The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-12
Writers Of Verse.


ginson writes an introduction.
Writers Of Verso.
For months past there have come to us.
and We suppose to other reviewers as we'll,
slim, nicely printed md tastefully bound
volumes Of verse. sometimes singly, some
times in pretty largo patches. Many Of
these were from Richard g. Badger, Boston,
either under that imprint or that Of the
Poet Lore Company. Nearly all bore the
mark Of gentle breeding In the authors.
men and women, OF fair command Of the
English language and facility In versihoa-
ton. In all, We imagine, some ono could
have found a sympathetic and comfort
ing note Of sadness or Of Joy; none stepped
over the bounds Of propriety In thought
or expression, mono contained . mark Of
originality or striking line. The forty or
fifty persons who wrote these little books
bear testimony to the wide extent Of cult
walton In the land and TO the ease With which
respectable verse may now be written.
These pieces might all have been printed
in the magazines without attracting undue
attention. Many authors preferred the sonnet
form. In which an obvious thought may
be expanded rhythmioslly with case: moth
ing 80 easy as . respectable sonnet, and
nothing 30 hard as a good ono. Some turned
to the shorter quatrain. and there wore
more ambitious flights. No harm can como
from the publication Of these books. 1t
gratifes tho pride Of the authors and It
probably gives pleasure to the circle OF
their friends. To the general public. We
imagine, 1t must be Of very slight interest.
As q sample OF this class Of literature We pick
out at random little volume by Mrs. Alicia
X. Van Buren,. As Thought Is Led: Som
nets and Lyrics" Orchard @. Badger), and
reprint fair specimen poem.
love the little. swift. tempestuous brook.
Whose bubbling waters, cool and fresh and sweet.
Invite the thirsty wanderers weary feet
To where the tall trees make : sh.A. ncck,
love to lie there in the pleasant shade
And watch the changing waters glide and CLEAN
Until the living world becomes a dream.
And myself into dream am made.
No fault can be found with this. Tin
mechanical execution Is good, the thought
is pretty, no jarrins words or images, but
does it leave any impression?
A successful business man, whose COM
mercial product has brought comfort to
many homes Mr.. Robert A. Chesebrough,
has turned to verse In his leisure hours.
His volume, christmas Greetings and
Other Poems is published BY ]. j. Little
Il Co., New York. There Is smoothness
In the versifcation; there might be moro
originality in thought and images. We
regret that the author should have en-
deavored to turn the Lords Prayer into
verse; the greatest Of poets must have
failed in that. We quote two stanzas of
long poem:
l love my love because she Is my love.
What need Of other reason how or Whys
This only know l. that she 10 my love:
could not tell you more II should try.
II may be that she 10 not quite 20 fair
As other maids have been to other eyes,
But what Of that to me'-she Is my love.
And In that spell her total glory Hes
Since the Rev. Henry van by Ike abandoned
the ministry for the instruction OF youth
in English literature, We fancy We have
noted falling Oh in his poetical powers.
7 here y a pedagogical retioence in the
-coo-ee" song that contrasts with the free
swing Of Birdie" It appears In Music
and Other Poems" Charles Soribner's
Sons). and We regret that We have sraoe
for only one stanza.
Ioag ago he left me. long and long ago:
Now wander through the world and seek him high
and low:
Hidden safe and happy. In some pleasant place.
All. II could hear his voice. soon should ind Ais
face
Far away.
Many day.
Where can Barney bcf
Answer. dear.
Don't you heart
Coo go. COO ZEE. COO eel
A fra gment from long poem cannot do
Justice to the poet, but the tripping measure
Is distinct In this short extract from Prof.
van Dykes ode to Music:
violins leading. take up the measure.
Turn with the tune Aeain.-6laTinets oiear
Answer their pleading. -harps full Of pleasure
Sprinkle their silver like light on the mere.
Semiauaver notes.
Merry little notes.
Tangled In tho has
OF the lamps golden rays,
CULVER everywhere
In the air.
Like spray
TIL the fuller stream Of the might Of the tune,
Gliding like dream In the light Of tie moon.
Bears them all away. and away. and away.
Floating In the trance Of the dance.
A favorte magazine poet, Mr.. Bliss Car.
man, collects from many sources In Q 18th
number Of The Pipes Of Pan" q. G. Page
Il Co., BOSTON, some twenty ballads and
other pieces Why the subtitle should be
From the Book OF Valentines" IL not ex-
planned. Mr.. Carman has written better
verse in the past. but this is certainly up
TO his present standard. Those who like
his poetry will want the book.
Many years ago the Rev. Theodore c.
Williams was class poet; later he was post
Of the Phi Beta Kappa. His lifelong devo-
ton to verse is shown In translation Of
4The Elegies Of Tibullus' Orchard G.
C1Ao a~i-