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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 throng
Of silent ghosts that left no earthly trace
To show they once had breathed this vital air；
Die out； of mortal memories？
His voice is choked by his emotion。 〃How is it possible；〃 he says to
himself； 〃that any one can read my 'Gaspings for Immortality' without
being impressed by their freshness； their passion； their beauty；
their originality？〃 Tears come to his relief freely；so freely that
be has to push the precious volume out of the range of their
blistering shower。 Six years ago 〃Gaspings for Immortality 〃 was
published； advertised； praised by the professionals whose business it
is to boost their publishers' authors。 A week and more it was seen
on the counters of the booksellers and at the stalls in the railroad
stations。 Then it disappeared from public view。 A few copies still
kept their place on the shelves of friends； presentation copies； of
course； as there is no evidence that any were disposed of by sale；
and now； one might as well ask for the lost books of Livy as inquire
at a bookstore for 〃Gaspings for Immortality。〃
The authors of these poems are all round us； men and women； and no
one with a fair amount of human sympathy in his disposition would
treat them otherwise than tenderly。 Perhaps they do not need tender
treatment。 How do you know that posterity may not resuscitate these
seemingly dead poems； and give their author the immortality for which
he longed and labored？ It is not every poet who is at once
appreciated。 Some will tell you that the best poets never are。 Who
can say that you； dear unappreciated brother or sister； are not one
of those whom it is left for after times to discover among the wrecks
of the past； and hold up to the admiration of the world？
I have not thought it necessary to put in all the interpellations； as
the French call them； which broke the course of this somewhat
extended series of remarks； but the comments of some of The Teacups
helped me to shape certain additional observations； and may seem to
the reader as of more significance than what I had been saying。
Number Seven saw nothing but the folly and weakness of the 〃rhyming
cranks；〃 as he called them。 He thought the fellow that I had
described as blubbering over his still…born poems would have been
better occupied in earning his living in some honest way or other。
He knew one chap that published a volume of verses； and let his wife
bring up the wood for the fire by which he was writing。 A fellow
says； 〃I am a poet！〃 and he thinks himself different from common
folks。 He ought to be excused from military service。 He might be
killed； and the world would lose the inestimable products of his
genius。 〃I believe some of 'em think；〃 said Number Seven； 〃that they
ought not to be called upon to pay their taxes and their bills for
household expenses； like the rest of us。〃
〃If they would only study and take to heart Horace's 'Ars Poetica；'〃
said the Professor； 〃it would be a great benefit to them and to the
world at large。 I would not advise you to follow him too literally；
of course； for； as you will see； the changes that have taken place
since his time would make some of his precepts useless and some
dangerous； but the spirit of them is always instructive。 This is the
way； somewhat modernized and accompanied by my running commentary； in
which he counsels a young poet：
〃'Don't try to write poetry； my boy； when you are not in the mood for
doing it；when it goes against the grain。 You are a fellow of
sense；you understand all that。
〃'If you have written anything which you think well of； show it to
Mr。______ ； the well…known critic； to 〃the governor；〃 as you call
him； your honored father； and to me； your friend。'
〃To the critic is well enough； if you like to be overhauled and put
out of conceit with yourself；it may do you good； but I wouldn't go
to 'the governor' with my verses； if I were you。 For either he will