Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-12-19

poem which Markham believes to be
the conception upon which his fame
will rest, upon which he has labored
for 20 years and which he now sees
his way clear TO complete and publish.
Markham is overwhelmed with offers
from publishers. His volume of poems
now is in its eighth edition, the last
four being of 5000 copies each. His
publishers have voluntarily increased
the unusually large royalty which Sc
cured the right of publication. He
does not attempt to write more than
two short poems each month. but for
these he receives much more than is
realized by any of his contemporaries
in the United States.
He has refused the editorship of n
new magazine whose first issue will
appear soon. though satisfied that its
policy and its finances are above re-
proach. An important publisher few
days ago tempted him with a PROPOSE
ton for Il novel. But the poet was
firm. Il know how to break rocks"
he said, land can do so, if necessary.
but 1 will not enter a literary field I'M
familiar to meat least, not at pres
ent."
friend that his income, which is
from his writings alone, is six or
seven times what he had ever before
received. His volume containing The
Man With the Hoe" has just been pub
lished in London by the Harpers, and
Doubleday & Mcclure now are prepar-
ing n special edition, profusely illus
trated by Howard Pyle. In a few
months his second volume of short
poems will be ready for the press.
In his new home. with work resumed
on his great poem, Markham will be
practically recluse. He has decided to
accept no invitations. not to receive
visitors except on one day of the
month. This last applies to all except
a very few intimate friends. AS The
Man With the Hoe" is the sermon on
the mount of Markham's literary min
istrations. his great poem will embOdy
the whole of his testament to his peo-
pie. He says that there is only one
theme for a great poem-the enigma of
life. This embraces the themes OF Mil
ton in Paradise Lost and Dante in
THE Divine Comedy" who attempted
to justify Gods attitude toward man.
Markham's work Will be an effort to
Justify life, and his conclusion-char-
acteristic of all his work-will be op-
timistic. He viii show that humanity
is unit. He will point out the unity
ing principle, and. while exhibiting the
misery and sorrow of the world with
al! the force at his command. will show
that the principle referred to ultimate
~ must evolve universal happiness.
He will show that life is good pri-
marily and that II is within the power
| of humanity to make ii appear good to
every individual: that heaven, hell and
| all conditions are the natural result of
law. none being arbitrary; that the uni
verse is built on law. and that the
heart of law is love. Humanity being
n unit. its present state is due to the
fact that II is not yet fully born. The
present inequality IN individuals is ex-
! planned that some assist the Almighty
in bringing them into life, that some
not only assist in their own bringing
forth. but aid others, and that many,
leaving all TO God. lack also human as
sistance. The symbol OF the latter
class is "The Man With the Hoe"
Mr.. Markham. in this work, viii not
adhere absolutely TO the classical epic
form. He catalogues his poem as a
Lyrical epic" The form of the latter