New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-07
u. S. NEUTRALITY
GENUINE --NOYES
Poet Says Levelheaded
BritonS Respect Gov
ernment'S Attitude.

Sir Walter Raleigh, lineal descend
ant Of that gentleman whose courtesy
TO Queen Elizabeth cost him a new
cloak and who made tobacco la mode
among his friends, "Will" Shakespeare,
Kit" Marlowe, Ben Jonson, ct al, at
the old Mermaid Tavern, was, with
Alfred Noyes, the English poet, guest
of honor yesterday at luncheon given
by the Pilgrims in the Whitehall Club.
AS professor of English literature at
Oxford University he has been lectur-
ing in this country, and departs to-day
for home.
He touched upon the war casually,
merely pointing out acts of decency
and friendliness between individual
belligerents. Speaking Of his impress
sions of America, he said that only in
little things did it differ from England
to wit, traffic goes to the right in
stead of TO the left; there are more
rocking chairs here, and "the oppor-
tunities for enjoying alcoholic bev-
erages are more 'spotty' than at home;
q person may ENJOY drink at luncheon
and be denied it at dinner because OF
geographical conditions over which he
has no control"
Alfred Noyes, who is visiting pro-
fessor Of English literature at Prince
ton University, eulogized the motives
Of Great Britain for going into the
danFnPa+pn lrpTmanN'S
tyranny and dominion of brute force"
Speaking of the kind of England that
is wagng this war, he said:
1T is the England that fought side
by side with you against her own ON
Gals during the Revolution), the
great England whose freedom is light
to, tighten the whole world"
lie said further that the neutrality
of tbs United States was real and
dignified neutrality, greatly respected
by the Englishmen who understand IT..
He vehemently decried Frank Harris
as an Englishman who is obscurlng
England's lofty purposes by saying that
it is a war of the English landed and
aristocratic class against German de-
mocracy, and denounced George Sylves-
ter Viereck, editor of "The Father
land"
II am unable" he said, "to under
stand how ordinary men and women
can tolerate him in their midst"
George Washington, he added, was
the hero of hundreds Of English school
boys.
Nicholas Murray Butler, president Of
Columbia University, in the absence OF
former Ambassador Joseph IL. Choate,
presided, and introduced the speakers
as representing that English literature
which is heard far above the clash or
marching men from Flanders to the
Caucasus. Others present at the
luncheon were Bishop Greer, SIR Ar
thur Herbert, Alton b. Parker, Admiral
Usher, y. S. N; Sir Courtenay Sen
nett. Cornelius Vanderbilt, Oscar >.
Straus. the Rev. William T. Manning,
Henry Clews and G. I. wilson.
MIR, Viereck answered Alfred Noyess
attack in a statement last night.
81 refuse TO descend to petty per
sonalities." he said, least Of all with
Mr.. Noyes. One does not use 4Z-ceh-
timetre guns to shoot at sparrO"S OF
Having thus clearly established the
dignitv Of his stand, the editor of
"Fatherland" permitted himself further
discussion.
"Noves is very mediocre poet"
said Mr.. Viereck, "but he is an even
Doorer politician. At present he IS
ranvassing this country as an agent OF
The secret propaganda of the English
Prcss Bureau, whose ultimate aim is 70
destroy the autonomy of the United
! States. .,..,., :;
.rIe,re under the threadbare cloak OF
us poetry and peace propaganda a
wolf in lambskin, he worms, his way
into literary societies and church
NM "wr Noyes naturally must be an
! ..o,on;stic 10 me. II is the antagonism
20 The cricket against the nightingale.
~ ~ cricket makes a mechanical noise
.ni.b its wings; the nightingale sings
/ from his heart