The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-11-15
MORRIS. THE MANY-sIDED.
HUNS Mills, Designs Furniture, and
breaches Socialism.

Huns Mills, Designs Furniture, and
breaches Socialism.
st. Paul Pioneer Press.
Though he seems to be set nowadays
on winning laurels as a designer and
publisher. william Morris has a long
and brilliant record as a poet. His first
book of verse, THE Defense of Gulne-
we're and Other POEMS" was published
as far back as 1918. This was followed
by THE Life and Death of JASON"
which put him in the first rank of liv-
ing poets. In his next work, THE
Earthly Paradise" he well nigh ex-
hausted the treasures of Greek mythol-
ogy and Gothic folklore. This is work
with a plan which is somewhat indebt-
ed to that of the Canterbury Tales"
In this last some gentlemen and mar
liners OF Norway sail In quest of an ISL
and of bliss-find IT. and remain in II
for the remainder of their lives, passing
the time with tales from Greek and
Teutonic sources. The poem is not
meant to inculcate active effort Though
these may find their remote position in
the tales; the primary conception i'm
plies a castle Of Incidence and existence
conditioned by languid repose.
Since he wrote that he had changed
his point OF view in relation to life.
Instead of the dreamer born out of
time, the idle singer of an empty day."
he has come to regard himself as
leader On an advance toward a strong
citadel OF society. In a lecture made
after he had Joined the Socialist
league, he said: II believe most sin
cerely that the steady progress of those
whom the stupidity of language forces
me to call the lower classes in ma
terial political and social condition, has
been our real help in all that we have
been able to do or hope" How sincere
ne Is may be known from the fact that
Tor himself he eschews wealth and lux
ury, winch are within easy reach of his
versatile and brilliant talents, in order
that for few at least of his brother
men he may rob toll OF it's drudgery,
servitude OF its sting, and poverty of its
horrors.
AS a poet, householder and capitalist
1t seemed that he had everything to
lose by the victory OF the cause to
which he has lately subordinated his
whole life and genius. Because of his
views II was said that he couldn't hope
for the laureateship.
AT Merton Abbey in Surrey he has
run for some years factory in which
by producing artistic wall paper, furni-
lure, etc., he has tried to restore the
dignity of art to ordinary household
decoration. He has fought that curse
OF the whole Philistine world, sham art
and stupid bric-a-brac. His fundamen-
tai principle was thus expressed In one
or his lectures: II do not want art for
the few any more than education for
the few or freedom for the few" An
other saying of his. which Eliminates
what is beneath his crusade, was this
That thing which I understand by real
art Is. the expression by man OF his
pleasure In labor"
He is larger figure in life than in
literature: he Is OF more Importance as
man than as poet; and the laurel of
England's comforting would gain in
preciousness by these tokens, from be-
Ing placed upon the brow of him who is
so variously strong In affairs which the
world only looks upon. as Kipling says,
for to admire" 1868