按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
A line； by the way； which； as I have remarked； has in it a germ like
that famous 〃He builded better than he knew〃 of Emerson。
There was a slight lull in the conversation。 The Mistress； who keeps
an eye on the course of things； and feared that one of those panic
silences was impending； in which everybody wants to say something and
does not know just what to say； begged me to go on with my remarks
about the 〃manufacture〃 of 〃poetry。〃
You use the right term； madam； I said。 The manufacture of that
article has become an extensive and therefore an important branch of
industry。 One must be an editor； which I am not； or a literary
confidant of a wide circle of correspondents； which I am； to have any
idea of the enormous output of verse which is characteristic of our
time。 There are many curious facts connected with this phenomenon。
Educated peopleyes； and many who are not educatedhave discovered
that rhymes are not the private property of a few noted writers who；
having squatted on that part of the literary domain some twenty or
forty or sixty years ago； have； as it were； fenced it in with their
touchy； barbed…wire reputations； and have come to regard it and cause
it to be regarded as their private property。 The discovery having
been made that rhyme is not a paddock for this or that race…horse；
but a common； where every colt； pony； and donkey can range at will；
a vast irruption into that once…privileged inclosure has taken place。
The study of the great invasion is interesting。
Poetry is commonly thought to he the language of emotion。 On the
contrary； most of what is so called proves the absence of all
passionate excitement。 It is a cold…blooded； haggard； anxious；
worrying hunt after rhymes which can be made serviceable； after
images which will be effective； after phrases which are sonorous； all
this under limitations which restrict the natural movements of fancy
and imagination。 There is a secondary excitement in overcoming the
difficulties of rhythm and rhyme； no doubt； but this is not the
emotional heat excited by the subject of the 〃poet's〃 treatment。
True poetry； the best of it； is but the ashes of a burnt…out passion。
The flame was in the eye and in the cheek； the coals may be still
burning in the heart； but when we come to the words it leaves behind
it； a little warmth； a cinder or two just glimmering under the dead
gray ashes；that is all we can look for。 When it comes to the
manufactured article； one is surprised to find how well the metrical
artisans have learned to imitate the real thing。 They catch all the
phrases of the true poet。 They imitate his metrical forms as a mimic
copies the gait of the person he is representing。
Now I am not going to abuse 〃these same metre ballad…mongers；〃 for
the obvious reason that； as all The Teacups know； I myself belong to
the fraternity。 I don't think that this reason should hinder my
having my say about the ballad…mongering business。 For the last
thirty years I have been in the habit of receiving a volume of poems
or a poem； printed or manuscriptI will not say daily； though I
sometimes receive more than one in a day； but at very short
intervals。 I have been consulted by hundreds of writers of verse as
to the merit of their performances； and have often advised the
writers to the best of my ability。 Of late I have found it
impossible to attempt to read critically all the literary
productions； in verse and in prose； which have heaped themselves on
every exposed surface of my library； like snowdrifts along the
railroad tracks；blocking my literary pathway； so that I can hardly
find my daily papers。
What is the meaning of this rush into rhyming of such a multitude of
people； of all ages； from the infant phenomenon to the oldest
inhabitant？
Many of my young correspondents have told me in so many words；
〃I want to be famous。〃 Now it is true that of all the short cuts to
fame； in time of peace； there is none shorter than the road paved
with rhymes。 Byron woke up one morning and found himself famous。
Still more notably did Rouget de l'Isle fill the air of France； nay；
the whole atmosphere of freedom all the world over； with his name
wafted on the wings of the Marseillaise； the work of a single night。
But if by fame the aspirant means having his name brought before and
kept before the public； there is a much cheaper way of acquiring that
kind of notoriety。 Have your portrait taken as a 〃Wonderful Cure of
a Desperate Disease given up by all the Doctors。〃 You will get a
fair likeness of yourself and a partial biographical notice； and have
the satisfaction； if not of promoting the welfare of the community；
at least that of advancing the financial interests of the benefactor
whose enterprise has given you your coveted notoriety。 If a man
wants to be famous； he had much better try the advertising doctor
than the terrible editor； whose waste…basket is a maw which is as
insatiable as the temporary stomach of Jack the Giant…killer。
〃You must not talk so；〃 said Number Five。 〃I know you don't mean any
wrong to the true poets； but you might be thought to hold them cheap；
whereas you value the gift in others；in yourself too； I rather
think。 There are a great many women；and some men；who write in
verse from a natural instinct which leads them to that form of
expression。 If you could peep into the portfolio of all the
cultivated women among your acquaintances； you would be surprised； I
believe； to see how many of them trust their thoughts and feelings to
verse which they never think of publishing； and much of which never
meets any eyes but their own。 Don't be cruel to the sensitive
natures who find a music in the harmonies of rhythm and rhyme which
soothes their own souls； if it reaches no farther。〃
I was glad that Number Five spoke up as she did。 Her generous
instinct came to the rescue of the poor poets just at the right
moment。 Not that I meant to deal roughly with them； but the 〃poets〃
I have been forced into relation with have impressed me with certain
convictions which are not flattering to the fraternity； and if my
judgments are not accompanied by my own qualifications； distinctions；
and exceptions； they may seem harsh to many readers。
Let me draw a picture which many a young man and woman； and some no
longer young； will recognize as the story of their own experiences。
He is sitting alone with his own thoughts and memories。 What is
that book he is holding？ Something precious； evidently； for it is
bound in 〃tree calf；〃 and there is gilding enough about it for a
birthday present。 The reader seems to be deeply absorbed in its
contents； and at times greatly excited by what he reads； for his face
is flushed； his eyes glitter； andthere rolls a large tear down his
cheek。 Listen to him； he is reading aloud in impassioned tones：
And have I coined my soul in words for naught？
And must I； with the dim； forgotten th