The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-06-04
ESSITf FOR POETS
u More important For Each
nd. Says James Bryce.
FALL FOR A PLAYWRIGHT.

W
oooorsunity For Great Drama
n.elsrss Ambassador-TwO Con-
!, Pant For Great Plays.
are your coming poets? That
question for you. who are stir
onr heart. or isn't your heart be-
aired? Nothing is more impor-
nan that each land should have
n poets
lanes Bryce, the British am
lar made reply to a question
Englsnd's coming singers, says
sblpgton correspondent Of the
York Times. Conversation had
over the recent celebration Of
,urne's SEVENTEEN birthday, and
AMBASSADOR had recalled how when
,dergrsduate at oxford the poet
no Of a little band which met to
,avorIte authors and discuss them
oa and toast. Thomas II. Green,
yichol. T. e. Holland, Henry
shin. Walter Pater and George
eek Hill were members Of that
and TO them Swinburne intro
the works Of Robert Browning.
smba ssador was asked who in
nd were destined to take up the
10 OF Tennyson and Browning
swinburne, and he quickly applied
uestion TO America.
no are our coming poets In Eng
One ought to have watched the
IN more carefully and constantly
can claim to have done before
ring to answer. William Wat
Yes, finished artist, a man of
OF righteous ideals and the au-
q delightful and inspiring verse.
# who are yours2 That is the
ion for you. Who are writing
songs and stirring your heart, or
your heart being stirred? Moth
more important than that each
ration and each land should have
wn poets. Each Oncoming tide Of
each age, requires and needs men
fty thought who shall dream and
for it, who shall gather up its
pneies and formulate its ideals
voice its spirit, proclaiming its du-
and awakening its enthusiasm
ugh the high authority Of the poet
the art Of his verse.
nv generation is indeed bereft
ug whom poetic inspiration might
to be dying out. However much
enjoy and prize the old singers,
ones are needed to express the
changing attitude of man to ma
and life. There are immortal
Ds. but changing accents and al
Z modes of art.
3, should not be prepared to say
the great fact that a generation is
out great poets is an evidence that
{ is no poetical possibility (no pur-
one might say in the life 1t leads.
Duld not thus asperse, for instance,
middle Of the eighteenth century.
many other generations and cen
Is have not had the highest among
B or musicians or painters. 1t does
follow at all that there is no song
use the bird is not there to sing it.
ne are times of brooding and times
hbOr.
b this matter we are in the pres
Of one of the great mysteries of
He. There seems to be little con-
don between the demand for genius
its appearance. Genius is wont to
= forth not only in the inauspicious
g, but in the unprovOcatiye time.
al events. the needs of the age do
always succeed in evoking the
Eenng response of genius. Many
IUjan war has been without a
ner.
Is there really any ground for the
" Of history which declares that
At occasions create great men to
let them? The French revolution
NJ produce a first rate man-hadn't
to show after Mirabeau died Cif, in
81 he was first rate) till Napoleon
pearee
lake the case of the drama. There
nave one Of the most puzzling phe-
aena Of the age. Never was there
sfeater call for a great dramatist
y there is today. Think Of II. two
rahents are painting for great plays.
!aarter Of a century ago a few dim
ashted playhouses in more or less
lanSpicuous quarters were resorted
Y small audiences OF people Of lit
hnuence. Playgoers were, in fact,
- upon askance by not few who
Iutated strict responsibility. Such
NE state of the matter in London.
ne say also in New York. In the
smces here and in England prim
STABILITY was, OF course. averse
admitting any merit In the drama
0uered little but encouragement
ae actor and the playwright.
aoE have the times changedl Now
y brilliantly lighted playhouses oc-
Y The best sites and stretch block
. block, while night after night the
- are impassably thronged with
!. .Ssssions Of people crowding to pay
Z prices for the privilege Of wit
s sometimes far from excellent
stOrnances.
falsA Of the vast sums poured out