The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-31
1.-THE SERVICE OF POETRY.

THE SERVICE OF POETRY
In these stirring and tremendous times the
American public library has many opportunities
for service Among these one of the highest is
that of introducing to their fellow those artists
who through the printed word interpret human life
and hold aloft the torch of the ideal.
''To be chosen, therefore, as the official agency
for advertising the wares Of such American poets
as have earned the approval of the Poetry Society
of America is both an honor and peculiarly happy
opportunity for continuing our work as promoters
of good reading.
1.-The Staff of the Syracuse Public Library
With that introduction there has Just been issued
the Syracuse Reprint of the library Lists Of the
Poetry Society of America. 1t is a consolidation
of the lists of books of modern verse that have at
various times been put out with the stamp of ap-
proval Of the Poetry Society. These have been
printed annually in the library periodicals. but the
enthusiasm of Mr.. Paul NJ. Paine the Librarian Of
the Syracuse Public Library, and his staff, led to
the reprnting of the annual lists in the Syracuse
Library Bulletin. So wide was the public reached
through this means that when the new list was
compiled every volume Of verse issued between
1900 and 1919 which the Poetry Society's commit
Syracuse Public Library that the Society turned as
the medium for its publication
The Eighty-seven Poets.
One may agree or not with the Judgment of the
Poetry Society of America to the relative mpor-
lance of the volumes listed and those omitted from
this compilation Eightyseven poets are repre-
sented and probably twice many volumes Of
verse. A stanZa two sometimes the whole of a
short poem, is printed below the name of the author
and the titles of the volumes recommended, with a
short paragraph expounding the general character
of the poets work
One is tempted to quote at length from the in
PRODUCTION by Mrs. Martha Foote Grove, chairman
of the Poetry Society's committee library lists.
Her explanation of the omission of many poets of
the Free Verse or 1magist school must be quoted,
because it throws light on the Poetry Society it
self that to many must reveal it something differ
ent from what they had pictured. "As yet" says
Mrs Grove, "the committee have found but little
among the Free Versists Imagsts and Semi-prose
writers that in their opinion shows that rare and
delicate fragrance, that Greek fnality, that all
conquering charm, that enlivening of the spirit,
that is essential to real poetry. But poetry is
poetry, whatever form it takes and therefore they
preserve catholic attitude and wait
Much more important, however, than any ques-
ton Of the validity of the Poetry Societys judg-
ment is the fact that this list has been issued by
the Syracuse Library; issued in spirit of joyous
idealism, as the Introductory paragraphs | have
quoted Indicate To realize that in the service Of
poetry they find one of their highest opportunities
marks Mr.. Paine and his associates as types of
the sort of librarian every believer in the public
library as potentially the most powerful civlizing
AGENCY unust wish all librarians
Unmuzzled Singers :s
For never be truly civilized until the
ideals Of democracy have taken root great deal
more firmly than there is yet evidence of. Every
true poet however, herald of the millennial dawn
Governments may puzzle the press and suppress
free speech to the heart content of every auto,
pluto, aristo- or bureaucrat who trembles for
the safety of his little job; the subtle magic Of
the poets will undo all their plotting. Which is
merely clumsy way of saying something you can
find much more Simplv exnressed in Rartlot+ mr. .nv