,transcriber's ,note3 ,italic text has been marked by underscores1 whilst bold text appears as bold4 ,the following table of contents has been added for convenience3 ,united ,amateur ,press ,association3 ,exponent of ,amateur ,journalism #d ,the ,united ,amateur1 ,january #aiae ,department of ,public ,criticism #g ,the ,united ,amateur1 ,march #aiae ,department of ,public ,criticism #aj ,march #ad ,the ,united ,amateur1 ,may #aiae ,department of ,public ,criticism #ae ,the ,united ,amateur1 ,september #aiae ,department of ,public ,criticism #ba ,little ,journeys to the ,homes of ,prominent ,amateurs #ca ,the ,united ,amateur1 ,february #aiaf ,the ,teuton's ,battle-,song #cc ,the ,united ,amateur1 ,april #aiaf ,department of ,public ,criticism #ce ,the ,united ,amateur1 ,june #aiaf ,department of ,public ,criticism #db ,the ,poetry of the ,month3 ,content #di ,the ,united ,amateur1 ,august #aiaf ,department of ,public ,criticism #ej ,the ,united ,amateur1 ,september #aiaf ,department of ,public ,criticism #ed ,the ,united ,amateur1 ,november #aiaf ,the ,alchemist #fa ,the ,united ,amateur1 ,march #aiag ,department of ,public ,criticism #fe ,the ,united ,amateur1 ,may #aiag ,department of ,public ,criticism #ga ,the ,united ,amateur1 ,july #aiag ,ode for ,july ,fourth1 #aiag #hj ,department of ,public ,criticism #ha ,news ,notes3 ,to ,m4 ,w4 ,m4 #hd ,the ,united ,amateur1 ,november #aiag ,a ,reminiscence of ,dr4 ,samuel ,johnson #hd ,department of ,public ,criticism #hg ,reports of ,officers3 ,president's ,message #ij ,the ,united ,amateur1 ,january #aiah ,reports of ,officers3 ,president's ,message #ia ,the ,united ,amateur1 ,march #aiah ,reports of ,officers3 ,president's ,message #ib ,the ,united ,amateur1 ,may #aiah ,sunset #ib ,department of ,public ,criticism #ic ,reports of ,officers3 ,president's ,message #ih ,the ,united ,amateur1 ,june #aiah ,astrophobos #ii ,the ,united ,amateur1 ,july #aiah ,at the ,root #ajj ,reports of ,officers3 ,president's ,message #aja ,the ,united ,amateur1 ,november #aiah ,department of ,literature3 ,the ,literature of ,rome #ajb ,to ,alan ,seeger #ajf ,the ,united ,amateur1 ,january #aiai ,theodore ,roosevelt #ajg ,the ,united ,amateur1 ,march #aiai ,a ,note on ,howard ,p4 ,lovecraft's ,verse #ajh ,official ,reports3 ,department of ,public ,criticism #aji ,the ,united ,amateur1 ,may #aiai ,helene ,hoffman ,cole--,litterateur #aac ,the ,united ,amateur1 ,july #aiai ,americanism #aad ,the ,united ,amateur1 ,november #aiai ,the ,white ,ship #aae ,to ,mistress ,sophia ,simple1 ,queen of the ,cinema #aah ,the ,united ,amateur1 ,january #aibj ,literary ,composition #aai ,the ,united ,amateur1 ,may #aibj ,for ,what ,does the ,united ,stand8 #abc ,the ,united ,amateur1 ,september #aibj ,poetry and the ,gods #abd ,the ,united ,amateur1 ,november #aibj ,nyarlathotep #abh ,editorial #abi ,official ,organ ,fund #acj ,the ,united ,amateur1 ,january #aiba ,official ,organ ,fund #acj ,the ,united ,amateur1 ,march #aiba ,winifred ,virginia ,jackson3 ,a ,different ,poetess #acj ,ex ,oblivione #acd ,official ,organ ,fund #acd ,the ,united ,amateur1 ,september #aiba ,the ,united ,amateur #ace ,editorial #acf ,the ,united ,amateur1 ,november #aiba ,the ,united ,amateur #ach ,official ,organ ,fund #ach ,the ,united ,amateur1 ,january #aibb ,the ,united ,amateur #aci ,editorial #aci ,the ,united ,amateur1 ,march #aibb ,official ,organ ,fund #adj ,the ,united ,amateur1 ,may #aibb ,official ,organ ,fund #adj ,at the ,home of ,poe #adj ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,september #aiae ,illustration3 ,,howard ,p4 ,,lovecraft ,first ,vice-,president ,u4 ,a4 ,p4 ,a4 ,united ,amateur ,press ,association ,,exponent ,,of ,,amateur ,,journalism ,,its ,,object ,the desire to write for publication is one which inheres strongly in every human breast4 ,from the proficient college graduate1 storming the gates of the high-grade literary magazines1 to the raw schoolboy1 vainly endeavoring to place his first crude compositions in the local newspapers1 the whole intelligent public are today seeking expression through the printed page1 and yearning to behold their thoughts and ideals permanently crystallized in the magic medium of type4 ,but while a few persons of exceptional talent manage eventually to gain a foothold in the professional world of letters rising to celebrity through the wide diffusion of their art1 ideals1 or opinions2 the vast majority1 unless aided in their education by certain especial advantages1 are doomed to confine their expression to the necessarily restricted sphere of ordinary conversation4 ,to supply these especial educational advantages which may enable the general public to achieve the distinction of print1 and which may prevent the talented but unknown author from remaining forever in obscurity1 has arisen that largest and foremost of societies for literary education ,the ,united ,amateur ,press ,association4 ,,its ,,origin ,amateur journalism1 or the composition and circulation of small1 privately printed magazines1 is an instructive diversion which has existed in the ,united ,states for over half a century4 ,in the decade of #ahff-ahgf this practice first became an organized institution2 a short-lived society of amateur journalists1 including the now famous publisher1 ,charles ,scribner1 having existed from #ahfi to #ahgd4 ,in #ahgf a more lasting society was formed1 which exists to this day as an exponent of light dilettantism4 ,not until #ahie1 however1 was amateur journalism established as a serious branch of educational endeavour4 ,on ,september #bnd of that year1 ,mr4 ,william ,h4 ,greenfield1 a gifted professional author1 of ,philadelphia1 founded ,the ,united ,amateur ,press ,association1 which has grown to be the leader of its kind1 and the representative of amateur journalism in its best phases throughout the ,english-speaking world4 ,,its ,,nature ,in many respects the word amateur fails to do full credit to amateur journalism and the association which best represents it4 ,to some minds the term conveys an idea of crudity and immaturity1 yet the ,united can boast of members and publications whose polish and scholarship are well-nigh impeccable4 ,in considering the adjective amateur as applied to the press association1 we must adhere to the more basic interpretation1 regarding the word as indicating the non-mercenary nature of the membership4 ,our amateurs write purely for love of their art1 without the stultifying influence of commercialism4 ,many of them are prominent professional authors