The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1915-02-18
POET IS APPRECIATED
Excellent Letter From An Admirer
... of Nal Roses Work.

The many friends of Nal Rose,
THE Oskaloosa Poet" will be glad
to read this excellent letter which
he received with an order for books.
The writer is a lady who lived in
IOskaloosa several years ago, and
whose own splendid literary work
makes her q discriminating critic
whose opinion is valuable:
Mr.. Nal Rose, Oskaloosa, Iowa.
Dear Sir: Enclosed please find my
check for $3.50, for which kindly send
me fifteen Q5) copies OF -Four Leaf
,Clovers," at your earliest convent
ence. | have a friend sailing on the
goth inst, and | am anxious to give
her a copy to read while envoyage.
This morning was the first time /
had ever seen copy of your little
look of poems,-though | have been
enjoying them in the Oskaloosa Her
aid for a long time.
am going to tell you a secret: |
became so interested in the occa-
sional poems in the Herald, that |
was on the point several times Of
writing and asking Who is Nal
Rose?" But hesitated, for fear that
was only a nom de plume of some
Well-known poet,-as your writings
always make me think of James
Whitcomb Riley,--and did not want
to expose my ignorance. was
greatly surprised to read in the Her
aid that Nal Rose was convalescing.
That was the first time | knew that
you belonged in Oskaloosa, and she
can well be proud OF such poet.
And | have today exhibited the copy
my sister sent me, with a great deal
Of pride.
While my employer never reads q
newspaper or magazine in the office,
on account of being crowded with
matters of business,-I handed him
your book this morning and told him
| wanted him to glance over them.
He picked up the book and immedi-
ately began reading it aloud and we
laughed at them together. | left the
book with him and he afterwards
brought 1t out to me, with the re-
mark: That man is a real poet. He
writes with a point in view, and not
merely for the sake of rhyming."
While you no doubt enjoy praise of
your work better than criticism, you
would indeed consider the above re-
mark a great compliment if you knew
the man who made it is one of the
brainiest men | have ever known, and
writer's submit their work to him for
his criticisms.
showed the book to my employ
and he requested that | order six
copies for him TO give to his friends.
The girls in the Office each wanted
copy and l am ordering few to give
to my friends,-so you can see what
the one little copy did that my sister
so thOughtfully sent to me.
am believing there is a great deal
in mental telepathy for | have been
wishing for a copy of your poems,
and wondered why none of my
friends sent me copy for Christmas.
VIII you think me very impertin-
ent, if ask you a few pertinent"
questions? My sister told me that
you were unable to leave your home,
on account of illness, but she did not
say how long you had been i'll. 1t is
the remark of everyone who reads
your poems,-"How can a man, con-
fined to his home, and living in a
small town, write in such an up-to-
date manner" They want to know
is he old, or is he young?" II one
knew nothing of you personally they
could only conclude from reading
your poems, that you were like that
popular song He's a Devil in His
Own Home Town" Your writings
are just what everyone wants to
read, something CHEEKY and gay
You, sitting there in your quiet way,
are doing more to make the world
bright and happy, than thousands of
able bodied persons, who do not try
to radiate happiness.
| have concluded you must be a
great reader, or you have at one time
seen the world.
l want to give a copy of your poems
to another poet | know, whose spe-
cialty heretofore has been Cats"
though. he is now branching out on
all domestic animals. He has a very
peculiar and characteristic style of
his own. His name is Anthony Eu-
wer. If you have not seen any of his
poems, and would like to have copy,
| will secure one for you.
| fear | have written you quite a
lengthy letter, for a stranger, and
crave your pardon If have presumed
too much upon your time.
Please hurry my books as | want
to give my friends treat.
Sincerely yours,
Ida 7, DnddC Az Wall O.