The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-12-08

lima poetry nave presented the good,
bad, and common place side by side,
without caution or distinction. The
first, published in 1854, offers the
work of sixty different versiiiers. The
last published in 1912, presents thirty
six separate poets. The work Of each
compiler suggests a searching far and
near for every single piece Of native
p%oetical writing worthy, in the COM
pliers opinion, Of inclusion in the
volume. One of the prefaces tells of
selective quests in the earlier collec-
tons, in newspapers, old text books
and magazines. We cannot but wish
it told of the exclusion Of this or that
poem or author because it failed to
measure up to a definitely chosen
literary standard.
Selections Mediocre.
The result is both amazing and mis-
leading; amazing because Of the me-
diocrity Of a number of the selected
offerings; misleading because of the
ack of balance resulting from the
presentation Of wXiters Of such dis
proportionate ability n attainments
in a single grouping. The four or
five names which should stand out
p~re-eminently are roped back with
the general class.
such compilations are excellent for
| purposes of record, but not for study
- AAo IAN A0RAAo, Il ASS0 AAS 0AASA
or seventh grade pupils to whom n
Of the collections is dedicated. There
is too much dross in the gold. This
work is not a setting forth Of the in
herently good and worthy, nor are
the poems included truly representa-
tive. Any state desires to have it's
best work in a given field considered
as representative, not all its work in
a given field considered as represen-
tative, not all its work Of all degrees
Of richness and poverty.
Our graded Int high school students
do not need to know the poorer pro-
ducts Of State versification. No one
bu the specially equipped student
along ~researching lines need to know.
II u students are to grow up with
the idea hat North Carolina has pro-
duced good poetry and can produce
better, let us give them Boner, Nc
Neill, Stockard and Sledd in plenty
and spare them the dissillusioning
tedium Of studying mediocrities.
Again when such antholcgies pass
beyond state bounds they show te
unbiased critics the paucity Of our
political past. The presentation OF
a weak reason deprives a good argu-
ment Of its strength. These books
! offer many weak reasons with seem.
ing deliberateness.
Let our claim rest rather upon The
few who have done good work
Massachusetts could doubtless pu'
forth a voluminous folio upon a basis
similarly broad. We do not find
however such a volume, either in tn.
, hands OF the secondary schoo stu
! dent Of hat state Or on the shelve
; Of statewares displayed to the public
! On the contrary, q limited compan
; Of worthy, Lowell, Holmes, Whittier
5 Emerson, are set forth with their goot
, work, as truly representative. So to-
g -,~.l 900 A. I'LL ~ ~-% 49, ~
!. thusiasm and pride into the support
ing Of our four ablest poets. We nee
e to centralize upon them, to buy them
study them, teach them, preach them
at the same time realizing that tn
q lesser craftsmen have struven WORTH
u ly. All praise to them and thanks, a
II useful emulators an inculcaters of tn
poetic idea throughout the State.
Much Good Poetry.
n Is then our argument that Mort
IS Carolina produced good poetry
d sound argument? Is there basis i
fact for the claim. Emphatically, yes
a sounder basis in a restricted field
then the loyal overestimaters Of tn
~ entire output have realized.
d Boner, Mcneil, Sledd, Stockard.
Time not only takes from the tr1
craftsman a lifelong toll Of effort b,
w demands stay OF sentence for a certai
a period following the completion {
n the work. Lasting judgment Of a
I'd artists creation presupposes a fni
readjustment of the general vision
IN And this has eventuated in the case
d of at least three Of III poets: job
Henry Boner and John Charles M
Neill. Recognition has come mol
slowly to Boner than to MCNEIL, d,
~ to his long residence outside the Sta
and to the greater seriousness of h
outlook. McNeill had his audien'
with him, it is true, during his lif
time, but the six years elapsed SIM
his death have undoubtedly served
assure his gracious pre-eminence. Al
- TO these, two other names, Stockal
-. and Sledd, and our poetical Roster
III complete.
US Yet what a group it is: Earne.
able, ambitious, State-loving, abo'
10 all. conscientious. these have ma,
IL our poetry what it is. In a great
)se than sectional sense II ;s oood hac.n