Evening star., 1901-03-30
NEW PUBLICATIONS,

NEW PUBLICATIONS.
NOWA-DAY POEMS. By Philander Chase John
son, author of Sayings of Uncle Eben.' Illus
trated by Will II. Chandlee Washington The
Neale Company.
"Now-a-Day Poems is new book In
which Washington will be justified in
feeling an especial interest, as its contents
were written by local author, the Illus
trations made by local artist and the
ideas executed by a local publishing mousse
It's cover, in green and gold, is a simple
yet highly artistic creation; the paper Of
excellent quality, the type of clear and
attractive style. and the presswork of the
very best 1t is safe to speak of it as the
best gotten-up work in the way of light
literature that has ever appeared from this
city. In style and appearance it would be
a credit to any publishing firm in the
country.
With the contents every reader of verse
IN this country, and 1t may be said in the
English language, Is in a greater or less
degree familiar. The poems which have ap-
peared from day to day in The Star under
the caption Of Shooting Stars" and some
time ago under Sketches from the Odd"
form large proportion of the contents of
the book. The readers of The Star are 80
familiar with them that comment on tn cir
nature, either of approval or censure,
would be superfiuous. They cover a wide
range of TOPICS and exhibit remarkable
facility in versification. The conventional
forms such as the sonnet and rondo are
but slightly attempted. The subjects
are mostly those of home and the
heart, with few ambitious struggles for the
subllmely obscure The authors training
as newspaper writer has wholly deprived
him of the mysterious advantages which
sometimes attach to a non-lucidity Of ex-
preston. While there is no apparent
stralning after literary elegance, the use
of hgurative language shows a delicate
rhetorical sense and some Of the philoso-
ply Is put with remarkably picturesque
vigor, even though, as is the case with most
philosophy. the central idea may be old as
the hills. There is a strong musical quality
In many of the verses This is illustrated
by the first poem in the book which nitro
duces the chapter "Now-a-Day Moods and
Sentiments and which stands opposite a
half-tone reproduction of a twilight land
scape picture from one of VIII H Chand-
lees poetic and atmospheric mono-prints.
All of the numerous illustrations are by
Mr. Chandlee. The verses run thus:
Once in while. like the that streams
~ Through the breaking clouds on day Of showers,
The light Of happiness gaiy CLEANS
On this w1stful, wearysome world of ours.
And the sands Of the hourglass turn to gold,
And melodies faint and far unfold
And they lightly clink and thoughts beguile
With mystical music-once in a while.
Once in while. through the battling crowd
a. The face face ,s Of an a,t. honest friend win pass
Or voice Will silence the tumult loud
The tender voice of loving lass.
But the throng grows fierce and the din grows high
AS hope and hatred renew the cry,
And a frown effaces the careless smile
That comes to cheer us-Once in a while.
Once in while comes the day that's best"
After ED days of waiting through worse and
The day that is radiant and sweet with rest.
How well 'twould be If the tide Of years
Could be, somehow, turned from the flood Of tears;
II the hours Of darkness and doubt were drained
And only the "Once- a -while's'' remained!
In the dialect selections which, although
quite numerous, are given separate COM
partments where they need not trouble
the reader who declines to tolerate mis-
spelling, the work Is more noteworthy for
it's delineation of simple and unaffected
resenting with absolute phonetic accuracy
the peculiar manner of speech in some
limited section Of country. In some cases
1t Is used merely to impress with emphasis
the point of view from which a topic is
being discussed. This Is the case with
1.-The Black Crew." which is in some sense
protest against the lack Of recognition
for most brave and dangerous service.
The poem is Of four stanzas, of which the
first two are:
They sing about the admirals; likewise the COM
An the men that take their orders up on deck.
An the lads that feed the big gun while it
its head and roars,
Apinin' for to see another wreck.
You'd think they'd gone clean through the list and
never skipped thing,
But there's none as tunes a string
While he lifts is voice and sing
OF the Jackies wot's a-stokn' down below.
Oh, it's here's to him a-fghtin'
It's glorious and exeitin
When he rushes to the fray
But there ought to be some snatches
On the way 1t stirs your soul
When they batten down the batches
While you shovel in the coal.