The Washington herald., 1909-06-07
AMONG THE WRITERS.

popularity that It merits. Il sells abuna
dainty. That Lincoln in his saddest mood
Is the central figure OF the tale does not
altogether account for this; there is much
in the telling which is distinctly more
than merely clever II Is. in truth. ad-
mirable- Mrs. Gerry IS worth observing.
Among the minor poets, Richard Wat
son Glider fOrtifes his honorable indis-
tinction with a complete edition, John
Vance Cheney accentuates his by sheIling
q pod Of sonnets. the late Eugene Lee
Hamiltons Is confirmed by a string OF
idenucals, also IN sonnet form, and for
the minor poets generally life IS one
grand, sweet song. II a minor poet were
offered a choice Of delusiOns. he would
doubtless choose the one that he has.
The mUch-heralded novel by twelve dis
tinguished writer's has now been out long
enough for its authors 70 have read il.
Their Judgment is unanimous-it Is one
twelfth good
Due to Mr.. Emory Pottle's novel.
Handicapped. is a new eruption into
the critics vocabulary OF tbe word
''horsefesh, meaning horses II It is
not the most repulsive word In the Ian
guage, the word that is must be a com
age OF the same brain. for Il IS hardly
conceivable that there can have been two
minds lowered with so monumental stu
pidity- II Mr.. Pottle is "a lover OF horse
flesh. let him eat Il In silence and keep
is name out OF literature. It gives one
the eollywobbles-
Dearly beloved brethren. our selection
OF Jargon may be found IN the editors
Introduction 10 q volume of Nature
Thoughts from Fiona Mcleod
''The aim has been 10 follow the idea
OF Mans relation 70 Nature in all its
commonplace forms. but ever immersed
in Beauty In IFS twofold aspect OF Joy
and Sorrow. swayed from life 70 death
by the elemental forces OF air and light
and water. IN the moving Seasons. which
lead one always 20 a realization OF the
ever-changing chsngelessness OF Time
and Eternity"
Il IS rather shrswdly pointed out that
the growth OF the Emmanuel Movement
signifies "a decline in the authoritative
position formerly held BY the medical
profession" Indubitably Il does. InduhI-
tably, too, the medical profession was
never as now entitled % so high respect
and authority. For the first tine IN his
tory medical science Is not only engaging
intelligent interest. but. incidentally, saw
ing human lives In the cure OF irnagi-
nary diseases II IS still a trihe weak and
the Emmanuel Movement sinEuIarl7
strong. but even IN that the former IS
making the more progress and the latter
the more noise. II the flood OF IT'S liger-
ature rises much higher We shall al
have 20 make an Emmanuel movement 20
the hills.
IN nearly all the Poe centennial Htera-
ture OF appreciation II is assumed by
the writers that his countrymen have al
ways been. and are. Indisposed TO Just
1 appraisement OF his work This 7 con
/ ce!ve 70 be erroneous. II is doubtless
I true that his contemporaries had no ade-
I quate sense Of his greatness, but OF whose
greatness had they an adequate sens?
I Truth is. the general level OF their intel
/ ngence was pretty low. and they had
not the advantage OF any Illuminating
4 criticism. other than his own: but IN the
D
! Poe il American letters became, 7 think.
an accepted faith. Certainly in my boy
/ hood (Which was not yesterday I never
/ heard II questioned As I do not remem-
/ Der that II was ever specifically taught
/ 10 me. II must have been unconscfouslv
! absorbed from the literary atmosphere
/ OF the time. II has been. indeed, a sur
prise 10 ne 70 learn IN this year Of grace
1 that the fame OF Edgar Allan Poe needs
! lifting from a shadow that lies floating
his floor.
At the Henry ". Poor book sale. re-
Gently. the highest price paid was for an
autographed copy OF Isaak Walton's The
1 Compleat Angler" Possibly the purchaser
thinks Il viii teach him how 20 catch
/ fish Mais noui he is the fish.
From a popular novel-''Freda sat with
out change Of place. contemplating the
injustice OF the accusation; then as the
deepening twilight touched her 70 &C
ton. she rose % her feet and sighed. In
silence as deep as death. she strobe slow
" along the path leading 70 the cliff
OF her heart
Women. Etc" is a book Of essays by
/ Deacon Harvey. In matter IL is nothing
to speak OF. but the nlustrious author has
achieved a manner that has all the light
ness and insistence OF a bucking walrus
on a wet foe. The "diaconicaI function
/ is pleasing TO the performer. but Il
doesnt get him any for arder.
AMBROSE BIERCE
!