Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-17
ODD POEMS BY A JAPANESE.
Some Extraordinary Metrica1 Produc-
tons of an Anonymous Bard.

From the San Francisco Argonaut.
A member OF the editorial staff OF tho
Argonaut recently received from gentle
man whose name, by request (as Will be
noted), we conceal. the following letter,
which. without hesitation. we characterize
as striking and unusual:
SAN FRANCISCO. June Z. 1905.
Care Japanese NJ. E. Mission)
Dear Mr.. S.-Pardon my sudden call.
This Is Thomas who ever took broom for
you-believe you will receive another mail
with this letter. Mr.. s., l do not know
what they are. But-put on the sheets as
it was only what comes to my head while
working. PERHAPS the words are stam-
mered; the speeches are rough; and the
thoughts are not cost a glance. Yet 1
couldn't find any way but to beg your Glenn
ent forgiveness as an uncvilized Jap, for l
expect the perfection on some other day Thus
l have sent such a thing dare to your will
ing words. II you would kindly give your
straight advice and criticism for them. my
gladness should be on top. In end / pray
you to keep me secret but as a little brown
Japanese laboring boy. Yours very respect
fully, ="
1t is needless for US to say that We shall
respect the request of the writer of this in
terest ting letter. and preserve his anonymity
But for the 1O6 manuscript pages Of
poetry that arrived at this Office simulta-
neously with the above printed epistle, they
have given rise in our breast to such de-
lightful and varied feelings, such rare
pleasure. and have caused such genuine
outbursts of ineXtinguishab emotion that
we feel 1t would be unjust to our readers
as well as unkind to this young poet to
keep them IN that concealment to which the
poet Gray referred when he wrote:
Full many gem of purest ray serene
The dark unfathomed cares Of ocean bear.
But let us speedily proceed from jejune
exposition to juicy plification. Our
first quotation shall relate to a subject Of
universal interest:
What is gentleman
'Tis man!
Tho he waits the table wearing apron,
Yet he is
All of those who used to put elk hats
May not surely be Sentlemen!
What is ladyf
Tho she sweeps round the hall with broom
Yet She Is II Womanl
All OF those who proud of the diamonds On their
May surely he ladies.
We candidly inquire of our readers. re-
speeding our first quotation, If, In the en-
tire Justly celebrated writings of our great
poetess Mrs. Ella Wheeler Wilcox, there is
single lyric at once more true and touch
ing than this have quoted.
We pass on to second poem with, as
a prelude, the observation that theme
has been more written of by poets than
Life - its mysteries of whittier and
whence. Since this Is true. the difficulties
of treating the ancient theme in a new
manner are very great. and special COM
mendation must be given our poet for his
succeSs-which. as all our readers learned
In poetry WILL we believe. agree to be I'M
doubted-in handling the theme In a strict
~ original. not to say unique, manner. Our
poet begins somewhat abruptly-thus:
Haven't you ever heard such a babes question:
How hm ! born. pa?'
Don't you Pa taught
/ there a great lesson in life
To which you should listen carefully,
So. though you have bold straight face for that
ashamed and foolish.
What answer can you expect for him?
| Oh, Tha+ answer expect but Sneerf
Haven't you ever heard such babes question:
| How l born. ma p
| Don't you ma, be blushed!
| How do you reply this simple question?
| How you satisfy her without a lie!
| Why don't you tell the truth?
| Why dare you teach the first falsehoOd to your
dsrliDgf
| On. why should you have to deceive you Of your
self?
Following the dubious model of the great
est masters of English prose, such as Henry
James and Thomas Carlyle, the japanese
youth whose poetry have under consd-
GRAFTON is occasionally cryptic. We have;
for example. puzzled long and uondered
deeply over the following poem:
Have you longed onel
There. at any time,
Shouldn't be any side.
Yet you do speak down the In outside.
And want TO shake the hand inside
OF why can't you long the in light
As well as you long In shndowf
Tell mel