in the outside world1 but their professionalism never creeps into their association work4 ,the atmosphere is wholly fraternal1 and courtesy takes the place of currency4 ,the real essential of amateur journalism and ,the ,united ,amateur ,press ,association is the amateur paper or magazine1 which somewhat resembles the average high-school or college publication4 ,these journals1 varying greatly in size and character1 are issued by various members at their own expense1 and contain1 besides the literary work of their several editors or publishers1 contributions from all the many members who do not publish papers of their own4 ,their columns are open to every person in the association1 and it may be said with justice that no one will find it impossible to secure the publication of any literary composition of reasonable brevity4 ,the papers thus published are sent free to all our many members1 who constitute a select and highly appreciative reading public4 ,since each member receives the published work of every other member1 many active and brilliant minds are brought into close contact1 and questions of every sort1 literary1 historical1 and scientific1 are debated both in the press and in personal correspondence4 ,the correspondence of members is one of the most valuable features of the ,united1 for through this medium a great intellectual stimulus1 friendly and informal in nature1 is afforded4 ,congenial members are in this way brought together in a lettered companionship1 which often grows into life-long friendship1 while persons of opposed ideas may mutually gain much breadth of mind by hearing the other side of their respective opinions discussed in a genial manner4 ,in short1 the ,united offers an exceptionally well-proportioned mixture of instruction and fraternal cheer4 ,there are no limits of age1 sex1 education1 position1 or locality in this most complete of democracies4 ,boys and girls of twelve and men and women of sixty1 parents and their sons and daughters1 college professors and grammar-school pupils1 aristocrats and intelligent labourers1 ,easterners and ,westerners1 are here given equal advantages1 those of greater education helping their cruder brethren until the common fund of culture is as nearly level as it can be in any human organization4 ,members are classified according to age2 ,a meaning under sixteen1 ,b from #af to #ba1 and ,c over #ba4 ,the advantages offered to those of limited acquirements are immense1 many persons having gained practically all their literary polish through membership in the ,united4 ,a much cherished goal is professional authorship or editorship1 and numerous indeed are the ,united members who have now become recognized authors1 poets1 editors1 and publishers4 ,true1 though trite1 is the saying that amateur journalism is an actual training school for professional journalism4 ,,its ,,publishing ,,activities ,members of the ,united may or may not publish little papers of their own4 ,this is a matter of choice1 for there are always enough journals to print the work of the non-publishing members4 ,youths who possess printing presses will find publishing an immense but inexpensive pleasure1 whilst other publishers may have their printing done at very reasonable rates by those who do own presses4 ,the favorite size for amateur papers is #eg inches1 which can be printed at #ee or #fj cents per page1 each page containing about #bej words4 ,thus a four-page issue containing #ajjj words can be published for less than #b4ej1 if arrangements are made1 as is often the case1 for its free mailing with any other paper4 ,certain of the more pretentious journals affect the #gaj size1 which costs about #a4fj for each page of #gjj words4 ,these figures allow for #bej copies1 the most usual number to be mailed4 ,mr4 ,e4 ,e4 ,ericson of ,elroy1 ,wisconsin1 is our ,official ,printer1 and his work is all that the most fastidious could demand4 ,other printers may be found amongst the young men who print their own papers4 ,in many cases they can quote very satisfactory prices4 ,two or more members may issue a paper co-operatively1 the individual expense then being very slight4 ,,its ,,contributed ,,literature ,the ,united welcomes all literary contributions2 poems1 stories1 and essays1 which the various members may submit4 ,however1 contribution is by no means compulsory1 and in case a member finds himself too busy for activity1 he may merely enjoy the free papers which reach him1 without taxing himself with literary labour4 ,for those anxious to contribute1 every facility is provided4 ,in some cases negotiations are made directly between publisher and contributor1 but the majority are accommodated by the two ,manuscript ,bureaus1 ,eastern and ,western1 which receive contributions in any quantity from the non-publishing members1 and are drawn upon for material by those who issue papers4 ,these bureaus practically guarantee on the one hand to find a place for each member's manuscript1 and on the other hand to keep each publisher well supplied with matter for his journal4 ,,its ,,critical ,,departments ,the two critical departments of the ,united are at present the most substantial of its various educational advantages4 ,the ,department of ,private ,criticism is composed exclusively of highly cultured members1 usually professors or teachers of ,english1 who practically mould the taste of the whole association1 receiving and revising before publication the work of all who choose to submit it to them4 ,the service furnished free by this department is in every way equal to that for which professional critical bureaus charge about two dollars4 ,manuscripts are carefully corrected and criticised in every detail1 and authors are given comprehensive advice designed to elevate their taste1 style1 and grammar4 ,many a crude but naturally gifted writer has been developed to polished fluency and set on the road to professional authorship through the ,united's ,department of ,private ,criticism4 ,the ,department of ,public ,criticism reviews thoroughly and impartially the various printed papers and their contents1 offering precepts and suggestions for improvement4 ,its reports are printed in the official organ of the association1 and serve as a record of our literary achievement4 ,,its ,,literary ,,awards ,to encourage excellence amongst the members of the ,united1 annual honours or laureateships are awarded the authors of the best poems1 stories1 essays1 or editorials4 ,participation in these competitions is not compulsory1 since they