The morning times., 1895-12-08

poetry was discussing the matter few days
ago;
''I should like said he, Ito see q poet
laureate in this country. And i must say
that ] should like to see the holder OF the
office changed every four years. American
poetry is now so diversified, is so far-reach-
ing In its aims, and so very widely varying
in treatment, that to select one man would
be doing a rank injustice to all the other
poets whose merit is no less, but who are
different in style. Compare, for example,
Riley ana Stedman, or Carleton and Thomas
Bailey Aldrich. Which is best. 'Ridicu-
lous,' you say, to compare
al happen to know continued this gen.
tleman, that Thomas B. Reed is very fond
of the poetry of William ID. Howels. Al
men do not like it, but If Reed were made
President and were asked TO appoint o
laureate, he would undoubtedly select W.
ID. Howells.
"Howells' muse, while stiff and not alto
gether sweet is mighty adaptable Take
those lines Of his in Race published In
either Harper's or the Century, illustrated
by his daughter. See how admirably they
would fit In at Reeds birthday or similar
time occasions:
4 am Race and both are mine,
Mortal age and youth divine;
Mine to grant, bat Not in fee;
Both again revert To me
From each that lives, that may give
Unto each that yet shall live.
You see the lines are little fuggy, but
no more than is expected OF poet laureate.
An appointed poet, whose lines read clear
and plain, would luse the mysticism of
his posltiun-always a desirable thing In
laureate. See how the lines would go
oD If taken from Race
Some time after you are old,
You shall come and ! will take
From your brow the sullen ache
From your eyes the twilight gaze,
Darkening upon winter days.
How admirably those lines would go
kt Presidents birthday.
BRICE's LITTLE SINGER.
ITO Illustrate the difference In Presi-
dents and their tendencies" continued the
same unquestionable authority, take Calvin
8. Brice and his poetic preferences.
81 have 1t upon the very best of authority
that Brice likes the poetry of Ella Wheeler
Wilcox better than that Of any other
poetic writer. Both are from the West, and
though 1t is not expected that a President
would show any sectional bias in matter
of that kind, / know that Brice certainly
does admire the Little Singer from the
West Her Century poetry has specially,
am told, pleased him. And she is versatile,
too.
~ am thinking, as Ispeak, of her lines on
many different topics She can treat any
thing. Suppose O denominational war
were to arise, or great international re-
hgiOus controversy, See how she could ham
die 1t, and how simply. Take her little
Quatrain:
so many gods, so many creeds,
30 many paths that wind and wind,
When just the art of being kind
Is all the sad world needs
Gould the subject be tackled any more
easily and yet automatically than that?
MOTIONS LAUREATE.
"Morton's calm spirit fancies Glider.
know be likes him extremely well. The
President is said to read Glider evenings,
but happen to know it is Levi p. Morton
who fingers over the leaves of elders
poems. His verses are not liked by every
one, bnt think even his enemies would say.
II they would read them carefully. that
they are not as bad as they are painted.