New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-12
VALENTINES WRITTEN HERE.
ASSORTED LOVE POETRY MADE WHILE
YOU WAIT.
\ NEW BRANCH OF THE PROFESSIONAL POETS
woRK-H1s EXPERIENCE WITH
SINGLE CUSTOMER

vs. professionals, and II just ABOUT lnlpOSSlpie
tor any body else"
The second speaker was young man who had
tpst opened an Office as a professional poet and
tie first was an acquaintance who had just
dropped in The first went on: Here I've been
trying for the last two or three days to write
valentine. and / can't even get start on It
What would you do?"
"There seems 70 me TO he no great difficulty"
Eaid the poet you know that you must not
Try to rhyme morn with dawn and that you
may rhyme love with dove and heart with
art and all that sort Of thing. 1 don't see
what else one needs TO know in order to write
valentines l am not much used to writing
them myself. but they seem to me about the
easiest Ihins in the list"
'SThat kind might be. but don't want that
Kind. l want something original"
Every well; what DO you want?"
'Why. I don't quite know"
What DO you want 10 say? What is to be
he general drift Of the sentiment? Put it in
prose"
But don't know what l want to say"
The poet looked at his caller with whitening
scorn you have been trying to write this
valentine for two days and you haven't found
snt what YOU want to say yet? Don't you know
That you have TO have a thought before you
can express one?"
why. I supposed that in writing poetry you
got the rhymes and the lines first and that the
thought sort OF came along naturally
Not at all Now, I'll tell you what III do
n isn't quite the sort of work that l expected.
but am just starting in business, and / sup
pose must take any kind Of trade that comes
my way. I'll write this valentine for you II
you'll tell me how you want it written. 1t isn't
obO
know: the subject has been pretty well gone
over by the poets but III do my best Now.
What stage Of love do you want TO express-a
modest respect and warm regard. or a budding
affection. or a raging PASSION"
Why you see, want two or three Of them
Different girls?"
different girls. OF course"
-Dnerent stages Of sentiment"
-No- hardly. You might as we'll make them all
- strong as possible. You know, the receiver OF
q valentine is not supposed to know whom II
comes from so you can put it strong as you
me"
The poet sat for a moment musing. -Ah,
yes" he said; '1t all comes back to me now. l
used TO send valentines and receive them, years
ago. still, there is danger OF her finding you
cut After you have stuck the valentine under
the door and rung the bell it is not always pos
comes to the door. especially if she lives near
Ehe middle OF a long block"
but shall send this by a messenger boy.
"Oh yes. Of course; had forgotten that In
my day we did not have money for messenger
boys, or even for postage stamps. We had only
one cent 10 buy the valentine or perhaps two
for the extra quality. Wen, then, you want a
good. strong one. That viii be 30 cents a line.
could 60 something nilder for 3712 cents
line, but don't like to do that sort and don't
recommend it."
1T seems to me that 80 cents line is rather
high. isn't it?"
"Oh not at all. for good work; and, OF course.
n you are willing TO order a considerable num-
Der OF lines there viii be chance to work UP
the passion a good deal hotter. Or il you are
willing to take stanzas with only one rhyme TO
the quatrain instead Of two, might do 1t for 40
cents a line. But doubt If you would be
satisfied with It,"
what could you do for 37i4 cents?"
The poet thought for minute and then serb
Ned on a scrap OF paper What do you think
q thlsT' ne said:
1.-The Love Gods dart
Has fixed my heart
To one It's true,
And that Is you
What 37h cents for little short lines Ike
hoser'
my dear sir It Is harder to write short lines
Than long ones"
~And what does that expression fixed my
beart mean"
''Why. there is a bit of poetical license there;
hxed means transfxed-'"
But fixed means TO correct or TO arrange.
We say that We fix the fire or fix the table for
aixSsT"
Yes. know: ignorant people like you do; but