apply only to pieces which have been especially entered for laureateship4 ,the entries are judged not by the members of the association1 but by highly distinguished litterateurs of the professional world1 selected particularly for the occasion4 ,our latest innovation is a laureateship for the best home-printed paper1 which will excite keen rivalry among our younger members1 and bring out some careful specimens of the typographical art4 ,besides the laureateships there are other honours and prizes awarded by individual publishers within the ,united1 many of the amateur journals offering excellent books for the best stories1 reviews1 or reports submitted to them4 ,,its ,,official ,,organ ,the association1 as a whole1 publishes a voluminous #gaj monthly magazine called ,the ,united ,amateur1 which serves as the official organ4 ,in this magazine may be found the complete revised list of members1 the reports of officers and committees1 the ample reviews issued by the ,department of ,public ,criticism1 a selection of the best contemporary amateur literature1 together with the latest news of amateur journalists and their local clubs from all over the ,anglo-,saxon world4 ,the ,united ,amateur is published by an annually elected ,official ,editor1 and printed by the ,official ,publisher4 ,it is sent free to all members of the association4 ,,its ,,government ,the ,united ,amateur ,press ,association is governed by a board of officers elected by popular vote4 ,the elections take place at the annual conventions1 where amateurs from all sections meet and fraternize4 ,those who attend vote in person1 whilst all others send in proxy ballots4 ,there is much friendly rivalry between cities concerning the selection of the convention seat each year4 ,the principal elective officers of the ,united are the ,president1 two ,vice-,presidents1 the ,treasurer1 the ,official ,editor and the three members of the ,board of ,directors4 ,there are also a ,historian1 a ,laureate ,recorder1 and two ,manuscript ,managers4 ,appointed by the ,president are the members of the two ,departments of ,criticism1 the ,supervisor of ,amendments1 the ,official ,publisher1 and the ,secretary of the association4 ,all save ,secretary and ,official ,publisher1 serve without remuneration4 ,the basic law of the ,united comprises an excellent ,constitution and ,by-,laws4 ,,its ,,local ,,clubs ,the ,united encourages the formation of local literary or press clubs in cities or towns containing several members4 ,these clubs generally publish papers1 and hold meetings wherein the pleasures of literature are enlivened by those of the society4 ,the most desirable form of club activity is that in which a high-school instructor forms a literary society of the more enthusiastic members of his class4 ,,its ,,place ,,in ,,education ,during the past two years1 as it has approached and passed its twentieth birthday1 the ,united has been endeavoring more strongly than ever to find and occupy its true place amongst the many and varied phases of education4 ,that it discharges an unique function in literary culture is certain1 and its members have of late been trying very actively to establish and define its relation to the high-school and the university4 ,mr4 ,maurice ,winter ,moe1 ,instructor of ,english at the ,appleton ,high ,school1 ,appleton1 ,wisconsin1 and one of our very ablest members1 took the first decisive step by organizing his pupils into an amateur press club1 using the ,united to supplement his regular class-room work4 ,the scholars were delighted1 and many have acquired a love of good literature which will never leave them4 ,three or four1 in particular1 have become prominent in the affairs of the ,united4 ,after demonstrating the success of his innovation1 ,mr4 ,moe described it in ,the ,english ,journal1 his article arousing much interest in educational circles1 and being widely reprinted by other papers4 ,in ,november1 #aiad1 ,mr4 ,moe addressed an assemblage of ,english teachers in ,chicago1 and there created so much enthusiasm for the ,united1 that scores of instructors have subsequently joined our ranks1 many of them forming school clubs on the model of the original club at ,appleton4 ,here1 then1 is one definite destiny for our association3 to assist the teaching of advanced ,english in the high-school4 ,we are especially eager for high-school material1 teachers and pupils alike4 ,but there still remain a numerous class1 who1 though not connected with school or college1 have none the less sincere literary aspirations4 ,at present they are benefited immensely through mental contact with our more polished members1 yet for the future we plan still greater aids for their development1 by the creation of a systematic ,department of ,instruction1 which will1 if successfully established1 amount practically to a free correspondence school1 and an ,authors' ,placing ,bureau1 which will help amateurs in entering the professional field4 ,our prime endeavor is at present to secure members of high mental and scholastic quality1 in order that the ,united may be strengthened for its increasing responsibility4 ,professors1 teachers1 clergymen1 and authors have already responded in gratifying numbers to our wholly altruistic plea for their presence among us4 ,the reason for the ,united's success as an educational factor seems to lie principally in the splendid loyalty and enthusiasm which all the members somehow acquire upon joining4 ,every individual is alert for the welfare of the association1 and its activities form the subject of many of the current essays and editorials4 ,the ceaseless writing in which most of the members indulge is in itself an aid to fluency1 while the mutual examples and criticisms help on still further the pleasantly unconscious acquisition of a good literary style4 ,when regular courses of instruction shall have been superimposed upon these things1 the association can indeed afford to claim a place of honour in the world of education4 ,,its ,,entrance ,,conditions ,the only requirement for admission to the ,united is earnest literary aspiration4 ,any member will furnish the candidate for admission with an application blank1 signed in recommendation4 ,this application1 filled out and forwarded to the ,secretary of the association with the sum of fifty cents as dues for the first year1 and accompanied by a credential1 or sample of the candidate's original literary work1 will be acted upon with due consideration by the proper official4 ,no candidate of real sincerity will be denied