The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1903-08-06
Poetry and its Influ=
enCe.

Paper Read Before the Ch1ltauQua Circle.
~ NE of our most distinguished
Americans. having made an
~ unusually happy marriage,
described his life as being ga
grand sweet song" This profound
noted for his command of Ian
gaage, could conceive of nothing more
sublime than poetry when seeking a
simile to express his great happiness.
He is an extremely practical man, yet
when he uttered the above words he
spoke from mis- heart-and when words
come from the heart poetry results.
"Are we not all poets by nature?"
asks Emerson. 1t is not impossible
that the natural mode of communica-
tion was at one time in metre and
steps not unlike poetry. Indications
are not wanting to show that singing
and speaking were not so widely differ
ent in ancient as in modern languages.
A child speaks musically, so does an
adult when he becomes excited and
sinks back to nature. So it seems to
the writer that one who rants against
poetry wars against his own nature.
Every person is naturally more or
less musical and poetical, and any act
or speech against poetry Is not inspired
by a mans natural self, but rather
by an acquired dislike. For prose is
studied and artificial, the product of
the mind, while poetry is natural ov-
erfiow from the heart. That poetry is
natural and not result of civiliza-
tion is shown by the fact that the most
unenlightened people have known poe
try. In the Fiji Islands each tribe had
it's own poet whose duty it was to
animate the troops in battle by recount
ing the deeds of their fathers and the
glory of their tribe.
In northern Europe, now Sweden
and Norway, from the most ancienttime
the poet was considered a necessary
appendage to royalty and among the
common people it was believed that
poets could raise the dead through the
power of song. Nor was this belief
unnatural, as these people knew how
they were uplifted and how promptly
their hearts responded to the inspiring
words of their poets or minstrels.
What would we know Of history
were it not for the poet?
In the time of Pharoah the state poet
bore the name of "The Prophet of the
Pyramid of. Pharoah" and his duty was
to Apraise the name of the sovereign
that it might endure" Well did these
ancients know granite monuments
might decay and palaces crumble and
disappear, while poetry would live for
ever.
Poets and poetry have always been a
powerful influence for good in the
world. That portion of the worlds
history covering many years during
which every natural impulse was stified
and in which no poetry was produced is
referred to as the dark ages. Nor has the
only work of the poet been that of in.
spring others. The fact that a man
has written poetry does not lessen hit
usefulness in other spheres. Was not
King Solomon, the wise man Of old,
poet?s Dante's poetical works of si1
centuries ago have left an Influence
which is still felt in political circles o.
the present Italy. The faEe of Lore
Byron as a poet outshines his fame a
. warrior, altho Greece will tell 20,
he performed many deeds of valor whel
he drew his sword in behalf of tn
country which had given HIM refuge
Lord Lytton was an astute politician
and one of England's greatest men-ye
he was poet and his personal wis
and hope was that he might be know
10 posterity as poet rather than as
statesman or novelist.
In our own day we have Secretary 0
State John Hay and it is possible som
of his poems will be going the round
of the press hundred years from nov
when his notes to the powers are RI
duced to dust in archives OF the ns
tion.
The fact that poetry often has lov
for its theme should hallow rather tha
condemn it. Love is the most sacre