The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-03-08
SPOKE ON WHITMAN
ADDRESS OF DIR. JUDKIN LLOYD
 JONES.
Noted Chicago Lecturer and Divine Told Montgomery Audience of Demo- cFacy And Abilities Of
 BachcIOr Poet.

Walt Whitman, as the prophet ot Democracy, the lover of Man ana Nao ti turc the singer of patriotism ana thS voice of the universal, was euloGlzeu in the address deliver by Rev: pr Jenkin Lloyd Jones. Of All Salnts Church, Chicago, before MohtgoineIy audience in the Jesse T rrench auultot- ium last night, 1,
 studying Whitman. declared TT TT Jones. ' one discovers first or all the most fearless and absolute Democrat III American letters"
 Upon this text, pr. Jones based his talk which included a most thorough and comprehensive dissertation on the qualities of the bachelor poet, combined with d sense of high appreciation or the excellence of the author or Leaves IT Grass Throughout the leceture, Dr. Iones's remarks were received with the greatest attention, and at the close was given hearty round of applause. OW- ence which attended the. lecture was
 small. many having been Kept away py
 When the hour set for the address was reached, pr. Jones was introduced by D. S Hausman, through whose m fiuence the speaker has been brought to Montgomery. Prefacing his lecture with a few introductory remarks, the l Chicago divine launched at once into | the subject matter of his address. Until clear definition of what con stiIutes poetry has been agreed upon, he stated, there is sma,. profit in dis cusSing whether or not the works or | Whitman are to be classed as among | the poetry of America. Every deflni- | tion vet offered has .ueen unsatisfac- i tory, anu the only standard by when | literary production may be J4fdged tiss IS | it's effect as a contribution to ire; By | this test, he said, he preferred to Juuge Whitman's works.
 l poetry is, however, the speaker con
 ments which must be found Ill true poetry These are: condensed state
 ment, when the form Of expression IS | so packed that it cannot be re-Stated | the picture making power, when the | words visualize the thought; that which deals with the universal, which appeals to all hearts and reflects the | experience of ali souls, the quality of insight. the appeal to within; and the Iuuaiity of rhythm which must appeal
 to the ear.
 BefoEe attempting to apply these standards to Whitman, he said, there are certain conditions which must ob- tain in the mind of the student before noetrv can be discovered appreciated land understood. First. poetry must be
 read intensively and not extensively 1 second, only the free hand and the oper heart may enter into the secret confi-
 dence of the poet; and, third only the
 pure in heart, the tender in soul, th' flowers, can understand the message o1 love.
 l "Whitman," said Dr Jones, "is lstil an surrendered quantity in the world oi poetry His place in literature is as l vet undetermined. Distinct, aggres siye. grotesque in form and matter lit is hard to determine whether tho
 dominant spirit Is egousm or inspira ton, lawlessness or prophecy" Ont must be tempted to throw him aside he said, were it not for the assurance which comes from few one is loatl
 As inc reader goes further in Whit mans work. however. there comes the discovery of something, "a something
 which he may not like, but which ht
 san not let alone. Whitman's word
 are like persjmmons-they leave al