Evening star., 1925-02-23
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES e. TRAcEWELL.

Last Autumn I had the pleasure of
reviewing In this column a wonderful
hrst book OF poems. The JAnitor's
Boy" by NathaIfa Crane, eleven years
old, of Brooklyn. NY. Here was a
child genius" who really was a
genius
About a month later the following
letter from Brooklyn pleased me very
much;
Your most gracious words about
The Janitors Boy came to me sew
eral weeks ago. ard / have always
felt the desire to thank you. Please
belleve that the desire grew not only
from the very sweet praise, but from
the understanding of my sets.
Mrs. Adele Settler sent me many
writings cut from prints but only in
yours did | find that which perchance
1 had hoped for, 1t was the feeling
that some one really knew me.
To me your review was a lovely
Interpretation.
Father and mother bid me express
the hope that some time when you are
in New York. you will honor rae with
your presence.
Please believe me always,
with deepest respect.
"NATHALIA CRANE"
This ought to set at rest once and
for all the myth that the small poet does
not ever read the reviews of her
books" There Is scarcely an article
written about her that does not con-
tain some such statement, but we
know at least one review she has
read, do We not?
Such letter. from such a gifted
child, consider an honor, just as
much as if | had revie wed the Ode
n1i do A Il
Pope. when he was about 12 years
old. and had received a similarly hne
letter from him.
What rare child and poet Pope
was, to be sure.
He was the one, you rem ember,
who 'lisped in numbers, for the num-
bers came" He was a poet born,
just as %athaiia Crane 10 a born poet.
Take that Ode on Solitude" writ
ten in a little cottage at Binfield, in
the midst of Windsor Forest, famous
old Windsor Forest.
Happy the man whose wish and care
few paterBei acres beApd,
Content 10 breathe his native air.
In his eSn ground.
Whose herds with milk, whose fields with
bread,
wsose socks supply him with attire.
"os. Usrs N Sa"et S'eiu e4h snsue'
In Winter hre.
Blest. whs can unceuee rnediy hnd
Hours, Gays and years slide soft away.
In health OF body, peace OF mind.
Quet my day.
Sound sleep by night; study and ease.
Together mixed; sweet recreation:
And innocence, which most does please
With Rsditation.
Thus let me live, unseen, unknown,
faus unia amsated let ne de
Steal frem the world, ana not a stone
Tell where | lie.
To match that work of genius at a
tender age, one Will have to read our
own william Cullen Bryants "Fhana =
topsis," written when that poet was
about Is years old. Or the best poems
in The Janitor's Boy"
Pope was sickly child, a sickly
man, who went through life with a
jacket around his body, so Ill, at
times, that 1t was necessary for him
to be strapped up in order TO exist.
There was nothing sickiy about his
flashing mind, however. One need
make no apology for his somewhat I
satfrical trend; satire is a needed
thing, in some days and ages, and
Pope's age was one when 1t was
needed very much.
Only the other day I read a state
ment by an eminent author (whose
name / cannot recal) to the effect
that one liz able to and in Pope the
quintessence of English philosophy.
Indeed, the Essay on Man and the
Moral Essays" do contain a mind OF
bright philosophy.