The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-12-17
Kansas Poems
Work of Eva Irene Mcmillan
Is Published in Book Form.

Elya Irene AfcAiillan's poems, some Of
which are familiar 10 the readers Of the
+ Eagle, have been published under the
title Lyrics Of the West" The author
OF the volume lives in a neighboring
county. The production Of poetry in this
world is something enormous. The poems
which come TO the Eagle alone would
swamp the paper if an attempt were
made 10 publish them. They are mostly
declined, not because they are not worthy
but because the public objects TO an
excess Of poetry in its mental diversion.
So much effervescent fun has been had
: with the Kansas poets, that there is
q distinct cult in Kansas which smiles
pityingIy whenever poetry is mentioned.
But this cult is in error. All short emo
tional poetry has for its chiefest func-
ton thistle pleasure in production for
the poet. It is a safe assertion
that nine-tenths Of the poetry produced
never finds its way 10 printing office
but is written for the sole qualification
Of the poet in trying TO catch the precise
shade Of one Of the finer emotions. It
also happens that the poet himself not
being a capable judge, believes he has
caught the precise shade felt By him
self and which he believes by printing
he can re-awaken in other hearts. All
poets believe this Of their poems-but
they belong TO two cIasses-one class too
timid to assert its belief in the carrying
power Of its emotion-negatives a very,
very large class, which never seeks pub
IL
in the matter which seeks publication for
everything from their pens. Now it is
q strange fact that a poem wss never
printed which did not reach some one,
and as a poems office is that, If it reach
IS one, it has not been in vain. No
poem which strives TO be sincere, can
be entirely bad. All poetry then is go2i.
Very little of it is great. a large Dor-
ton OF it seeks TO be great; notably
magazine poetry, and succeeds in being
meaningless TO the larger part of the
reading public.
The charm Of Mrs. McAIiIlan's poetry IS
that it doesn't seek TO be great. II is
the result o. an emotional endsavo- to
reproduce the mind-futters which he
prairie, the sky the streams, the Gaily
scenes and daily experience inspire.
ION downy bed Of snow
Little Baby lies;
How I'd love TO kiss him! but
If do, he cries.
SO 1 turn to leave him there
But kneel and breathe prayer
That the Angels hover near
XVb1-a nv balv- T=a-
That will produce its effect only in
the heart Of another mother who has
felt it. 1t will never get through the
Harveyized steel Of a doubIe-asted. to-
bacco chewing man who never knelt any
where. But ne Will be able to get re
=sponsive hum out of his heart in this
IF I'm in darkness
For a mother waits, you know
And the dismal wind is signing,
q And the clock is ticking slow,
All the singing Of the angels
Could not give me such delight,
As the music Of your whistle
When you're coming home at night
''F'or know your mind Is merry
And 1 know your heart IS gay.
Anu L Ii SUI . : ttA NS 4iCL DtcI waking
In the paths which lead astray.
If your heart had lost its music,
And your soul had lost its sight
You would never come a-whistling
When you're coming home at night"
Here is a concluding stanza- from one
of Mrs. McDIilIan's poems which we think
will be appreciated:
"One day I wept beside my precious dead;
All hope, IT seemed. from out my life had
fed
I knelt to pray, f5ut like a wounded bird
I think the Father reckoned mel heard.
And all my being thrilled when now He
said:
Give me thine Heart"
Mrs. McMllan's poems make very
neat volume. It is published by G. P.
Putnam's Sons.