The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-11
TIE MN WITH I SPONGE
subjeof for - Poem Suggested n Mr.
RudyarG KiplinR.

10 THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: On July 20.
you published letter from Responsibility"
who obviously fails to perceive the real objeoS
Of Mr.. Edwin Markham's poem. The Man
With the Hoe" He writes that the author has
twned some very leafy and nowery vines
around a vacuum" and that the subject OF the
theme is a type OF the great masses OF those
who use farming implements for a living. or
else he Is an exception. II the latter. then the
strength Of the sentiment uttered lies in the
concealment OF its weakness. II the former"
Responsibility says, then the respectable
farmer is grievousy wrongod."
Your correspondent is not the first who has
taken exception to these verses Mr.. Mark
hams own words may be employed in defense.
as copied from the July BOOkmdn. He says ,
A few persona take 1t that my poem referred
to our Intelligent. well-to-do farmer. few
have gone so far as to make the astounding
statement that want men to desert the hoe
that think labor degrading. l protest against
itself; l want hoe men to stick to their hoes
but l want them to get something for their
their lives besides mere dull labor"
fed n Hs YOU'D E,d hHXs been fully us
the thrifty farmer. especially the American far
mer. to whom, he understands. :" MIR. Mark
ham hans oSSsGryatGn and study have been con;
the famous canvas from which Mr.. Mar khan
found hls inspiration for the poem. evidently
hhi ~ mluu very llllterate stamp oil tne IcaS-
ant. from the chronological and physiognomi-
ta aspect 81 the man In the painting. Further
tnan ms the h0em concerns the illiterate la
Had the subject Of the poem been as Re
sponslpility sees him. 10 1t possible that 1t
would have been received with such universal
and praiseworthy recognitionp Would the sym
pathefe soI have the Of It's
terpeted its Significance.
IT Is absurd TO bring in the. American farmer.
and Responsibility" would undou btedlv dis
cover by careful observation and study, that
surprising proportion OF even the farm hands
in this country have the benefit OF some sort Of
school education. however rudimental or
primitive.
About The Man without the Hoe" the man
VINO has to work and prefers n gcnteel method
OF obtaining his livelihood. | see no earthly
reason why he should not desire q more del
icate employment. i he can find it. than drudR-
ing in. the dirt, though that may be more
healthful; especially II he is a man OF refine
ment and education, and by his own qualillca-
tons can make himself more useful in some
pursuit that he is more fitted for even IL he is
Obliged TO- fall back upon petty government
positions Government clerks are not ali
loafers or ne'er-do- wells As long as a man
works l believe he should have the credit
for 1t.
But there is one specmen-or rather excuse
tol a man. who has tho infinite disgust and
contempt Of all honest citizens: the man
who should. but won't work; and there are
thousands of them right here In New York:
men who would rather worm out a living from
relatives or friends thai raise finger to aid
themselves This useless class would serve as
an excellent subject for poem:
Perhaps wo might get Mr.. kinling to write
something strong and call it " Tho Man With
the Sponge" r NJ NJ G.
NEW YORK. Aug 8, 1899