Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-07-20
RICHARD HENRY STOppARp.
PENN OF AMERICAN POETS.

into print, Though not consciously iml-
tatiye OF any one, my early verse must
have reflected my early reading. Poem
after poem was written In my bedroom
! by the light Of dim oil lamp after
hard days work, and when there was
good stock on hand | made bonfire, |
wrote and wrote and burned and burn
ed and finally summoned up courage
and sent something to little maya
zine which, much 10 my surprise, print
ed It. Equal luck awaited NE IN one or
two other periodicals, and | was soon
regular contributor 10 The Knicker-
booker Magazine, The Union Magazine,
sartalns Magazine and others
This, modestly told, is the story Of Mr.,
stoddards hoyhood and Of his strug-
giles as he bridged the chasm between
poverty and mean streets and the
heights Of Pamassus In my hearing
recently a friend who knew him In
youth expressed surprise that poet OF
such fire and imagination should have
been product of such environment and
such circumstances.
"He had little schooling and practical
~ educated himself, said this friend.
IAN occupant OF the poorest quarter In
the city, 1t may almost be said that he
never saw flower or knew tree. by
day he was an iron molder, by night
student and struggling poet, ] have
never ceased 10 marvel at his triumph
over adverse conditions
At the age Of a i'll health compelled
the young poet to retire from the iron
business, and a year later Tieknor,
Reed & Fields brought out his first
book, entitled Poems copy OF the
first edition recently sold for $50. About
this time he formed the acquaintance
Of BayaTd Taylor, and II was happy
one for both Of them, for they remained
friends till Taylors death in Berlin In
1878.
AT times" Mr., Stoddard said recent
ly, I'VE lived in the same house, knew
the same people and belonged to the
same club--the Century. In 1859 | met
Hawthorne, and we became good
friends. There was but meager none
tary reward for struggling poets in
those days and, while | was content to
cultivate literature on little oatmeal
matTimony made II necessary TO har-
ness Pegasus and business together,
and through Hawthornes influence
with his political patron, President
Pierce obtained a position as inspector
Of customs In the New York custom
house and retained It Ii years, During
this time my pen was not idle, and
wrote a great deal for The Round Table
and Vanity Fair, the most able humor-
Gus journals we ever had Of which
Charles @, Leland was at one time ed
itor and later Artemus Ward, For ten
years ! was literary editor Of the New
York World, and | have served The
Mail and Express In that capacity for
20 years.
Despite his lack OF boyhood adyan-
tages, the dean OF American poets" Is
wonderfully we'll read in English po-
etry, particularly that Of the earlier Pc
RODS, and as far back as 1860 edited an
illustrated volume OF the Loves and
Heroines Of the Poets His latest
prose work Is an Introduction to a de
luxe edition OF Morris Life and Let
ters Of Lord Byron" in l6 volumes, now
In course OF publication in this country
Lorimer sloddard, the poets son, is
the dramaiist who wrote those very
successful plays, Tess Of the DiUrber-
villes,' Napoleon" and In the Palace
OF the King and the poets wife, Ela-
abeth Stoddard, is soon TO issue a new
edition of her novels. She is the lady
OF whom Eugene Field wrote;
A tiny littlf womsn but so quaint and good and
smart
That u You asked me to suggest which one |
should prefer
OF ell the stoddard treasures ! should promptly
mention her
EARLE HOOKER EATON.