South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-07-14
SUMMER STUDENTS
HEAR MAYNARD IN
POETRY LECTURE
Says Poetry of Quality Has
Been Produced Within
Last Decade.

thorough discussion OF contem-
porary English poets was the SUBJ
Ject Of the first lecture delivered be-
fO-e the E0tre Dame summer stu-
dents Tuesday afternoon. br Thco-
dOre Maynard. noted poet and jour
naiist. Never before has there been
such volume poetry Of real literary
value produced MS I'm the last de-
cade. said the critic.
This follows the sterility OF pO-
etic inspiration which prevailed dur
ing the rule Of Edward VII like rain
after a drauEht. he continued.
within the last five years there has
been positive literary renaissance,
not only in England but quite as APP
parentIy in America ass well. Across
the ocean the new revival is termed
the opening Of the Georgian era OF
literature-from the ruling sovereign.
This renewed interest IN poetry has
given rise % hundreds Of verse writ
ers many OF whom have at some
2 time or other have produced work
OF high merit.
Selects Twelve.
From this number I shall dare 20
select twelve whom I consider most
representative Of the Georgian era,
and these shall be placed in their Or
der OF merit This IS only an arbi-
trary arrangement as no two critics
can agree on the twelve 20 go into
one class. much less pass upon their
relative merits.
THE first is G.. K. Chesterton. who
IN my estimation. ranks equal To the
best poets Of any past era Of lttera-
ture. His claim % fame is the Bal
lad OF the White Horse. a story Of
the Danish invasion. Next In order
is Alice Maxwell, a true type of the
modern idea In poetry. Charles VIII
liams is a writer who is little known
in England and much less so ia
America. 1 consider him 20 possess
the best expression of any living
writer.
Walter de Ia Mare is a poet who
while producing mediocre script by
the bushel. has 10 his credit several
excellent works. which enutle him
20 a place in the list Palfe Thomp-
son IS perhaps the best noted for his
heroic ideals Expressed in his works.
w 3. Yeats is a poet Of the plain
people, being the most popular verse
writer in England. Hillalre Belloc.|
the distinguished journalist, also
stands out prominent in the world OF
verse. j. 9. Squires is man who
can really describe "A scene IN word,
and IS remarkable in this quality.
Concludes List.
IT r. Davies, L. Abercrom bic.
Franc VIgnon and J. c. Masetield
conclude the list. all Of the most pop
ular with the reading public of
Britain. OF these Abercrombie is
the only one who expresses skepu-
cism in his thought and verse.
These are all English. / do not
mention any Americans because L
am not acquainted with the great
verse writer's of this country. Few
poems OF Americans ever reach the
London reviewers. I can recall com
ing across but five volumes of Amer
lean poems in the last five years OF
my work on The New Witness. Be
fore I return I hop" 20 be more Ia
miliar with American genius.
The greatest thing noticeable
about the modern theme OF poetry
IS the approach toward the catholic
ideal. In no era has this been more
obvious. The Victorian was FREEDOM
fnantly protestant and produced men
like Tennyson. Browning and Swim
burne. Anything catholic came in
Tor derision. The breakup of the
Victorian influence in the literary
world ushered I'm a set OF atheists
and blasphemers, led by Oscar Wilde
who is best described as a pugna-
cious Irishman'.
Thompson n Genius.
The genius OF Francis Thompson
not only helped to awaken the re-
cent renaissance but added 70 the
inuence Of cathoGcity I'm the realm
OF poetry. Today all the famous
verse writer's have a respect and adj
rniratiOn for catholic principles en-
bodied in the art OF Dante and Sir
Thomas Moore. G. X. Chesterton Is
perhaps most representative OF this
movement. while the additions i'm
poetic genius OF such men as Hillaire
PeIIoc and Alice Mayneu have have
established an abiding respect
MAYNARD Is scheduled for two
more lectures at Notre Dame. Thurs
day afternoon he will talk on the
making OF writer, in which he will
tell the difficulties and snares one has
70 encounter. Friday afternoon ne
will explain how 20 acquire sound
literary taste.