a burning wish to
make for herself place among
the writers of the day. She owes
this to YOU, my dear boy, and | and
the world owe you debt OF graft
tude we shall never be able to repay.
For this manuscript is a most re-
markable production. it alone will
raise the general average OF which
YOU speak so disconsolately. This is
no pot-boiler. Thank heaven, there
| is no necessity tor that. No sordid
consideration hampers and cramps
her genius. 1t is the voice of an
angel, calling from hea ven to the in
| habitants of earth. 1t is the soul OF
an enthusiastic, aspiring woman,
speaking in tones OF thunder to that
world which must and will listen
when once the book is published.
/ So to YOU, the friend of both OF us,
and the unconscious yet none the
/ less powerful awakener in my wife OF
noble and heroic sentiments, to you
| bring this, her first offering to lit
erature. Do not let your friendship
for us and your knowledge OF my
wife's character and gifts prevent
your looking it over in an impartial
spirit. Art demands of you honesty.
Therefore, it you find aught in it to
crticise, aught to condemn, aught to
curtail, or that should be rewritten,
do your duty unsparingly, dear
boy; remembering that it you praise
only, we shall be afraid that your
love for us and your admiration OF
her have in acme slight degree cloud
ed your judgment. My wife asked
me to mention particularly that she
does not mind writing over what
ever and whenever you suggest. For
she has implicit confidence in you,
and an excellent amanuensis."
"Amanuensis," said |, why, this
is type. written" Petersen answered
pleasantly:
"Oh, yes, l have got for her an
amanuensis and type-writer-and
also night-watcher. 1t was neces-
sarv.'
"Night-watcher" said l. whats
that for?"
.,ri r..,l ~ eo;J he ~ ha I