The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-12
The Business OF Poetry.

Three years ago Poetry began. We
are not Of those who SCOT at the
bright little Chicago magazine Of the
new" verse. It's three years OF his
tory and Its present comfortable pros.
rect seem to us Il give evidence, In n
certain limited men sure, OF soundness
In its inspiration. In the current num-
Der the editor. Miss HARRIET MONROE,
calls the roll Of her fintterers by imi-
tatlon: the Boston POETRY Journal:
Others, a Jersey rhymeless radical:
Rogue, the Bruno Chapbooks" and
ALFRED STEIeLIrz's Ttoo-ninctu-one. n
forum Of friendly anarchy in the
arts. Miss MONROE says:
at Is the little magazines which
should be encouraged and subscribed for.
Each little magazine repre-
sents some ones enthusiasm for a cause
or an art. It represents self.sacrince.
courage, some vital principle. The Lib
orator. beginning in a garnet. ended by
freeing the slaves. Poetry or one Of
these others, beginning in a dream, will
end by freeing American literature"
We do not suppose-and Of course
have curiosity only on the public. not
the domestic side-that the original
inspiration of Poetry. all poetry Is In.
spired. was quite 80 much faith In the
mission" OF any one type OF the
new" poetry as conviction that peo-
pie want poetry but are weary Of
stupidity and self. qualification in
verse. At first the prophets and ex-
ponents Of the now school" talkel
with the tongue In the cheek. In q
strldent time, they had to shout TO get
heard Mt all. They sent their clowns
tumbling into the arena, by their an
tics to warm up" the crowd before
the grand entry" Of the big show"
But now the first rapture Of pub
lefty Is definitely passed. ana Miss
MONROE. who Is a rather coDserva-
lively inclined chaperon Of the radi-
cal brood. speaks sohcrly for the
Cause.
Modernism In verse. she seems 10
say. Is only a return to first princi-
pies. Metric devices that have been
regarded a. fundamental are only in
cidental derived. not elemental. The
victorian tradition" is the prime
sinner In ornament and excrescence."
Imagism Is 'by no mean rhe last
word but il IL n word that needed
to he uttered" a protest. II warning
AMI a monitor.
This Ia not sensational. If honest,
as It seems TO be. II Is highly signif'
cant. While the imltators of POETRY
seemingly anxious to share its pros
perity. go on copying its early ex'
cesses. and outdoing them in affectn'
ton Of crudenes-, the magazine
that rightfully stands at the head OF
the new movement" has had the good
sense to slough off its own "excres
cences" and has been sliilfnl or lucky
enough TO attain through that pain
FIJI but improving process something
ike the beauty and strength Of ap
pearance which Miss MONROE ideal
ICES.
BY their fruits ye shall know them
The September number Of Poetry has
few lines married by the laboriously
achieved barbnrity and brutality Of
earlier compositions. Some Of the
new" poets are giving us rhyme
rhythm. and reason too; 40 much
vigor. 80 much meaning, 80 much OF
what people want in their poetry
that we begin TO have hope.
The hest Of the new" poetry Is S,
cool that none Of "the great maya
zines, engaged in the game Of geteini
II million readers" as Miss MoNRoI
sees them, would look at It twice II
the manuscript.
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