The Florida star., 1901-08-30

tinguish, rising clear and strong above
the chorus, a note so true and rich and
beautiful that he stops, convinced that
ster is lifting his voice.
Evidently the editors OF The Atlantic
Monthly think they have discovered
such a singer. for In the August num-
Der Of that ancient and honorable Bos-
ton publication is printed a somewhat
remarkable poem. The length OF the
contribution will first strike the reader.
for tire poem covers no less than three
and One-half pages OF the magazine.
The long poem In The Atlantic is in
blank verse. 1t Is a monOlOgue, the
theme being taken from mythology.
All these are surprising features to find
In magazine poetry or this materialistic
day. The author daring enough to
print 155 lines OF blank verse Is Mr..
Arthur Strlnger. He is said 10 be a
young man who has previously attract
ed attention not only by the merit OF
his short verses. but by his prose fic-
ton.
He would be a bold critic who would
attempt to find flaws In such an am
the autocratlc editors OF The Atlantic
have set their solemn seal OF approval.
One almost hesltates To say that II is
really good for fear or intlmating that
IL might have been bad and still have
been printed in those arlstocratic pages.
The title OF the poem is "Hephes-
tus," the name OF a character in
mythology. This Hephestus. II seems,
finding that his wife AphrOdite is loved
by his younger brother Ares, gives the
goddess to Ares along with n lot Of
good advice and large chunks OF philos-
ophy. 1t Is this mOnOlOgue which Mr.
Stringer has voiced in blank verse.
Perhaps the editors OF The Atlantic
will permit the observation that the
thoughts supplied by Mr.. Stringer to
the mythical Hephnstus are expressed
with much beauty OF imagery. in eX-
ceediEgly musical meter. and that the
line OF thought is withal quite enter
taininS Ia its evolution. Probably the
we'll versed critic OF poetry could point
In this apparently classic production,
but the average reader will be satisfied
to know that the poem is one well
worthy not only OF reading and re-
reading. but OF reproduction in much
more permanent form.
A few selections will enable you TO
Judge for yourself of the quality Of Mr..
Stringer's verse. Take her, D Ares"
Hephastus exclalms. Then he ex-
presses his grief at yielding:
To you this surging bosom soft with Dreams
This body fashioned Of EgeAn foam
And languorous moonlight. But give you not
The eluding soul that in her broOds and sleeps.
And ne er was mine of old. nor can be yours-
The shell give you. Ares not the song
OF murmuring winds and waves once haunting 1t;
The cage, but not loves wings that come and 60
give you them. light brother. as the earth
Gives up the dew, the mountain side the mist
Then Hephestus. after a farewell
apostrophe 10 the sac face that
cleaned SO like a flower" speaks thus
or his love:
loved her once. Ares
loved her once as waters love the wind.
l sought her once rivers seek the sea-
Then fell the change Some hand unknown 70 us
Shook one white petal from the perfect flower.
And all the world grew old All. who shall say
When summer dies, when is blown the rosef
Who, who shall know Just when the quiet stAE
Out of the golden west Is born again.
Or when the cleaning sAddens into nighti
Then Ares Is warned that he. too. in
turn will lose this ocean born daughter