The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-31
MINOR TOPICS.
terests.

The editor of the Worlds Work in COM
menting on a complaint of Mr. William
Watson. the English poet. who. writing
in the Fortnightly Review said that the
English were lacking in appreciation of
literature and especially poetry, thus con-
troverts the charge that poets are neglect
ed in the United States by this generations:
1t would in fact, be hard to prove that
the poets are less read in the United States
than they were generation ago. Certainly
more volumes of poetry are sold; but per-
haps some of them are bought as furniture.
1t must be remembered that men do not
parade knowledge of poetry as they did
fifty years ago; it is, in sense, now
taken for granted in polite society. And the
demands of cultivated society are surely
more exacting than they used to be. 1t
Is Uncomfortable that an \: p. Willis could
living poet in the United States is perhaps
Mr.. James Whitcomb Riley. To what ex-
tent his popularity is due to the sheer
homely quality of many of his subjects. and
to what extent to his poetic gifts it would
be hard to say; but whatever the reason.
vast multitudes of persons read his writ
ings with much pleasure. Mr.. Watson
himself, pole-wide from Mr.. Riley, has a
very considerable audience among us, in
spite of the melancholy tone of his poems.
The lawns around the monument are
green once more, but the greenness re-
veals tn. fact that, for the first time since
the monument was finished. paths have been
worn across the grass. A little more
watchfulness on the part of the custodian
during the winter would have prevented
this. Pedestrians have never been allowed
to "cut across before, but this winter all
barriers seem to have been removed The
otherwise beautiful appearance of the
lawns is sadly marred; more care should
be exercised in the future.
The former husband of Mime. Nordica
wrote to her for tickets to her last con-
cert and she kindly sent them by return
mail. What a beautiful thing it is for a
recently divorced couple to dwell on such
terms of amity-even of warm friendship!
Too often does a divorce result in a GER
tain GOODNESS which must be unpleasant.
At a bankrupt undertaker's sale in De-
catur, Ala, one man bought enough collins
to accommodate his entire family, which
is large one. With the natural perver-
sity of the human animal they will prob
ably all remain healthy for many years,
thus defeating all the poor mans plans
for economy.
The Kaiser told the captain of his steam
er that many rich Americans would in the
future be glad to pay large sums to occupy
the cabins once used by his Majesty. That
sounds egotistical and Wilhelmesque; but
tits true, it's pity; and pity tbs. tits true.
Dr. Parkhurst is preaching a series of
sermons on the mistakes of Moses. New
York must be terribly quiet now to force
the parson to fall back on the Old Tesla
ment for subjects for vituperation.
A toy pistol factory in Chicago has been
wrecked by an explosion. No lives were
lost; on the contrary, it is probable that
several hundred lives will be saved as a
result of the accident.
Since they have been "expurging." why
| does not some enterprising publisher get
out an unexpurgated edition of the Con
gressional Record? There should be money
hn it.
| On their way to the exposition, the Fill.
pinos threw their clothes out of the cal
| windows. The st. Louis gang will fine
poor pickings with that crowd now
| Sir Philip Burne-Jones says that he can
not see why such place as Chicago should
exist. Sir Philip evidently overlooked tn,
| customary visit TO the stockyards.
| The Car said that he should feel relieved
when Kuropatkin took command. He 4.
| also understood to have minated thai
Alexieff too, would be relieved"
| A Philadelphia surgeon has discovered
| process of grating. IL reports from
the Quaker City are true, he ought to d,
| a big business right ut home.
The Sultan of Sulu has accepted tn,
abrogation of the Bates treaty. This Il