The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-24

Poet Gilmore Explsins How He Does His
Work and the Reasons for His Success.

Work and the Reasons for His Success.
CRAwFoRDsvILLE. Ind, Sept. l5.-James
B. Gilmore the poet Of Alamo. Ripley township is
gaining fame in this part of the country since
THE Sun printed his poem story Of the Monon
wreck. The newspapers Of Chicago and other
cities have reprinted THE Suns article, and
Mr. Gilmore Is being pushed UP toward the pin
nacle on which, he himself admits he belongs
Every time he comes to Charlottesville with
load OF grain he calls the editors Of the local
newspapers. and has himself interviewed and
allows them to print some new gem that his muse
has given him. Recently he made trip to In
dianapois. and made arrangements with print.
ing house TO publish his novel. Love Among the
Mistletoe." at his expense Mr. Elmore feels that
this book will be blessing to humanity and he
gives opportunity to his neighbors TO help defray
the expense OF publishing IT, On several occa-
sions he has dedicated specially written poems TO
churches on condition that the members OF the
church will give something TO his book fund.
In his latest interview the inspired child Of
Ripley township" declares his greatness thus:
Il can lead the people up onto the mountain
tops OF imagination, where you can see Dewey
swipe the cruel Spaniard at Manila Bay. or l can
lead them right out into my barnyard in fancy
free, and let them see that sheep sucking my Jer-
sey COW"
ridculed his using the word "vehemy" in his
poem on Charlottesville. The poem is as fol-
lows:
And OF our reopie growing great
In our city with such vehemy:
And history Impressed on the wings of time
OF our people OF great Athene."
Charlottesville is known to It's people as the
athens Of Indiana" When Mr.. Elmore was
told that there had been some casual criticism
Of his using the word "vehemy." on the ground
that no such word could be found in the diction-
airy. he replied
20 pshaw reckon they never heard Of poetic
license. Everybody that makes poems knows
he has TO use il once In while TO make the metre
and the poetic rhyme Whatif I had used 'vehe-
mence there. instead OF 'vehemy'? II wouldn't
have been poetry at all, and the elegance OF that
whole beautiful verse would have been knocked
siily. But when | use the word 'yehemy'. as
poetic license gives the right TO do, Just as a
license TO get married gives the gleeful soul OF
youth the right to do il. why. keep the poetic
lamp a-burning bright all through that sweet
little epic-fOT il is a firstrate epicurean poem.
u know don't use as many choice words in
my poetry as some writer's. but those that have
so many choice words don't have any poetry.
and that's the difference. | write the real old
poetic stuff and they write fancy words. Look
at old Browning, or hipling. You can read
their big. fancy words all day, and when night
comes and it's time TO slop the pigs, you won't
know what you've been reading about and after
thinking ii all over you conclude that The White
Mans Burden is reading the poem. With my
poetry IT'S different Everybody knows what
the words mean and il is all described so natural
that you can Just the things I'm writing about
happen before your eyes.
1T isn't choice words that make poems by a
iugful. and when you come down TO ground facts
! don't poetic license any more than the fancy
bards anyhow. Now here's poem on my friend
Gov. Mount and guess no one will find fault
with that unless it's some narrow headed Demo
GRAFT who thinks | ouEhtn't to So ~1od word
for my friend Jim because he's Republi an and
all that"
Whereupon, Mr.. Elmore produced a manu-
script which written poem inspired
by Gov. Mounts speaking at Charlottesville al
the Labor Day celebration. Following il the
poem
The governor spoke with force and well 4
To the multitudes on Labor Day,
And OF his worth no one can tell:
by prccept he led the way.
" lie was himself a son Of toll
And bore a sunbuTnt brow.
while filling OF the virgin soil.
Both hands upon the pillow.
But now he holds the Teins OF state
And serves tho people we'll
Day by day he's growing great.
OF which the people tell.
He Is friend OF those In need
And 70 all stalWar sons OF toll
or those who deyAstAte the soil