The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-08-02
POETS WANTED.

The accusation that our day and
generation is a sordid, mercenary, I'M
poetic age may seem to be borne out
by the poets, but indications are not
lacking that we would be glad to be
other than we are. 1t is true that
the last two decades have not been
prolific of poets, but it couldn't be
said that they have been unappreciat-
ed when they appeared. For example,
the poems of Emily Dickinson, which
contain more genuine poetic insight
than any other verse published of
late years. have had sale comparable
to that of the successful contemporary
works of fiction.
During the last month the surface
or periodical literature has been ruff
fled by the announcement of the dis
eovery of three new poets. Mr.. w. D.
Howells stands sponsor for one of
these, young eolored man of Toledo
The second is "a boy of fifteen, engaged
in rubber factory at the east end of
London; the third, introduced to the
world by both the TChap-Bookl and the
Lark, is Japanese youth resident in
Oakland, Call who has learned his
English from Joaquin Miller.
The verse of Mr.. Howells' protege
is chiefly notable for the fact that it
reproduces without posing or con-.
sciousness, yet, of course, with GER
tain amount sof s sophistication, the
note which cfiaraeterizes the best of
the untutored negro songs. This feat
implies rare amount of perception
in the writer, but does not necessarily
hold out any promise Of a future
which shall be CT interest to literature
AS for Edmond Curtis styled '.The
Boy Poet of the East End, 2, his verse
is melancholy and Wordsworthian,
full Of the natural sadness of extreme
youth. The poetry sofs flfteen-year-old
thor than to any one else, and the
verse Of Edmond Curtis is no excep-
ton to the rule, but his choice of words
is good in a sedate, oId-f fashioned way
and his feeling for melody well
marked. 1t is quite possible that he
may ultimately write something poe
try-1overs will care to read.
~ Yone Noguchi, the last of the trio,
has a.vivid poetic imagination, and his
expression is unfettered by q knowl-
edge of the traditions of our tongue
His poems are exquisiteIy we'll worth
reading, both for themselves and for
the promise they hold forth of what
his output will be when he has ac-
quired little more knowledge of the
English construction. AS his verse
now is, it is as quaint, as unforeseen,
as full of subtle charm as unspoiled
Japanese art always is for the alien
Each poem is simply the expression of
an apprehension, a fancy or a mood,
and each one is. full of brave meta
phors and phrases which are marvel
ously happy in their Inconsistencies
and sincerity.
But, better than the works of even
the best Of these three new writer's OF
verse, is the spirit, which has sought
them out and welcomed them and
made Of their, discovery a matter Of
some consequence to those who are
interested in the things of the mind.
/ We could spare easily enough the
verse which has Interested Mr. How
els, or Edmond Curtis, medftations
In a cl1urchyard, Or even Yone No
guchi's delicate incoherent descrip-
tons of midnight gardens and rain
among the redWeods. but the valuable
thing, which We cannot spare, is the
temper that finds these various man.
ifestations of stmpHtance. for it con-.
stitutes promise that when the
awaited poet comes he viii not be un-
acknowledged. - lae.