admittance1 and the applicant will generally be soon rewarded by his certificate of membership1 signed by the ,president and ,secretary4 ,papers1 letters1 and postal cards of welcome will almost immediately pour in upon him1 and he will in due time behold his credential in print4 7,unless it be something already printed47 ,once a member1 his dues will be one dollar yearly1 and if he should ever leave the ,united1 later desiring to join again1 his reinstatement fee will be one dollar4 ,,its ,,representatives ,the ,united ,amateur ,press ,association is anything but local in its personnel4 ,its active ,american membership extends from ,boston to ,los ,angeles1 and from ,milwaukee to ,tampa1 thus bringing all sections in contact1 and representing every phase of ,american thought4 ,its ,english membership extends as far north as ,newcastle-on-,tyne4 ,typical papers are published in ,england1 ,california1 ,kansas1 ,wisconsin1 ,ohio1 ,illinois1 ,alabama1 ,mississippi1 ,north ,carolina1 ,district of ,columbia1 ,new ,york1 and ,rhode ,island4 ,in writing for entrance blanks or for further information concerning the ,united1 the applicant may address any one of the following officers1 who will gladly give details1 and samples of amateur papers3 ,leo ,fritter1 ,president1 #ejc ,central ,national ,bank ,bldg41 ,columbus1 ,ohio2 ,h4 ,p4 ,lovecraft1 ,vice-,president1 #eih ,angell ,st41 ,providence1 ,r4 ,i42 ,mrs4 ,j4 ,w4 ,renshaw1 ,second ,vice-,president1 ,coffeeville1 ,miss42 ,william ,j4 ,dowdell1 ,secretary1 #bdbh ,east #ffth ,st41 ,cleveland1 ,ohio2 or ,edward ,f4 ,daas1 ,official ,editor1 #agag ,cherry ,st41 ,milwaukee1 ,wis4 ,professional authors interested in our work are recommended to communicate with the ,second ,vice-,president1 while ,english teachers may derive expert information from ,maurice ,w4 ,moe1 #feh ,atlantic ,st41 ,appleton1 ,wis4 ,youths who possess printing-presses are referred to the ,secretary1 who is himself a young typographer4 ,,its ,,province ,,summarized ,if you are a student of elementary ,english desirous of attaining literary polish in an enjoyable manner1 ,if you are an ordinary citizen1 burning with the ambition to become an author1 ,if you are a solitary individual wishing for a better chance to express yourself1 ,if you own a printing-press and would like to learn how to issue a high-grade paper1 ,if you are a mature person eager to make up for a youthful lack of culture1 ,if you are a professor or teacher seeking a new method of interesting your ,english class1 or ,if you are an author or person of ripe scholarship1 anxious to aid your cruder brothers on their way1 then ,,you ,,are ,,cordially ,,invited ,,to ,,become ,a ,,member ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,press ,,association4 ,h4 ,p4 ,,lovecraft1 ,vice-,president4 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,official ,,organ ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,press ,,association ,,of ,,america ,,volume ,,xiv ,,georgetown1 ,,ill41 ,,january1 #aiae4 ,,number #c ,,department ,,of ,,public ,,criticism ,,the ,,badger for ,january is the first number of a strikingly meritorious and serious paper published by ,george ,s4 ,schilling4 ,we here behold none of the frivolity which spoils the writings of those who view amateur journalism merely as a passing amusement4 ,the ,badger shows evidence of careful and tasteful editorship1 combined with a commendable artistic sense in choice of paper and cover4 ,the leading article1 an essay on the minimum wage1 is from the pen of the editor1 and shows both literary ability and a sound knowledge of economics4 ,sister to the ,ox1 by ,a4 ,w4 ,ashby1 is an excellent short story whose strength is rather in its moral than in its plot4 ,the editorials are certainly not lacking in force1 and seem well calculated to stir the average amateur from his torpor of triteness and inanity4 ,,the ,,inspiration for ,november is an ,official ,number1 containing the work of none but titled authors4 ,rheinhart ,kleiner contributes the single piece of verse1 a smooth and pleasing lyric entitled ,love ,again1 which is not unlike his previous poem1 ,love1 ,come ,again4 ,as an amatory poet1 ,mr4 ,kleiner shows much delicacy of sentiment1 refinement of language1 and appreciation of metrical values2 his efforts in this direction entitle him to a high place among amateur bards4 ,one of the truly notable prose features of the magazine is ,walter ,john ,held's delightful sketch of ,joaquin ,miller's home and haunts4 ,this artistic picture of ,californian scenery exhibits a real comprehension of the beauties of ,nature1 and stirs to an unusual degree the imagination of the reader4 ,mr4 ,held's prose possesses a fluency and grace that bring it close to the professional quality1 and its few faults are far less considerable than might be expected from the pen of a young author4 ,however1 we must remark some rather awkward examples of grammatical construction4 ,the correct plural of eucalyptus is eucalypti1 without any final s1 the name being treated as a ,latin noun of the second declension4 ,slowly and dignified--it pursues its way is hardly a permissible clause2 the adjective dignified must be exchanged for an adverb4 ,perhaps ,mr4 ,held sought to employ poetical enallage1 but even so1 the adjective does not correspond with slowly2 besides1 the use of enallage in prose is at best highly questionable4 ,this free and rank flowers and brush is another bad clause4 ,but it is not well to dissect the sketch too minutely4 ,a youth of ,mr4 ,held's ability needs only time and continued practice to raise him to the highest rank in prose composition4 ,,invictus for ,january1 the first number of ,mr4 ,paul ,j4 ,campbell's new individual paper1 is one of those rare journals concerning which it is almost impossible to speak without enthusiasm4 ,not one of its twenty-six pages fails to delight us4 ,foremost in merit1 and most aptly suited to ,mr4 ,campbell's particular type of genius1 are the three inspiring essays1 ,the ,impost of the ,future1 ,the ,sublime ,ideal1 and ,whom ,god ,hath ,put ,asunder4 ,therein appears to great advantage the keen reasoning and sound materialistic philosophy of the author4 ,the ,sublime ,ideal is especially absorbing1 tracing as it does the expansion of the human mind from a state of the narrowest and most violent bigotry to its present moderate breadth4 ,the three pieces of verse1 ,inspiration1 ,the ,larger ,life1 and ,down in ,mexico1 are all of smooth construction and musical metre1 though not