The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-13
THE PROOF OF A poET.

try all the better.
THE PROOF OF A POET.
A critic whose communication We
print in another column, in discussing
an editorial which appeared in these
columns two weeks ago, entitled 'The
Newest Newspa per-" desires to know
by what canons of literary taste the
G b e pronounces L. B. Aldrich
poet, and adduces in evidence against
his claim in that direction the fact that
his name lis not even mentioned in
our college catalogues the only con-
temporary poet who figures in the cata-
logue of the University of Minnesota
being the late William Morris!
The question as to what qualities
constitute a poets outfit is a debat-
able one. 1t is difficult to say, on a
priori ground, what should go to the
making of poet, but the recognition
of one after the event is a simpler
matter. AS we have stated before in
another connection, the best art is that
which pleases the best people. There
is absolutely no other test of it, The
consensus Of the competent is the
ultimate court of appeal in matters of
taste, and the competent have been en-
gagged in pronouncing Mr.. Aldrich a
poet with no uncertain voice for some
twenty-odd years. He has never been
popular poet, but he is and has been
distinctly a cult among those who have
and seek the lyric note, who appreciate
delicate Imagination fineness of
thought, subtlety of cadence and per-
feet technique. His fame in these re-
spects has even penetrated to the Brit
ish consciousness. It is only a few
months sincesof1e of the leading Lon
don weeklies +the Academy, if we mis-
take MISUNDERSTANDING American
literature in It's possession of Mr.. AL
drich, on the ground that it was good
thing for a country whose literary
ideals were still chaotic to possess such
an example OF perfection. We are far,
however, from wishing to invoke the
authority of modern London in the
matter. Our critic asks for canons.
Taste is intuitive and practically alb
solute. Canons of criticism are only
arrived at by apalyzing the results
which taste has pronounced good In
a general way we may call Aldrich a
poet because the world has for genera
lions called Herrick "a poet before him.
and the English writer of lyrics has
no charm which is not duplicated with
difference in the American. who DOS
sesses, in addition, the note of modern.
ity and subtler knowledge of how to
produce beautiful sounds, as well as a
refinement undreamed Of by any writer
Of Herrick's generation. BY the way.
has our critic ever read Mr. Aldrich
for himself, we wonder? The fact that
he classes -Aldrich with Will Carleton
and James Whitcomb Riley would seem
to argue that he has not, in which case
an exquisite pleasure is still in store
for him.
In regard to the matter of the
we respectfully submit that the
recognition of poets is not one
of the recognized functions Of a
college catalogue. If the library of
the university is so unfortunate as to
contain no contemporary poet save Will
liam Morris, that fact is doubtless due,
rot to the paucity of poets, but to the
poverty Of the university, and some
thing ought to be done about it at
once, as there is obvious danger that
the university's graduates may go out
into the world ignorant upon the sub
ject Of contemporaries poetry
The point our correspondent raises as
to whether a good critic may not be a
bad poet is Irrelevant The anony-
nous writer whom Che Gil b rebuked
two weeks ago showed his unfitness
as critic by an exhibition of scurril-
ity and vulgaFit qualities which are
certainly as FAR removed as possible
from the judicial calm of the critical
temper, and whicia Immediately dis
credit any opinion advanced by per-
son exhibiting 4hens We do not deny
the occasional necessity for severity
in modern criticism, but, if severity is
not tempered ~ knowledge, the result
causes the judicious to grfeve.