The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-12-31
PLENTY or GOOD POErS
Hat the Public Falls TO Appreciate Them
says Richard lr Gaiiienne.


Richard I.s Gailienns il again moved to
expression in regard Ia American poetry
in general and American poets and the
poetry reading public. He speaks through
the Forum for JPnuaTy:
Three volumes Of new born American
poetry, published within a week ar two
Of each other. just come into NV hands,
force upon me the reite-ation Of II protest
and an Affirmation which and not
only have made 81 often 81 late that It
already seems form Of indignant plati-
tuds.
Reviewing in this sane magazine
short time ago The Younger Choir. n
selection from the writings 81 one small
group of younger American poets. End
reviewing elsewhere MIR. Charles Hanson
Towns notable Manhattan I could not
but exclaim upon the strange and un-
utterably stupid superstition that poetry
in America is dead and that generally
speaking there are no poets nowadays
The three poets ADA Foster Murray,
Dorothy I.anders Beail and Edwin Airing
-son Robinson whom | propose to appssll
ciate once more victoriously remind one
Of the opacity OF public that asks or
pretends to risk for poetry. vet cannot
see /, when il is there shining and singing,
no 20 say, under its very nose. or. IL it
sees it. churlishly refuses to bay. II
there were dreams to sell who
then would buy?'
There are dreams 20 sell to-day a. Of
old more DEANS perhaps than ever: but
Beddoes was right where are the buyers?
Yes. the fault is with the public. not
with the poets There are perhaps more
good poets say good. not of curse
great in the world at this moment tn an
there ever have been before in its history.
and America il entitled TO n proud per
centage Of them IL would indeed be
almost safe 10 saw that there are m ore
poets in the world TO-DAY than there are
readers. or az all events buyers OF poetry
and that under the conditions poets man
age 10 get published az all is a circum-
stance which shows the modern publisher
in AN unaccust omed light. "a GuiSotic
lover OF literature. Tor not one volume OF
poetry IN hundred can possibly paw it's
expenses and even poets with well esiab-
liahed names. TO whom important reviews
devote columns of appreciation. know
10 their cost. ar rather the cost OF their
publishers that fame j. more cry than
wool and that unless poet can contrlve
TO feed. cloth he and house himself ON h,s
laurels. " Is likely TO 60 hard with him
in n world which, a. Nillon sang, will
grind him 10 the dust with pow
~rty.
And buld him statues when ne comes to
die
-Th. public only cares for poetry that
has some national or moral or mawkishly
sentiment nj theme or. maybe, makes
some momenIarily sensational appeal
The best IN III great popular poets ~
knows not hing Of
1T knows Tsnnvson bv The Charg" OF
the Light Brigade and The Nav Queen.
but probably never heard Of The Lotus
Eater. or 'i.ucre'ius Similarly ~ knows
I.ongfellow Ivy his grotesaue Excelsior
and knows nothing Of mis-
spanish .aiIors with bearded lips
And tho magic Of the sea
all that finer gift Of his which has been
obscur-d for even 'nIe lovers Of poetry
by what one can only describe a. his
horrible popularity