Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-01-09
OMAHA GREETS
ALFRED MOVES
English Poet Reads His Own Poems
to Society Of Fine Arts and
Palimpsest Club.
ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOME GIVEN

Poets don't all have long hair
For example. Alfred Noyes of Lon.
don. who was the guest OF the
Omaha Society Of Fine Arts and the
Palimpsest club yesterday.
Mr.. Noyes hasn't much hair at all
and what he has he wears brushed
down smooth. lie is a smooth-faced
young man and wears glasses.
For an hour last night he recited
his poems to business and profess
sional men Of Omaha and their
wives at a banquet of the Palimpsest
club in the ball room of the Fonte-
nellie hotel. and they seemed to en-
Joy IL. Even beautiful Mrs. NOyes
seemed to like her husbands rendi-
ton OF his poetry.
s, John L. Webster presided. Mr..
and Mrs. Noyes sat beside him. Mr..
and Mrs. Gurdon wattles and Mrs.
c. T. Kountze we're also at the
speakers table. The tables were
decorated with roses and greenery
and a bank OF palms stood back Of
the speakers table.
Mr.. Noyes' poems are not profound.
There is no need for foot notes. The
wisdom Of Bacon. a Milton, a Shakes
peare, a Browning or a Byron Is not
found in them IT. slightest degree. They
are little. Hitting lyrics which depend for
their effect on their music and cadence.
Simple Themes In All.
They deal with the simplest subjects.
One was a ballad OF Sherwood forest and
Robin Hood and his merry band Of
thieves. Another told the story of an inn
keepers daughter who sacrificed her life
10 save her ro5ber lover. Another recited,
In simple sailor language. OF a visit to
the present home Of ancient Prester John
by some sailors from London town. still
another described children dancing around
a barrel organ" or hurdy-gurdy.
Mr.. Noyes recited a FEW that were pa
triotic and spoke Of "oaken-hearted Eng
land" And he closed with one which
pictured the Rritish fleet securing the
seas grimiy for Brltain's enemies. He
said II was IA war poem by a pacifist -
war IL a most hldeous evil. but l be-
lIeve there are worse evils" was one OF
only two OF three remarks he made aside
from reeiting tho poems.
Introducing las final short war poem"
no told a terse little incident as an illus
tration OF war conditions. events and
states Of mind In England today.
Shortly before 1 lert England" he
said II was In the office of a publisher
when an elderly man in a shabby coat
entered
Did you hear about Arthur inquired
the publisher.
" Yes said the man in quiet. grim
voice; he was shot through the heart
His manner was so strange that
said. Was he some relative OF yours?
AIy son. he answered. simply. My
other boy was killed last week."
Mr.. and Mrs. Noyes left at 10 o'clock
last evening for Chicago.
Practically all European literature
during the last twenty years has been
destructive and negative" Alfred Noyes
asserted in the course of the series OF
readings OF his own poems. which he
gave before the Omaha Society OF Fine
Arts in the afternoon.
such a period OF negative and de-
structive literature preceded the French
revolution" he continued, land I believe
the present terrible war in Europe is
partly due to the same sort OF literary
period"
Mr.. Noyes made these remarks in ex-
PLANTATION OF one Of his poems. ''origin Of
Life" which he said he wrote several
years ago as reply to q skeptio and
atheistio work by a German author The
poem ended with the Old Tesla
ments opening theme. In the beginning
God. ="
Audience Enthusiasttc.
MIR. Noyes was given a very hearty and
enthusiastic reception by the audience,
which filled the ball room OF the Hotel
Fontenelie. Frequent applause inter
rupted the poet, as we'll as approved his
several readings. Many OF his passages
and remarks were humorous. His read
ing was delightfully."- natural and. as he
explained, he sought to recite the poems
as he wrote them. rather than as an elo-
eutionary performance. He was patriotic
ard loyal to Britain In his utterances, or.