The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-16
Written in MOonshine.

Mr.. Bliss Carman addresses his house In
the woods IN introducing his book Of es-
says entitled "The Friendship of Art" IL.
c. Page & Co., BOSTON,. Moonshine he
calls this obviously pleasant abode, which
is somewhere, presumably not very far
away, where they Use the name of Kaaters-
kill to designate an incident OF the scenery.
In the manner of poets, and with the felic-
ity Of clever one, he lends his magma
ton to vivify and invest with human char
acter this structure Of wood and nails,
mortar and bricks and colored STAIN"
By suggestion rather than exact desorip-
ton he makes the reader aware that Moon
shine is beautiful and friendly place.
We ourselves are satisfied that it would
suit US, and that we should be happy to
cook up our feet there and smoke the poets
tobacco.
Many Of these essays were written In
this pleasant house. They reflect its rest
full quality and indicate the encourage
ment that 1t affords to the ponderings and
excursions Of the philosophic mind. -The
Burden OF JOY" .The Tides Of the Mind
sOf Contentnent" .Of vigor," -Horti-
culture "Ths Secret Of Art Realism
IN Letters -Ths Creative Spirit are some
OF the titles. There are ttdrty-seven essays
in all. We may quote from one of them
some Of the poets observations upon the
several Weaknesses Of the halter and the
March hare.
Whether It is hatters or March hares,'
We read. I'VE know very little about the
madness Of either. Each has become a
byword in proverbial speech, and we make
q siunle Of his erratc fortune without a
second thought How sad to be a name
and nothing more In the mouth of ones
fsllowsl Yet have no doubt the halter
is as Indifferent to his repute as the hare,
even perhaps a little proud of his peculiarly
So frail is moral nature, 1t Is boastful even
Of its blen1ishes when they lend it a little
distinction and draw the eye Of the crowd
One can well fancy the complacency Of
the halter under his visitation, how he would
turn 1t to good account and make pro-
ftable investment Of his affection. He
would be q sorry trad esman who could not
manage to secure some slight advantage
in dealing with destiny and come out at
last on the right side Of his reckoning
with Providence. Was ever the madness
Of q halter 30 complete his commercial
instinct could not prevail against it2 10
there not always q residuum OF sanity at
the bottom Of his mania. a trace Of shrewd
calculation concealed under the guise Of
his feckless innocence7 The madness OF
the halter is the wisdom Of the serpent,
seemingly guileless, yet profoundly subtle
and sardonic.
n, Now the March here is a very different
Sase. His folly is the folly Of child, his
madness the madness Of ecstasy, Of elation,
OF transport. He Is visionary and par
takes OF the rapture Of lovers and prophets
and bards. He Ii possessed and carried
out Of himself The burden OF
Joy laid upon his spirit is excessive, and an
Infringing Of his balance has supervened.
He is mad because he loves too greatly.
whereas the halter is mad because he knows
too much Saul and Hamlet were mad as
matters through an excess OF knowledge
vouchsafed to them. Blake and Shelle.
and mspy another mystic were mad as
March hares, by reason Of the too great
stress Of inspiration laid upon them. In
the one case the dementia Is a malady OF
the mind, In the other it is an affection OF
the spirit; though, tried by the standard
Of sober sense. they are all mad together
But in the poet's house We rejoice thas
all Is sane. There we find poise and meas.
ure and temperate flow. The halter and
the March hare are no part OF the company
except as matter for philosophical con-
alteration,