Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-16
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A Question of Authorship.

To the Editor of The Evening Star:
A few weeks ago there appeared in The
Star. under the caption 1.-THE Test" a poem
of two eight-line stanzas. credited to Hor-
ace Parker Chandlee. This production,
barring a few verbal changes, is an exact
reproduction Gas SHOWN by scrapbook clip
pings in my possession and that of q
poetical effusion, published several years
ago entitled Worth While" by Ella
Wheeler Wilcox.
Again, in The Star of the 9th instant, ap-
peared a poem designated Parting" and
signed Coventry Patmore, which Gas ap-
pears from an old newspaper clipping) is
a duplicate of lines styled Counsel" pur-
ported to have been written by NJ. E. M.
Davis.
Are we to conclude from the above that
foSter-parentage is somewhat over-ZealouS
in the literary world, or are we forced to
the conviction that nothing comedies like
coincidence and attribute these seeming
Qualities in authorship to mere mental con-
currences? EDWIN 1. SHOPE.
/ To the Editor Of The Evening Star:
I have in my scrap book the following
verses written by George Douglas, and
published in the National Republican, June
%. 1881:
If thou dost bid thy girl farewell,
But for one hour that farewell may be,
Press thou her palm. old man. how canst thou tell
How far from thee
Fate or caprice may lead her feet
Ere thy next interview. Girls have been known
To lightly turn the corner OF a street
And days have grown
To months, and months to tagging years,
Before they looked into those loving eyes again.
That is, in yours-and we have other fears.
But can't explain;
Therefore, lest sundry ,whims should come between
Or some new masher clasp with pressure true
The waist of her who goeth forth, and lean
And kiss her. too!
Yea, find thou always time to chin
Some music in between the smile and smirk:
oh, collar thou the present and get in
Get in thy work.
1 inclose the verses entitled Parting -
which illustrates the old saying that sreat
minds run in the same channels.
r. H. ATKINSON.
Coventry Patmore, well known to lovers
| land, in 1923 His first volume of poems
was published in 1914. For twenty-one
years he was one of the librarians in the
British Museum: His greatest work, THE
1866. 1t is poem of love from the do
nestle SIDE and has enjoyed great pop
ularity. 1t is doubtful If Mr.. Patmore was
| a regular reader of the National Repub-
| lican in 1881, and hardly likely that he
was familiar with the works Of NJ. E. NJ
| Davis. The poem Parting is again
| printed and may be compared with the
| American production. If the writer crib
be admitted that he improved considerably
| on the original-Editor)
| Parting.
| II thou dost bid thy friend farewell
| But for one night though that farewell may be-
| Fress thou his hand in thine;
How can'st thou tell how far from thee
| Fate or caprice may lead his steps ere that to-
| morrow comes?
Men have been known to lightly turn the corner
| of a street,
And days have grown to months and moptbs n
| tagging years. "
| Ere they have looked in loving eyes again.
| Parting, at best, is underaid
With tears and pain
Therefore, lest sudden death should come between
| Or time. or distance, clasp with pressure firm
| The hand of him who goeth forth:
Unseen Fate goeth, too.
| Yes. find thou always time to say some earnest
| word
Between the idle talk,
| Lest with thee henceforth,
Night and day regret should walk