The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-11-07
THE DECLINE IN POETRY.
Result OF "The Rural Reporters" Effort
TO Produce a Revival.

delightful manner IL IecOulls Us own his
tory. 1t claims to be, as II Is, the only
truly literary magazine in America. The
growth OF literature in that forty years
is not such as TO make US egOtistical. rs
pecially does the editor state that there
has been distinct dechne IN poetry.
Alasi Alasl Can that be trueY NOW,
what are the -easons2 Has humanity lost
its love Of seltiment2 Have railroads ana
steamboats, and telegraphs and telephones
destroyed the last veSuge OF ~ Ihey
have had great influence, but the chiet
reason 1 think has been the unfortunate
decay in the influence OF the mother-ln-
Ist,y IN America. no Hail KNOWS the great,
the telling influence upon the destiny OF
the American people made by the mother
in-law. That blessed institution Is really
the greatest prop Of modern civilization.
Without that prop society would 90 down
with rush. A close investigation OF MS
tory has taught me the fact that the An
glo-Saxon mother-in-law Is the true cause
and reason why that race has accomplish
ed so much in the world. She has always
sent her sons-in-law forth 10 fight, and
they were glad to go and afraid to come
back home without whipping the enemy.
am fully satisfied that this IS the true
reason why the Anglo-Saxons are c0nsid-
cred the greatest people on earth. w no
can estimate the power OF a virginia
mother-in-law2 Neither principalities
nor powers, nor armies nor navies, can
exercise the power OF a Virginia mother
in-law. There is no emotion so singularly
sweet and delightful as that which is
caused by bidding a mother-in-law fare
well. When she has spent several months
on a visit and put everything 10 rights
and says she is compelled 10 leave Tor
few weeks, the sensation OF true happi-
ness which this gives the average SON
in-law. is absolutely indescribable. III
actually makes life worth living. It IS
.f.f faF hrr I'M I
waning What must be done 10 retain III
Since the days OF Chaucer. she has ex-
ercsed a great influence on poetry No
one but her could throw the average man
I'm such a state Of mind that he sought
refuge I'm war. or song, or anything else,
that came 10 hand / heard an afflicted
neighbor say few days since that the
rush to the Klondyke was not caused so
much by the amount OF gold as the fact
that II was a place Of refuge that could
not be reached by this institution. He
was n vain and censorious man, and ut
terly wrong in his conclusions.
Thinking over the decay In poetry, I
determined 10 make an effort TO revive
this tagging industry and the result Is
81 Kissed Her and She Ne'er Did Tell.
I beg. Mr.. Editor. that You VIII NOT
criticize too closely the spondees. the dac-
Brace yourself up and rise equal TO the
occasion. and remember the license which
IS allowed to true poets. Think OF the
natural feelings OF a youth meeting
beautiful maiden on lovely May morn
| ing such as / have described.
Recollect the old ballads
"If a body meet a body coming through
the rye;
II a body kiss a body. need body cry"
Alas. alasi If I could call back twenty
| wears. and feel Ike my hero must have
| felt &c would cause me Infinite pleasure
10 ride with the six hundred at Balaka-
lava. or make the charge up the height
| OF Gettysburg and take all chances. II
| bv that means 7 could bring back the
| glorious the immortal feeling OF youth.
| IL is said that Thackeray, when writing
VANITY Fair" Just as he had finished the
incident where ne made Rawdon Crawley
remember his birth and knock the stuff
| Gng (pardon the slang phrase) out Of
the wicked old Lord Steyne. slapped his
hand on the table and remarked, by
Heaven. that IS genius" And It was.
He was. and had the right to be. an ego
tist. This incident Of Thackeray's ca
reer was called 10 my mind by the third
verse OF Il Kissed Her and She Ne'er
Did Tell" It IS true I did not follow
| the example of Thackeray, but when
made my hero kiss her the second time
felt like I was rising something like
equal TO the occasion. I appeal to you,
| Mr. Editor. Just as Horace did to Maece-
| mas:
Isl me lyricis yotibus inseres.
Feriam sidera sublimi vertce."
7 cannot close this little paper without
| paying an humble tribute to that charm
| ing freedman. Who ever cared about the
politics OF the reign OF Augustus Caesar?
| II IS remembered as the age OF Horace
and Virgil. Horace said that he meant
10 erect a monument more lasting than
brass and he did IT,
| 7 KISSED HER AND SHE NE'ER DID
TELL.
| Twas one bright May morning.
A lovely maiden / did meet.
| Her golden locks in the wind were
The dew was kissing her tiny little feet
Like lightning a shaft ~ love
| Pierced the depths Of my SOUL
| Defying powers below and above,
kissed her against her Will
Red as rose her cheek did burn,
Keen was the anger which flashed from
20 fair 81 beautiful did she become
Lost TO consequence. kissed her again.
Clear rung her shrek on the air;
To the bottom OF my shoes 1 trembied
"I.ovslv Maiden" said /. you are SO
beautiful and far,
Ms senses are lost, fear to return no
more"
| Said 7 'I pray your forgiveness. my dear,
] NOT 7 hut YOU alone. are to blame.
| You are so sweet ond so fair
/ L am tempted TO Kiss you again"
said T ooh. tell not your father or
brother.
let orr Kiss be a secret we shall keep.
,,i.o ,ooiirg N love nature cannot smother
Oh maiden. l beseech thee not to Weep -
whist monster are you" she cried,
| ,srts,, xvretch in human form,
That mast Earth and Heaven defied
This fair May morn
c,id 7 .Ohi Maiden. when I looked upon
'''''N ,.o,,r e,,es OF melting blue,
knew loved and thought you loved
Toine ewes might have withstood,
] tbongh they were sweet
Rut my mind gave Wy When l beheld
your tiny little ieet-
yyl,bout a word she wiped away a tear
| And sped along the dell.
| Though my breast was oppressed with
fear.
A'' THE RURAL REPORTER
srrrvs,de place. buckingham County.
j "a cants-.h-- II lAs@