The Washington herald., 1921-02-20
Thackeray Due
Credit for Verse
1t Appears His Genius Has
Been Attributed to Our
Natiue Humorists

Giving credit where credit is due is one
of the most popular sports of the literary
world, when it is agreed to whom the
credit belongs. Let US be sportive, there
fore, and credit to William Mzkepesce
Thackeray ideas and forms Of verse which
generally have been attributed to the
genius of our native humorists.
Although Thsckeray's general verse
ranks equal in excellence with his best
prose, it is little read and little appre-
ciated. For that reason, If for no others,
what would be less difficult and less logical
for modern writers, in quest OF inspiration,
than to delve into the treasure-house OF
Thackersy's rhymed works and pick out
a plum?
The plum, to be sure, might be found
would have no effect upon its decidedly
good quality. Rolled around and around
in the mouth OF genius, difusing its
sweetness, the plum would be the cause
OF much cnvious tongue-lolling And the
plum-picker, rcveIling in satisfaction,
would be credited not with finding the
plum, but with having it.
The writer does not mean TO accuse
any American writers of having plagiarized
deliberately from Thackeray. Yet the pos
sibiIity rankles, and there IS proof un-
denisble that what Thackersy wrote al
most a century ago is finding its way
into our libraries-in modern dress-but
not as Thsckersy's product.
We shall commence, then, our indict-
mcnts with the name OF Walt Mason, the
genial and corpulent bard of Emporia
Kans. Who would ever imagine that
the rollicking prose-verse Of Mason had
predecessor in Thackersy's Ballads Of
Policeman Y" collected and published,
with his other poetical works in 1855. OBJ
serve selection from The Spectators"
one Of Policeman Ks ballads:
The night was stormy and dark. The
town was shut up in sleep: Only those
were abroad who were out on lark, Or
those who'd no beds to sleep.
q passed through the lonely street, The
wind did sing and blow; | could hear the
policeman's feet Clapping to and fro"
That should fill the purpose Of this
article in regard to Walt Mason. The
next attack IS directed upon Franklin P
Adams, who, concealing his identity behind
his initials, conducts the well-known Con
ming Tower" in the New York Tribune
Adams bid for famc-or, one Of them-is
his popularized Horstian odcs.
1t is plausible that Adams, idly glancing
over Thackeray's works, CHANGED upon the
latters rendering in English OF Horace's
"Ad Ministram," one Of the Roman poets
best-known efforts, commencing with the
line:
"Persicos' odi,
Puer, apparatus
Thsckeray's imitation ran, partly:
Dear Lucy, you know what my wish is
/ hate all your Frenchihed fuss;
Your silly entrees and made dishes
Were never intended for US"
Is it patriotic to condemn these two
great humorists Of America as lacking in
originality? Or is their possibly uninten-
tionsl, possibly unconscious crime in that
regard outweighed by the goodness Of
their work in general Is it ethical closely
to examine the feet of idols to discover
whether or not they are made Of clay?
Give what answers you choose. We have
only two more statements to make.
First, the reading of Thsckerays verse
may give you the clue to the charm Of
other writers.
Second. the purpose OF this simply IS
to give credit where credit is due.
JR