Evening star., 1942-04-24
New Poet Is Needed
To Inspire Axis Foes,
Educator Declares
Prof. oseood of Princeton
Speoks in Shokespeore
Anniversary Progrom
ny JAMES WALDO rAwcETT.

ny SAhkN WALDo FANlEII.
Prof. Charles Grosvenor Osgood
~ Princeton University. speaking st
the annual Shakespeare birthday
celebration Mt the roleer Library
last night, declared that freedom
needs . new poet In the present
erisis.
An audience which crowded the
little Eiizabethan theater at the
east end of the library building on
East Capital street heard the visitor
express his hope for "a voice that
would sound above the battle and
inspire civilians as well as soldiers
10 victory over the enemies OF lib
erty. "A people In stress" he said,
would sing and grow strong in
singing"
Prof. Osgood was introduced by
Or. Joseph Quincy Adams. director
Of the library. who read greeting
from the Russian Soviet Society OF
Cultural Relations, explaining that
the anniversary of Shakespeare 8
birth was being celebrated at con-
ference OF scholars, actors, pro-
oucers and others In Moscow.
Gift Of Rare Book Announced.
DR.. Adams also announced TO the
audience the gift of rare and val
uabIs commonplace book containing
letters written by Elizabethan wor-
thies-"a birthday present to Shake
speare" from Arthur Amory Hough-
ton, jr., vice president OF the Shake
speare Association OF America.
The subject OF Prof. Osgood's COM
rnemorative address was Edmund
Spenser. "the new poet" OF "the
Shepheardes Calender" published In
1879. That date, he suggested, was
not 10 distant as 1t might seem, since
modern men and women would be
at home in the London of the new
poets time"
Emerging from q poor cockney
family. he attended the Merchant
Taylors' School and Cambridge. but
one never quite knows how q genius
gets himself educated" Prof. Osgood
said. I'VE can be sure, however. that
there was q passion in him to re-
lease the vitality OF the English Ian
guage. then new to literary uses. He
entered the service of the Earl Of
Leicester and was friend Of Sir.
Philip Sidney, who perhaps dealt
with with him a bit loftily.'"
Five editions OF the Calender"
were published In is years. Prof. Os-
good said. Meanwhile, the author,
"a young idealist well aware OF his
superior talents" experienced a
series OF disappointments which left
him "a better poet and a manlier
man" Spenser wanted worldly
success and strove for it, but some
slight indiscretion' made him in
convenient to have about and he
was promoted to Ireland as secre-
tary to Lord Grey of Wilton, ap-
pointed Lord Deputy in $780,"
Celebrates Wedding in Verse.
The Irish period of Spenser's ca
reer was an "exile" broken by brief
returns to England in 1890 and
1896, but the poet, Prof. Osgood af-
firmed. grew to love the beauty of
Ireland "as who would not" and
attempted TO develop 5000 acres of
land at Kilcotman Castle in Coun-
ty Cork. acquired in 1886. He mar
ried Elizabeth Boyle In 1894 and
celebrated both his courtship and
wedding in verse.
His "Fserie Queene," published In
1898 and later, was read by Shakes
pesre. Both poets, Prof. Osgood
believed. were "aristocrats, patriots
and admirers Of Queen Elizabeth
and both desired the perfection of
English as q medium of art"
The function of poetry and the
drama today. the speaker argued,
Is that of inspiration. I'VE have.
wanted q new song for this great
struggle he said. land that means
that we require new poet whose
music may be heard over the chorus
of machines"
Prof. Osgood and his wife re-
eeived members of the audience in
the reading room of the library
after the lecture. The guests who
greeted them were led by-Chief Jus
tice Harlan F1ske Stone and Mrs.
Stone.