New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-02
New York; From an English Editors Roof BUNGALOW

; The history of the old hosiery would fur
nish material for an absorbing article. 7
say dined there. This was new experience
for me. We do not dine Sunday evenings
in England, but New York goes on living
at high pressure even on Sundays After
the meal we went across the street to the
Church of the Ascension. where there was
good sermon, followed by what to me was
the most surprising thing in the world. A
poet, Mr.. Vachel Lindsay, had been an
nounced as scheduled to appear and read
some of his poems. There are several re-
markable phases to this, but shall leave
the most striking to the last. In the first
place, the reading had been advertised in
the daily papers. No British church would
think of advertising. The British would
probably have paid no attention to the
notice if it had appeared. Again, this idea
of a church forum would have been impos-
slbe in Britain. The sharp cleavage be-
tween the clergy and the laity there would
have precluded any such institution. Our
church is a function, a ritualistic cere-
mony that is all. Yours caters to the great
underlying American trait WHICH l have
overwhelmingly, this desire for expe-
riences. This church in particular adver-
tised Mr.. Lindsay as the greatest living
poet, if | am not mistaken. Perhaps the
crowds were amused at this characteristic
haps they came to see what sort Of man
the greatest living poet might be or what
sort of man might admit of being so titled.
But | think they came because they were
intensely interested in seeing and hearing
For certainly crowds came, and this is nv
nnal and most important point. They
thronged the church; they occupied everv
conceivable corner; they sat on the very
altar rails. And they sat listening eagerly
while this strange figure chanted through
his verses.
after the reading they asked questions
There was a revelation of the human mind
in these questions. Some were highly tech
meal, some were absurdly elemental. but
all were profoundly sincere. For instance.
Mr.. Lindsay was asked DO all poets chant
their verses That may seem amusing to
the professional writing man, but it was
the most natural question in the world.
Here was man who was experiencing con-
tact with an acknowledged poet for the first
ttulc III MS lie Tie wanted TO know. An
other man, noticing Mr. Lindsay's frequent
apostrophes of admiration to his native
state asked, Do all poets come from H.
hnois?' He wanted to Know, too, about
poets and about certain portion of his
own country.
Here was strange spectacle Twentieth
century New York, up to date and mill
family progressive, turning out in thousands
to see poet who chanted his poetry in the
most archaic of fashions. just as Homer
or Virgil or some of the wandering trouba-
dours might have RECALLED their hearers and
charmed the masses of men, this present.
day poet, in the heart Of your greatest city
delivered his message to a multitude who
sat silent before him. 1t was amazing. The
same thing occurred to-day. l spent an af
ternoon in a theatre hearing visiting fell
low countryman read poetry. The hall was
crowded by folk who had been willing to