exhibiting their author's powers as well as his essays4 ,down in ,mexico1 a virile poem in ,kipling's style1 is unquestionably the best of the three4 ,mr4 ,campbell's comments on amateur affairs are well-written and entertaining1 especially his reminiscent article entitled ,after ,seven ,years4 ,,outward ,,bound for ,january is an excellent journal edited by ,george ,william ,stokes of ,newcastle-on-,tyne1 ,england4 ,it is gratifying to behold such a paper as this1 one of the links between ,america and the parent country which the ,united is helping to forge4 ,herbert ,b4 ,darrow opens the issue with a short story entitled ,a ,lesson4 ,the tale is of conventional pattern1 containing a sound though not strikingly original moral4 ,the language is generally good1 except in one sentence where the author speaks of the vehicles in the street and buildings about him4 ,surely he does not mean that the vehicles were in the buildings as well as in the street4 ,the use of the definite article before the word buildings would do much toward dispelling the ambiguous effect4 ,the ,haunted ,forest1 a poem by ,j4 ,h4 ,fowler1 is almost ,poe-like in its grimly fantastic quality4 ,we can excuse rather indefinite metre when we consider the admirably created atmosphere1 the weird harmony of the lines1 the judicious use of alliteration1 and the apt selection of words4 ,bird-shunned1 as applied to the thickets of the forest1 is a particularly graphic epithet4 ,mr4 ,fowler is to be congratulated upon his glowing imagination and poetical powers4 ,a ,bit o' ,purple ,heather1 by ,edna von der ,heide1 is a delightful piece of verse in modified ,scottish dialect1 which well justifies the dedication of the magazine to this poetess4 ,mr4 ,stokes' editorial1 headed ,ships that ,pass1 sustains the nautical atmosphere of his periodical4 ,we wish he had given his thoughts a larger space for expression4 ,,the ,,piper for ,december comes as a surprise to those who have known ,rheinhart ,kleiner only as a master of metre1 for he is here displayed as the possessor of a pure and vigorous prose style as well4 ,in this1 the opening number of his individual journal1 ,mr4 ,kleiner provides us with a pleasing variety of literary matter2 two serious poems1 two rhymes of lighter character1 an essay on the inevitable topic of ,consolidation1 and a brilliant collection of short editorials and criticisms4 ,a ,carnation1 which begins the issue1 is an exquisite piece of sentiment couched in faultless verse4 ,the odd measure of the poem is one peculiarly suited to the author's delicate type of genius2 an iambic line of only three feet4 ,the other lyric1 ,heart1 ,do ,not ,wake1 is likewise of excellent quality1 though the succession of again and pain in the first line might suggest to some ears an unnecessary internal rhyme4 ,the ,rhyme of the ,hapless ,poet is very clever1 and can be truly appreciated by every author of printed matter4 ,perhaps the misfortune of which the poet complains is the cause of the extra syllable in the first line of the second stanza2 we hope that the following is what ,mr4 ,kleiner intended3 ,i wrote a poem1 'twas a prize4 ,otherwise we are forced to believe that he pronounces poem as a monosyllable1 pome4 ,my ,favorite ,amateur is a good specimen of light1 imitative verse4 ,the article on ,consolidation is cynical in tone1 but eminently sensible4 ,it is only too true that our greatest intellectual stimulus is found in controversy and antagonism2 we are really quite bellicose in our instincts1 despite the utterances of the peace advocates4 ,mr4 ,kleiner concludes his journal with a sparkling epigram on a rather obvious though regrettable tendency in amateur circles4 ,the ,piper is in general a paper of satisfying merit1 to whose future issues we shall look forward with eagerness4 ,,the ,,recruiting ,,feminine for #aiad-aiae is a publication of unusual worth4 ,the ,rose ,supreme1 by ,coralie ,austin1 is a delicate little poem in which we regret the presence of one inexcusably bad rhyme4 ,to rhyme the words rose and unclosed is to exceed the utmost limits of poetic license4 ,it is true that considerable variations in vowel sounds have been permitted2 come makes1 or at least used to make1 an allowable rhyme with home1 clock with look1 or grass with place2 but a final consonant attached to one of two otherwise rhyming syllables positively destroys the rhyme4 ,mrs4 ,myra ,cole's essay on ,the ,little ,things of ,life is well written and instructive4 ,the ,dirge of the ,great ,atlantic1 by ,anne ,vyne ,tillery ,renshaw1 is a grim and moving bit of verse1 cast in the same primitively stirring metre which this author used in her professionally published poem1 ,the ,chant of ,iron4 ,mrs4 ,renshaw possesses an enviable power to reach the emotions through the medium of written words4 ,two ,octobers--,a ,contrast1 by ,eloise ,n4 ,griffith1 is a meritorious sketch ending with the usual appeal for the cessation of the ,european war4 ,we fear that the author cannot quite realize the ambitious passions1 essential ingredients of human nature1 which render necessary a final decision4 ,miss ,edna von der ,heide1 in an able article1 rallies to the defense of ,mr4 ,w4 ,e4 ,griffin's now famous ,favorite ,pastime4 ,the ,modern ,lothario is fortunate in having so competent and experienced a champion4 ,however1 we cannot wholly endorse the sentiments of these excellent writers4 ,the statement that all amateur journalists are flirts1 more or less1 is a base and unwarranted libel which we are prepared completely to refute4 ,the ,audience1 by ,mrs4 ,florence ,shepphird1 is a masterly defense of those inactive amateurs whom we are all too prone to consider as delinquent4 ,it is indeed true that authors would be useless were it not for some sort of a reading public4 ,,toledo ,,amateur for ,december is a wholesome juvenile product4 ,the typography still leaves something to be desired1 but the evidences of care are everywhere visible1 and we may reasonably expect to see it improve from month to month1 into one of the leading amateur papers4 ,credentials form the keynote of the current issue1 and a very promising assortment of recruits are here introduced to the members of the ,united4 ,miss ,sandborn1 who is fortunate enough to be one of ,mr4 ,moe's pupils at ,appleton1 contributes an interesting school anecdote1 narrated in simple fashion4 ,miss ,thie gives information concerning the ,campfire ,girls4 ,some new members of adult years are also represented in this number4 ,mr4 ,jenkins shows an admirable