The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-03-07
MRS. WILCOX AND
THE ANTIPODEANS
The Poet of Passion Has Manv
Admirers Under the
Southern Cross.

Ella Wheeler wilcox. according 70
Alexander Hume Ford. has many ad-
mirers under the Southern Cross. Ford
who returned this week on the Moana
for a months stay in Honolulu, says:
Australasia, to my surprise, seemed
well informed OF the fact that Ella
Wheeler Wilcox was wintering in the
Paradise Of the Pacific. Everywhere
1 Went in New Zealand or Australia,
I stumbled upon literary societies de-
voted TO the cult Of Poems OF Pas
sion" and ..Maurine." Almost the first
question the young Australian women
asked me, when they learned that I
made living By my pen. was DO you
know Ella Wheeler Wilcox?" And if
replied I had that honor, they ar
once demanded a verbal biography Of
their idol I wonder if some of the
marvellous things I told young Austria
LA about Americas great poetess will
ever get back to her. Rest assured
that I had no desire TO suppress hero
inc worship, especially when that hero
inc was an American woman. In
Wellington, Sydney, Brisbane and IN
country places met young folks-and
old-who proudly boosted that they
We're familiar with all of Mrs. Wilcox
poems. Wen, I knew a few Of her
treasures also, and when I would non
chalantly spring one that wasn't in
the book Tor colonial edition., there
were loud cries, Of "Oh. The Austria
Ian publishers have cheated US" And
so they have for The Garden Of
Youth" and The Queen is Taking a
Ride two OF the most enhancing
poems of the Victorian era. are not TO
be found in the editions published
south Of the equator. Mrs. Wilcox
once asked me 10 select the ZOE best
poems from her works. I thought
them all 50 coed I never decided which
were the hundred best-that was a
dozen or more years ago. I believe
that if Mrs. Wilcox would, while in
Hawaii, prepare such a volume IT
would do much 70 enhance her repu-
tation wherever the English language
IS spoken. I'D I am sure she must
have written one on Hawaii worthy to
head the list Of her hundred best.
There is warm welcome in New
Zealand awaiting another literary
transient in Hawaii. Louis Won Temp
sky of Haleakala, has been writing
some wonderful letters to his niece of
Jack London's camping tour with him
on the island OF Maui I met this
young lady on the cruise to the New
Zealand sounds. and you may rest
assured that New Zealand anxiously
awaits Jacks arrival and his decision
as 10 whether Maoriland has any
scenic splendor TO offer that viii eclipse
his memory Of Haleakala. I don't be-
lieve he viii ever in this life expert
ence anything more marvelously en-
trancing than HaleakaIa when the gol-
den clouds come rolling in at Sun
rise. and made bold to say so and
that too in the very waters of Milford
Sound-one OF the scenic wonders Of
the world. At the Book and Authors
Carnival on this cruise every other
person seems TO have selected a sym
Dol representing one Of Jack London's
works. I wore picture Of this gifted
author leaving his surf board TO ex-
pIore regions far beneath him-and
one little girl from Sydney guessed
People Of the Abyss" 1 envy Jack
his welcome in New Zealand, L be-
lieve he viii feel at home there if they
don't call On him too persistentIy TO
practise what he preached and come
among them to labor for two dollars
q day and shorter hours.