Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-21
POET FROM ILLINOIS
IS HERE IN OUR VERY MIDST
puchel Lindsay appears to Be
Three Of Americas Five Best
Versifers
Spiritual Descendant Of Trouba.
dours Pays Toll With Song at
City's Gates

There are SO many poets nowadays
every hrst-class newspaper has to
assign a special reporter TO the task OF
interviewing them,
The qualifications necessary for such
a reporter are exacting. He must be a
person of Infinite tact. patience n lis
tening capacity. He must v an ear
for rhythm, and be able to make enthu-
siastic gestures In time with the meter
while the poet Is uttering. 1t Is well
IL he has n face that he can light up
with simulated enthusiasm. for this puts
poets at ease. He need not know any
thing about English literature. for most
poets nowadays are too busy reciting
their own poems to read the classics. II
Is well also II he carry a little money
In his pocket, for poets particularly like
to be interviewed about lunch time, and
are generally called to the phone about
the time the walter comes around with
the check.
However. that has nothing to do with
the present story.
vachel Lindsay Is in town, the roar
Ing poet of Illinois. In the opinion OF
the reporter he is three of the five best
best poets in America today, but re-
porters are not asked to have opinions.
Found in Broad Street station
Mr.. Lindsay was found sitting cheer
fully under the panoramic map In Broad
Street Station, waiting for something 10
happen. He Ia n man of middle-size,
with plenty OF blonde hair and plenty
Of blonde ideas; clean-shaved. win
twilisht-colored eyes and a quaint way
Of throwing his head back like a lion
at bay. He wears a green felt hat ana
makes careful notes Of his engagements
He Genes from Springfield, ILL.,, once
the home of Abraham Lincoln and now
the home of Senator Sherman. Forty
seven weeks n year he abides peacefully
in Springfield, writing, reading and filing
| the letters of admirers. About the time
| the snow begins to melt on the cham
paigns Of Illinois and the publishers
mail semiannua, royalty checks. how
ever, the call of the platform becomes
irresistible. Mr.. Lindsay puts a box
of throat lozengee In his pocket and sets
forth. He Is one of the few poets who
are not afraid of the audience.
Descendant Of the T~roubadours
yachel Lindsay is the spiritual de-
scendant of the wandering minstrel of
the Middle Ages. Years ago he used
to tramp the country on foot, begging
food and lodging at farmhouses and
reciting poetry, his own and the classic
pieces of English literature. In return
for bed and n~ourishment. His first col
lection of poems was a little printed
pamphlet called Rhymes to Be Traded
lin Exchange for Bread" 1t Is said
that he has accomplished as many free
meals as any poet since Homer.
Let II be also said that no poet was
ever given a hand-out more willingly.
For HI is irresistible. He will play
games on the fioor with the children,
give a hand in the dishwashing, roar
with laughter and has at his tongues
end a thousand poems and songs OF sur
passing charm and terror. In him speaks
something of ~humanity's secret re-
pressed Instinct for beauty. He does
not smoke Ind Is one Of the few poets
whose careers will not be shriveled by
prohibition. He needs no alcohol Il
intoxicate him. His wine Is beauty ant
color and the amazing mirth and pity o.
life.
Believes in Communal Poetry
, Mr.. Lindsay Is unique among poeti
, In that he does not care merely to recit'
to audiences. He likes them to recit'
with him. Even the shyest, bluest-stock
= inged assembly has lost something of III
: reserve and stolidity beneath the spell
/. Of this delightful, odd enthusiast. II,
likes people to study his poems before
hand, and recite them with him. He |
Y a Arm believer in communal poetry; II
crowds getting together and chanting II
2 unison. He has raised up troops of be
, levers who recite his verses In his owl
, amazing manner shrill with middle
western twang. nasal and harsh in ut
, terance as old Oliver Cromwell. Hi
queer %pirouetting gestures first arous
something of alarm in the breast o
the audience. then possibly a littl
, mufned laughter Rut walt When the
see the marvellous beauty, the vision
the triumphant humanity and laughte
. of the man. they are enthralled.
: The reporter has no patience witt
Q those who are always ready to embrac
, the feet of foreign poets. and who ar
q too s~low-witted to realize that in Nj
e Lindsay America has a poet who is a
q great as Rabindranath Tagore. Alfre
o Noyes and Ernst Lissauer rolled int
one. Mr.. Lindsay is the one o%utstandin