command of light prose1 and will undoubtedly prove one of the ,united's most entertaining writers4 ,misses ,kline and ,mc,geoch both exhibit marked poetical tendencies in prose1 the latter writer having something of ,mr4 ,fritter's facility in the use of metaphor4 ,mr4 ,porter's editorials are refreshingly naive and unaffected4 ,his grammar is generally good1 except in the one sentence where he speaks of the ,toledo ,times4 ,he should say1 the newspaper which has given me much experience1 and to whose publishers ,i owe a great deal of experience gained4 ,,the ,,united ,,official ,,quarterly for ,november marks the beginning of a laudable enterprise on the part of the official board4 ,the magazine is of artistic appearance in cover1 paper1 and typography alike1 while the contents show considerable care in preparation4 ,ira ,a4 ,cole's essay on ,the ,gods of ,our ,fathers is the leading feature and1 though not of perfect perspicuity nor faultless unity1 is none the less noteworthy as a sincere expression of ,pantheism4 ,mr4 ,cole keenly feels the incongruity of our devotion to ,semitic theological ideals1 when as a matter of fact we are descended from ,aryan polytheists1 and his personification of the ,grecian deities in the men of today is a pleasing and ingenious conception4 ,we are inclined to wonder whether the author or the printer is to blame for rendering the poet ,hesiod's name as ,hesoid4 ,the metric art is represented by three contributions4 ,paul ,j4 ,campbell's lines on ,the ,heritage of ,life are smooth in construction and proper in sentiment1 though they are far from showing their author at his best4 ,mr4 ,campbell is a supreme master of the philosophical essay and of pointed1 satirical prose1 being a very ,junius in bold1 biting invective2 but is placed at something of a disadvantage in the domain of conventional poetry4 ,rheinhart ,kleiner and ourselves revel in heroic couplets of widely differing nature4 ,our own masterpiece is in full ,queen ,anne style with carefully balanced lines and strictly measured quantities4 ,we have succeeded in producing eighteen lines without a single original sentiment or truly poetical image4 ,rev4 ,mr4 ,pyke1 the object of the verses1 deserves a better encomiast4 ,mr4 ,kleiner1 on the other hand1 uses an heroic metre of that softened type which was evolved at the close of the eighteenth century from the disruption of the more formal style4 ,in this sort of verse the stiff1 classic expressions are discarded1 and the sense frequently overflows from couplet to couplet1 giving the romantic poet a greater latitude for expression than was possible in the old models4 ,vacation is not distinguished by any strikingly novel idea1 but is in general a very clever piece of light work4 ,the only substantial defect is in the eighth line1 where the word resort is so placed1 that the accent must fall wrongfully upon the first syllable4 ,leo ,fritter's article on criticism is timely and sensible4 ,as he justly contends1 some authorized amateur critics deal far too roughly with the half-formed products of the young author1 while most unofficial and inexperienced reviewers fairly run mad with promiscuous condemnation4 ,the fancied brilliancy of the critic is always greatest when he censures most1 so that the temptations of the tribe are many4 ,we are at best but literary parasites1 and need now and then just such a restraining word as our counter-critic gives us4 ,mr4 ,fritter's style is here1 as usual1 highly ornamented with metaphor4 ,one slight defect strikes the fastidious eye1 but since split infinitives are becoming so common in these days1 we shall attend the author's plea for gentleness1 and remain silent4 ,h4 ,p4 ,,lovecraft1 ,chairman1 ,department of ,public ,criticism4 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,march #aiae ,,department ,,of ,,public ,,criticism ,,the ,,blarney ,,stone for ,november-,december is dedicated to its contributors and wholly given over to their work4 ,did ,you ,ever ,go ,a-,fishin'81 by ,olive ,g4 ,owen1 is a vivid poetical portrayal of that peculiar attraction which the angler's art exerts on its devotees4 ,while the whole is of high and pleasing quality1 exception must be taken to the rhyming of low with itself at the very beginning of the poem4 ,it may be that the second low is a misprint for slow1 yet even in that case1 the rhyme is scarcely allowable1 since the dominant rhyming sound would still be low4 ,miss ,edna von der ,heide1 in ,the ,christmas of ,delsato's ,maria1 tells how an ,italian thief utilized his questionable art to replace a loss in his family4 ,to ,general ,villa is a peculiar piece of verse written last summer for the purpose of defying those who had charged its author with pedantry and pomposity4 ,it has suffered somewhat at the hands of the printer2 ,intrepido being spelled ,intrepedo1 and the word own being dropped from the clause your own name can't write in the third line of the second stanza4 ,also1 the first of the ,spanish double exclamation marks around the oath ,santa ,maria is right side up instead of inverted according to ,castilian custom4 ,having been hastily written1 the piece is wholly without merit4 ,senor1 in the second line of the third stanza is placed so that the accent must fall erroneously on the first syllable4 ,the changes of time and revolutions have rendered the last stanza sadly out of date4 ,the issue is concluded with a beautiful editorial on ,the ,service ,with ,love1 wherein is described the ideal spirit of brotherhood which should pervade amateur journalism4 ,we regret the two blank pages at the back of the magazine1 and wish that some talented ,blarney had seen fit to adorn them with his work4 ,,the ,,brooklynite for ,january is of unusual merit1 fairly teeming with features of a well-written and substantial character4 ,the short story by ,mrs4 ,carson is developed with admirable simplicity and ease2 the plot not too strained1 and the moral not too pragmatically forced upon the reader4 ,the conversation1 always a difficult point with amateur authors1 is surprisingly natural4 ,mrs4 ,adams' essay on ghosts displays considerable literary knowledge1 though the anecdote at the end is rather ancient for use today4 ,we last heard it about ten years ago1 with a ,scotchman instead of a negro preacher as the narrator1 and with the word miracle instead of phenomena as the subject4 ,mr4 ,goodwin's ,cinigrams are delightful1 and we expect soon to hear the author heralded as the ,martial of amateur journalism4 ,ford1 ,do ,not ,shake1 ,mr4 ,goodwin's parody on ,kleiner's ,heart1 ,do ,not ,wake1 is actually side-splitting4 ,the metre is handled to perfection1 and the humor is extremely clever4 ,consolidation1 by ,george ,julian ,houtain1 is a fair example of the manner in which some of the less dignified ,national politicians try to cast silly aspersions on the ,united4 ,the elaborately sarcastic phrase3 ,united boys and girls1 seems to please its author1 since he uses it twice4 ,there is unconscious irony in the spectacle of a ,national man1 once a member of the notorious old ,gotham ring1 preaching virtuously against the unenviable record of the ,united4 ,mr4 ,stoddard's brief essay1 composed at a meeting of the ,blue ,pencil ,club1 is excellent1 and his concluding quatrain regular and melodious4 ,we wish1 however1 that he would give us some more of the serious fiction that he can write so splendidly1 and which used several years ago to appear in the amateur press4 ,music ,moods1 by ,charles ,d4 ,isaacson1 is an emotional sketch of great power and delicate artistry4 ,mr4 ,isaacson has an active imagination and a literary ability which makes his readers see very vividly the images he creates4 ,mrs4 ,houtain's poem shows great but as yet undeveloped talent4 ,the repeated use of the expletive do in such phrases as ,i do sigh1 or ,i pray and do pine1 mars the verse somewhat4 ,as ,pope remarked and humorously illustrated in his ,essay on ,criticism3 ,expletives their feeble aid ,,do join4 ,mr4 ,ayres' jocose epic is clever and tuneful4 ,the climax1 or rather anticlimax1 comes quite effectively4 ,mr4 ,adams1 in his brilliant verses entitled ,gentlemen1 ,please ,desist1 exposes in a masterly way the fatuity of our loud-mouthed peace workers4 ,miss ,silverman's lines on the same subject are very good1 but scarcely equal in keenness of wit4 ,it is all very well to keep industry booming1 but industry cannot take the place of military efficiency in protecting a nation against foreign aggression4 ,as a whole1 the ,january ,brooklynite is the best number we have yet seen4 ,,the ,,coyote for ,march is not a revival of ,ex-,president ,brechler's well-known amateur journal of that name1 but a semi-professional leaflet edited by ,mr4 ,william ,t4 ,harrington1 a rather new recruit4 ,the leading feature is a sensational short story by the editor1 entitled ,what ,gambling ,did4 ,in this tale1 ,mr4 ,harrington exhibits at least a strong ambition to write1 and such energy1 if well directed1 may eventually make of him one of our leading authors of fiction4 ,just now1 however1 we must protest against his taste in subject and technique4 ,his models are obviously not of the classical order1 and his ideas of probability are far from unexceptionable4 ,in developing the power of narration1 it is generally best1 as one of our leading amateurs lately reiterated1 to discard the thought of elaborate plots and thrilling climaxes1 and to begin instead with the plain and simple description of actual incidents with which the author is familiar4 ,likewise1 the young author may avoid improbability by composing his earliest efforts in the first person4 ,he knows what he himself would do in certain circumstances1 but he does not always know very exactly what some others might do in similar cases4 ,meanwhile1 above all things he should read classic fiction1 abstaining entirely from ,wild ,west ,weeklies and the like4 ,mr4 ,harrington has a taste for excitement1 and would probably thrive on ,scott1 ,cooper1 or ,poe4 ,let him read the ,leather ,stocking ,tales if he loves pioneers and frontier life4 ,not until after he has acquired a familiarity with the methods of the best authors1 and refined his imagination by a perusal of their works1 should he make attempts at writing outside his own experience4 ,he will then be able to produce work of a quality which would surprise him now4 ,we are sorry to note that the ,coyote's editorial columns are occupied by a mere condensed copy of the ,united's standard recruiting circular4 ,this space might have been filled much more profitably with brief original comments by the editor on the numerous exchanges which are listed in another part of his paper4 ,the paid advertising and subscription price are not to be commended4 ,such things have no place in a truly amateur paper4 ,but continued membership in the ,united will doubtless fill ,mr4 ,harrington with the genuine amateur spirit1 and cause ,the ,coyote to become a worthy successor to its older namesake4 ,,dowdell',s ,,bearcat for ,october is a modest but very promising little paper1 mostly composed of amateur notes and brief reviews4 ,the editor has interest in his work1 and fluency in his language1 foundations on which a more elaborate structure may some day be erected4 ,one feature open to criticism is ,mr4 ,dowdell's sudden change in his editorial column from the usual first person plural to the third person singular4 ,it would be better to save ,the ,old ,bear and his interesting chat1 for a separate column4 ,the typography of ,dowdell's ,bearcat is not perfect1 but may be expected to improve from issue to issue4 ,,the ,,emissary for ,july is a ,national paper1 but contains the work of several ,united members4 ,of the publication itself we need not stop to speak4 ,mr4 ,reading1 though only eighteen years of age1 is an editor and printer of the highest grade1 and has produced an issue which will be long remembered in the amateur world4 ,ausonius1 the ,nature-,lover1 by ,edward ,h4 ,cole1 is a pleasing and judicious appreciation of a later ,latin poet1 showing how a bard of the decaying ,roman ,empire approached in certain passages the spirit of modern romanticism4 ,mr4 ,cole's translated extracts are beautifully phrased1 and his comment upon the subject well exhibits his wide and careful scholarship4 ,articles of this quality are rarely found in the amateur press1 and it will be interesting to note what effect their more frequent appearance would have upon the literary tone of the associations4 ,to ,sappho1 by ,olive ,g4 ,owen1 is a lyrical poem of much merit1 yet having a defective line4 ,why1 we wonder1 did the author see fit to leave two necessary syllables out of the third line of the opening verse8 ,lamb o' ,mine1 by ,dora ,m4 ,hepner1 is probably the most attractive bit of verse in the magazine4 ,the negro dialect is inimitable1 and the consoling spirit of the old black mammy fairly radiates from the lines4 ,metrically1 the piece is faultless1 and we wish its author were a more frequent contributor to the