The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-04-19
THE POET J
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In the days when workinsmcn worked
with their hands, not machines. it was
difficult to form q good loclssr,ith or =
good cabinet maker The chr j clns of
labor impress ono intensely with Tie pain
ful apprenticeship of artisans bit ii is
much more difficult nowadays TO form. a
good poet. To catch quickly an aspect of
nature or OF the mind to find AT once
the words that shall express it and plant
these words in the RICH places under the
light TO imagine Il novel and unexpected
relationship between rhymes that come
and coo like two doves: to create q har-
nony at once more precise and less bru
tai than that of music; to make of the
word a sculptor, & painter and delicate
carver of arabesques; to imprison the in
finite and express the xpressible-such
are the least objects of poets work,
and surely one who does it is not lazy
a young man of New Orleans whom
his father had sent to New York to learn
how to become a successful business man
was studying how to become a poet
He knew nobody, had no desire to
know anybody, but looked at the passers-
by and read in heir faces the events of
their minds. He looked also at the
streets, the buildings, the scenes on the
rivers, and he painted them in solid
verses. He composed poems, odes, SON
nets, roundels, ballads and other works
with marvellous fidelity He studied
books also and newspapers. He had no
other ambition than the true ambition
and cared for fame, celebrity and glory
no more than an elephant cares for a vio-
let. In New York. where the million
aires are so poor young man rocked
by the singing and dancing chorus of illu-
sions may live happily on $50 month.
This young man lived happily. One
morning that he was rewriting his
Double Ballad of Girls Without Dow
ry" there was knock at his door. He
said Come in!'' and there appeared a
robust old man, clean shaven, with thick
white hair in bristles brushed from a
forehead expressing JOY and well being.
81 am" he said, "Jose Miangolara, the
owner Of this house."
"Have / forgotten to pay my rent!
asked the young man. offering a chair tC
the visitor.
-'On the contrary" said the old man
you are only too punctual, but intend
that you shall have no rent to pay il
future. wish to offer this room to you
in exchange for great service that yor
may render to me, if you wish. am 8
theatrical manager"
There are sllier trades" said the
young man conciliatingly.
Doubtless" said the old man, "but
s&here are less pleasant ones. began life
as brigand in the Abruzz 1t was
sweet then to sleep in caverns on the
knees of copper colored woman, to be
dressed in a picturesque costume and tc
arrest stagecoaches. but there are SO few
stagecoaches now that my profession be-
game sinccurc. had to look out fol
another situation. am not kicking,
as Miss Winfred, my star dancer-have
you not heard of her?-says. In my hall
which is always crowded, l have already
picked up millions. Crowds are crushed
at my doors. and the newspapers laud me
to the skies. Ny children, whose mother
is dead, are married. l intend to marry
a young woman who is pretty, stupid,
.kiddish,' and who deceives me with ex-