The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-09-15
A CAN to Kansas Poets

A Call to Kansas Poets
Have you a favorite Kansas poem
that is a poem, published or unpub-
ished written by Kansas, living or
dead-which you consider worthy of
preservation in the literary annals of
the state? If so, you have now the op-
portunity to submit it for publication
in a collection of the best Kansans
poems soon to be published.
Elizabeth n. Barr, who is now max
ing her home in Junction City, will
publish a book this fall, containing
all the poetry written by Kansas writ
ers entitled to rank in the same class
with Richard Realf's "Indirection,"
Harry Kemp's "Call," Margaret Per
kins' ''Love Letters of Normal Prin-
cess" and Caruth's each in His Own
Tongue" The aim and viewpoint of
this collection will be a little different
than that of any other collection of
Kansas poetry. Usually it has been
the aim of the compiler to gather to-
gether poems that are distinctly Kan
san, containing all grades of verse
from poetry to doggerel. The aim in
this work is to gather the material
which is distinctively poetry, regard
less of theme. As evidence of neutral
ity Miss Barr agrees not to include
any of her own poetry in the collec-
ton.
The purpose of this volume is to
set a standard for Kansas poetry, to-
ward which growing writer's may
strive and discriminate. The book will
not contain Eugene Wares washer
woman's Song" but it will reprint
Mrs. Allerton's ''Walls of Corn but
it may contain GA Dirge" by the same
a,1&6o1- Tho ~ -
which a Kansas of discriminating lit
erary taste would not be ashamed to
hand to Keats or Shelley. 1t will not
contain all the good" material there
is avilable, but only that of first quail
ity, judged by high literary standards
In compiling the work Miss Barr
has made a thorough survey of all the
poems available in the large Libraries
ofthe state. Some ten thousand poems
the work of nearly a thousand poets,
have been examined, and among the
material selected are some unknown
poems by equally unknown authors in
which the best posted literary people
in the state will be surprised to know
we have.
Knowing that there is a great deal
of poetry in Kansas which never has
been published, or at least is not pre-
served in any library, Miss Barr wish
es to call on the poets of the state to
send in their contributions to this
voume. 1t makes no difference for
the purpose of this book whether a
poem has been published or not, but
for any acceptable poems which have
not yet been published prices COM
mensurate with those of the best
magazines will be paid upon publica-
ton. If you are not a poet but know
/ Of n crnnd sand
thor's name attached. The poems not
accepted for publications will be re-
tanned and presented to the State His
torical Society unless the return Of
the manuscript is especially requested
and return postage is enclosed. The
sole requirement Is that the poems bC
written by Kansas men or women.
Writers should not hesitate to senC
in their work for fear of its not being
accepted. While obviously only a few
poems come up to standard set-it i
everyone's duty to the future of Kan
sas literature to send in their bes
and give the compiler as wide ant
varied a selection as possible. Ant
the poems which will be pre-
scented to the Historical Society vii
form a unique and interesting col
lection to which anyone might b
proud to be a contributor; and il
time this collection will become O
great historical value to students o
Kansas literature and future com
pliers of Kansas literature.
IF, as we hope and confidently ex
4 pect, a great poet is to make an an
pearance IN Kansas in the future
will be by the combined efforts t
that end, of all people devoted t
8 Idealism and Art. 1t took the CON
bined thought and religious devotio
of the Jewish race many centuries t
produce Christ. So If we would rails
/. up Prophet. Priest and King of III
: erature we must realize that sue
things do not come about by chanc
but as natural consequence Of fun
ishing the conditions under whic
genius may occur and flourish. On
Of the first requisites IS to direct ii
thought OF the people into that cha1
mel and teach them the distinction b.
& tween what is really great hteratul
and what is common. It IS the aim
this compilation to accomplish SOM
thing on this line.
Copy will close October. 15, 1917
HI Address all communication Eliz
beth n. Barr, junction City, Kansa
Ladies-Bring your renewal mag
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