Evening journal., 1900-12-13
VISITED APOET In
His OWN HOME
DELIGHTFUL Call Of Two
Girls Upon Oliver
Wendell Holmes

noon TT the NOulu ike 10 20 Win utI
to call on DR.. liOlmes, she declined i
with thanks, and left Julia free to in
vite Edith.
AS the two friends walked up thel
short flight of stone steps TO the front
door. their hearts sank little. IOl
make call on a poet was really al
rather formidable thing, and they
pressed each others hands as thayl
heard the maid opening the door TO au-
NIT them.
Just wait here a moment said thel
maid, after they had inquired for the
master OF the house, and she showed
them into small room at the left cfl
the entrance. II seemed TO be merely |
a receptiun-room, but it was veryl
pretty with iis white woodwork and
large-howered yellow paper. There wasl
a table i'm the centre with writing ma-
terlals and ink-stand. and little Otherl
furniture besides a few handsomel
chairs. Tall bookcases matching thel
woodwork occupied the recesses, and
they We're Allied with books IN substan-
tial bindings.
In "a moment the maid had returned
and asked them TO follow her. AT the
head of the broad stairs they saw the
poet himself standing 20 meet them
Will outsretched hand. When Julia
mentioned Edith's name, "Ah,' he
said that is a good cid Boston name
and, If mistake net, / used to know
your grandfather and then when
Edith had satisfied him on this point
he turned to Julia, and In n bantering
way spoke of the service she had done
him that windy day. Then he made
atN D. m 4tt
side. while he occupied large leather
armchair drawn up before his open FIRE
and asked them one or two questions
about their studies and their taste in
literature AS he talked. Julia's eyes
wandered 10 the bronze figure of FAITH
or Time ON the mantelpifce and then
10 the little revolving bookcase on
which she could not help noticing a
number of volumes of Or Holmes
own works The old gentleman follow
| ing her glance, said.
They make q pretty fair showing
! for one man. but my publishers are get
| ting ready to bring out q complete
/ CdauCn OF my works and that, we'll.
| that makes me realize my age. After
a moment. Is If rejecting. he asked
quickly, Does either of you write
/ poetry?"
ooh. no SIR" answered Edith, quick
/ ly, eve couldn't"
why, il isn't SO very hard" he
| said, "at least ] should judge NOT
by the number of copies of verses that
are sent TO me to examine. Poetry
deals with common human emotion
and almost anyone with o fair vOcab-
ulary thinks that he can express him
self in verse. But nearly everything
worth saying has been said. Words
and expressions sem very feiicitous 10
! the writer, but he cannot expect either
persons to see his work rs he sees IL. Of
1T depends, I suppose" said Erith
! shyly, ON whose work it is"
IL am afraid, replied the poet, that
there is no absolute standard for verse
makers. IL has always seemed to me
that the writer of verse is almost in
the position of a man who makes q
mold for q plaster cast or something o
that kind. Whatever liquid mixture
he puts into that mold will surely iii
II. 50 the verse is the mold into which
the poet puts his thought, and from
his point Of view it is sure to IT."
Though Edith may not have graspe'
the full force OF the poets meaning
Julia was sure that she understood
him.
DO you really have a great deal o
poetry sent you to read2' she asked.
Every mail" he answered, 'bringi
me letters from strangers, from ever.
corner of the globe Some contain
poems I'M my honor, as specimens O
what the poet can do. Others are ac
companied by long manuscripts ol
which my opinion is asked. / am char.
] fftf 20
publishers have a way Of quoting yer.
- unfairly in their advertisements. If
write your book would be very charm
p ing were IL not so carelessly written
the publisher quotes merely 'ver.
charming and prints this in larg
type
Both girls smiled at the express. .oi
Of droll sorrow that came over tn
poets face as he spoke.
3 And ! am SO very fortunate myself
he added. when ] try 10 get an auto
z graph Of any consequence. Now,
sent Gladstone a copy of work OF
trees I'm which i thought he would b
e interested. He returned the compli
ment with a copy Of cne of his books
> But ' here he paused, n
wrote his thanks on a Postcard
Again the g.rls laughed. Dear mel
: he concluded. this cannot interes
young creatures like you; do you car
for poetry"
oh yes. indeed we do cried Juliy
land we just love your poetry"
We'll we'll" said the poet, with
twinkle I'm his eye perhaps you woul
like TO hear me read something"
The beaming faces that met hi
/. glance was sufficient answer. an
, taking volume from the table,
\ began. IN a voice that was a trif
y husky. though full of expression,
This Is the ship Of pearl, which. poe
r. feign.
Y Sails the unshadOwed main.-
s. The venturous bark that filings
On the sweet summer wind it's ventu
III Gus wings
In CULTS enchanted, where the Sire
sings,
, And coral reefs lie hove
Where the cold sea maids se t0 su
~ their streaming hau."
When he had finished DE- s,onza
locked up inqurngly
'Ihe Chamhcred Nautilus. mn
rrnrnH 1nii4