The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-09
Is FOLEY a "cHILDREN's POET"

The New York Times, which has
printed many Of the poems written by
James w. Foley Of Bismarck, N. D., has
lately discussed in it's editorial columns
the question whether Mr.. Foley can be
called properly a poet Of the children. The
Times says:
Many of our readers, we think, will
find a peculiar charm in Mr.. Foley's
poem The Playtime Of Bachelor Bill. In
these verses, as in many others from the
same pen, an effort Is made to present
the working of the child mind, and 1t
seems to us that Mr.. Foley often attains
high success in the accomplishment OF
this peculiarly difficult task. A few OF
our readers have told us with some en-
phasis that no boys ever thought or
J spelled as do the Foley boys, but many
more have declared that the Foley boys
are all right, and the kindl1er critics
seem to us to have the best Of the argu-
ment. ItsInust be remembered that there
are as many kinds Of boys as there are
bows: perhaps, indeed, the kinds are even
more numerous than the boys. It u.s.
therefore extremely dangerous to say
| that no boy would ever do or say any
thing in any particular way, for they 40
! everything in every way, and Mr.. Foley S
verses contain clear PROOF that ne mas
utilized both memory and observation, as
well as much imagination and affection,
in writing the poems he turns out In
such large numbers" -. ..
| AS the northwest is particularly inter-
ested in Jimmie Foley and rejolces In
his success, the poem in question Is re-
produced here:
,PlaytIme Of Bachelor Bill.
Our Uncle Bills bachelor, an it's an awful
... shame,
| 'Cuz he knows stories about pears' an KNOWS 1n
all by name; I'm.
An .growls list like really one, an makes
you think bear . -,
Is underneath tn table, but OF course II ISL
| 80 there.
An when he takes you on his knee, he talks is
like book. -... --..-,
| An after vile your eyes get Dig an you II
Wen he says: Men a bear come out an rs
= =. went Boo-oo-oo!" .
Becuz you almost think bear Is really a1te
i you.
An zen he plays wild Indian, an hides htmsel
somewheres ..- -.
vile we look in tn corners, an behlnd IN
| /. parlor chairs, 49,.
| An, peek il tn dark closets an p'tend we'r
| H.: ON a scout ..f
TIL after vile he makes whoop an EN- come
,Ist like he's on the warpath; an us chinnerl
| run upstairs
| 1872. 'at bears
Are comm in to get us, an he growls list Xix
he's one, ...
An my! we're turble scarf, an yet it's awfu
lots Of fun. ''' -'''''..
An ZEN he is pirate, an he makes US chin
nern play ..--.-.
AT we in shipwreck an tn crew Is cas-
| away
, IJpon desert island, were his treasure chest
IL hid, -.5 IT,
An we are only sailors an his name is Car
7 An Wen we hear him comm he list roars an
zen we run,
'Cuz he has broomsticks for a sword an poker
| for gun. ....
| An after VILE he kills us all, but it don
: 81. hurt. an wen
He sails away in his big ship we come to lif
j.. again.
e EN- after vile our mother comes an taps hil
on TIL head, .--.. ESQ
| An SAYS it's time for bears an scouts al
- things to be in bed.
:, An leads US chinnern all upstairs, an mayt
Y If we keep
Right still she'll let the candle burn until "
60 to sleep. q.
EN- after vile our Uncle Bill comes up TO So
goodnight,
!, An sees how snug an warm we are an a
n tucked in so tight.
, An, zen he kisses us good night an 'en
. eyes list blur:
guess we make him sorry at he is bachelo