The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-03-20

moro than the pittance the company
gave these widows. and II men are
worth the saving. they should not be
sacrificed for such a price
1PoET BORN.
Every good man loves poetry, but
not every man knows good poetry
when he reads 1t. Almost any man,
with an ear for sound, can tell that
certain words, twisted together In
some way or other. produce a pleasing
sensation, but not every man can tell
the difference between Mrs. Ella
Wheeler Wilcox and Percy Bysshe
Shelley.
Brother Alfred Williams does not
know the difference. We admire the
zeal with which he has defended. In
times past, the poetic claims OF An
drew jackson Andrews. but we have
long felt that Alfred Williams was
biased in favor OF Andrew jackson be-
cause the latter lived on Church Hill.
With renewed regard for the editors
opinion OF poets and their work, we
would 1nodestly suggest that we know
good poetry ourselves when we see IT.
I've have been fortunate, too. in dis
covering more than oncc poets whose
merits appear to have been overlooked
by others. and 1t has been our good
fortune to hail as true poet. many a
man whose verses generally died in
the copy.
We have Just now. through the
agency OF the Cincinnati Enquirer,
fallen upon such a genius. whom we
now hold up to the admiring gaze Of
the world in general and Brother VIII
liams in particular. This new star in
the galaxy Of verse bears the name
OF Henry Clay Hodges-quaranty
enough of wisdom and Of enphony-
and he is an astrologer by trade. He
has a rare facility for philosophizlng
however. and now and then dashes off
a gem Of pure verse. Here is his latest,
which we welcome to a place on DR..
Eliot's bookshelf or in any other re-
spectacle company:
cts many years ago, George.
Since I went to visit you.
| And we thought we'd have some fun
BY playing upon the now"
movement in some OF the measures. we
challenge the country to excel this
With what simplicity he begins. ane
with what delicate touches he unfolds
| his pastoral lay! But in these lines the
author Is but batting his audience. II
the next stanaas he really shows hi.
| powers:
while frolickIng upon tho hay. George
i broke tho cradle 0nger.
81 Then thought I'd start Tor home.
Il Fearing to longer linger.
7 ~ started up the lane, George.
AS fast as could run, %
ri For tho broken cradle finger
"a Had ruined all our FUN
Could anything be moro dignitie
d than this? Could any catastrophe b
e chronicled in more chaste language o
d in more compact form? Could geniu
d and art combine to produce q fine
S effect: In the next verse Henry is re
called. The story is continued in flow
9 ing phrases:
"As I reached the head OF the lane. George
heard you call for my return,
Saying the broken cradle finger
Had caused not a single harm.
But nothing you could say, George,
Would aldy my nervous fears.
I felt It went back
ntsht lose both my ears
We observe here both heroism ant
pathos. George. forgetting self. put
Il Henry at his ease. and Henry. child
like in his innocence. fears the wors
! IL he returns to the seat Of his forme
joys The reader is now on tip-toe
i Nanifestly the master-hand will flnisl
his lay with broad. strong stroke
I tHenry Clay does not deceive US:
Weeks after this. George.
was pleasantly told.
!, Had T remained longer,
Il FRIEND Pearl would mot have scold."
Tcrse and elegant indeed Is this
with a flavor OF mystery, and a hid
den meaning to make the reader paus
, until the significance OF Friend Pearl
J Is fully appreciated. The climax
: reached, but the opportunity for
moral reference is, not to be los
, Henry Clay scars high on the wing
OF philosophy as he ends his song
, this wise:
y "Rut times have greatly changed, Georg
r. Since you and were boys:
: Those boyish pleasures now appear
!. Only etfervesccnt toys.
ie "Whie our sight Will grow dim. Geors
As we approach the great unknown.
Still our abiding faith tolls us
=, We Will DO known as wo We're known
~ $50 let US be cheerful, George.
], The few years we have 10 stay,
v. ha tha = - - a