amateur journals4 ,miss von der ,heide's two poems1 ,the ,mill ,mother1 and ,greeting1 express admirably the sentiments of pathos and natural beauty1 respectively4 ,personally1 we prefer ,greeting4 ,mr4 ,campbell's lines on ,huerta's ,finish are distinctly below the usual standard of this talented writer's work4 ,the metre is satisfactory1 but the humor is somewhat strained1 and the pun in the last line based on a mispronunciation of the old ,indian's name4 ,wehr-ta is probably the correct sound1 rather than ,hurt-a4 ,,the ,,inspiration for ,january must be judged strictly by its quality2 not its quantity4 ,pinkney ,c4 ,grissom1 a very young amateur1 cheers us greatly with his article on ,smiles1 while ,miss von der ,heide's microscopic story1 ,a ,real ,victory1 is indeed a literary treat4 ,we trust that the editor's threat of discontinuance may not be realized4 ,,the ,,kansan for ,july reaches us at a late date through the kindness of ,mr4 ,daas4 ,in this magazine the ,sunflower ,club of ,bazine makes its formal debut1 being ushered into amateur society by means of a pleasing and well-written article from the pen of ,miss ,hoffman4 ,the informal ,exchange ,comment is a charitable and generally delightful department1 whose anonymity we rather regret4 ,the ,editorial pages are brilliant in their justification of the ,united's sunny spirit1 as contrasted with the ,national's forbidding frigidity4 ,,the ,,olympian for ,september-,february well sustains the lofty traditions of that magazine4 ,mr4 ,cole defines with considerable precision his latest editorial policy and his true attitude toward the ,united1 revealing only the more strongly1 however1 his remarkable and ineradicable prejudice against our association in favor of the ,national4 ,evening ,prayer1 by ,rheinhart ,kleiner1 is a poem of great beauty and real worth1 couched in the alternating iambic pentameter and trimeter which this poet seems to have made his own particular medium of expression4 ,mr4 ,kleiner is rapidly assuming a very high rank among amateur poets4 ,the ,public ,library1 by ,eloise ,n4 ,griffith1 is a delightful and appreciative reminiscence of quiet hours of lettered joy4 ,the ,play ,hour1 consisting of two clever bits of metre dedicated to a very young amateur1 appears in a collection of short and sprightly pieces signed by the ,senior ,editor himself4 ,it is difficult1 nevertheless1 to imagine the dignified ,olympian ,zeus as the author4 ,though the second of these tuneful rhymes is apparently written in the simplified spelling now so popular among certain amateur editors1 a closer inspection reveals the fact that the spelling is merely made juvenile to suit the subject4 ,after all1 however1 simplified spelling and baby-talk are but little removed from each other4 ,the ,reviewers' ,club is in this issue represented by both editors1 whose criticisms are as usual just and illuminating4 ,,prometheus for ,september-,november is a journal of unusual literary and artistic value1 edited by our poet-laureate1 ,miss ,olive ,g4 ,owen4 ,the paper well lives up to its sub-title1 ,a ,magazine of ,aspirations ,dreamed into ,reality4 ,mr4 ,william ,h4 ,greenfield1 the honored founder of the ,united1 claims the first page with a graceful ,pindaric ode1 ,to ,my ,friend4 ,the ,weaver of ,dreams1 by ,edna ,g4 ,thorne1 is a strikingly well-written short story pervaded with a delicate pathos and expressing a beautiful ,christian philosophy4 ,george ,w4 ,macauley1 continuing to concentrate his narrative powers on the ,oriental tale1 presents a pleasing fable of old ,moorish ,spain1 entitled ,ali ,ahmed and the ,aqueduct4 ,the ,ethics of ,stimulation1 by ,maurice ,w4 ,moe1 is an eminently sound exposition of the relative evil of coffee and alcoholic liquor as stimulants4 ,partners1 by ,h4 ,a4 ,reading1 exhibits great ability on the part of its author1 and is well calculated to arouse the emotions of affectionate fathers and sons4 ,miss ,owen's work1 scattered here and there throughout the magazine1 is naturally of the very first quality4 ,it is hard to choose between the two poems ,atthis1 ,i ,love ,thee1 and ,to ,elizabeth ,knopf1 but we incline slightly toward the former4 ,the sketches ,the ,visitor and ,some ,things ,i ,like in ,new ,york are both delightful in their artistic simplicity4 ,critically analyzed1 ,prometheus may be classed as one of the most varied and generally readable magazines of the season4 ,,red ,,letter ,,days for ,october is the first of an informal individual paper by ,george ,w4 ,macauley1 representing the most purely personal phase of amateur journalism4 ,this issue is almost completely devoted to an animated account of the ,red ,letter ,days spent by ,mr4 ,macauley last summer with the amateurs who stopped to see him while on their way to the various conventions4 ,the author's style is familiar and pleasing1 though rather careless1 and slightly marred by defects in spelling and grammar4 ,for instance1 we are told of the caution which he and ,mr4 ,stoddard exercised in changing seats in a boat1 since neither could swim1 had the boat ,,did the usual thing4 ,we are sorry that ,mr4 ,macauley has adopted simplified spelling1 but it is an evil in which he is by no means alone4 ,red ,letter ,days1 broadly considered1 is a highly commendable paper2 its simplicity and lack of affectation are alone sufficient to win general approval4 ,,stray ,,leaves for ,may-,june is another paper which has arrived late and indirectly4 ,in this publication we note with disapproval some evidence of pseudo-professionalism1 such as a subscription rate and advertisements1 but we trust that ,miss ,draper will ere long acquire the perfect amateur spirit4 ,love ,proved ,to ,be the ,master of ,hate1 a short story by ,frances ,wood1 is handicapped by its unwieldy title4 ,the ,triumph of ,love1 or some heading of equal brevity1 would better suit it4 ,indications of immaturity are here and there perceptible1 and at the very beginning there is an inexplicable mass of hyphenation4 ,however1 the tale is undeniably of considerable merit1 conveying a pleasing picture of jealousy overcome4 ,the ,editorial department might be improved by a judicious copying of the best amateur models4 ,the reference to anti-,suffrage and ,suffrage as two vital questions is hardly permissible2 these are the two sides of only one question4 ,thinkers1 by ,g4 ,d41 is really excellent as an essay1 despite the awkwardness of style4 ,the ,bermuda letter is highly interesting in its descriptions1 but painfully unscholarly in its phraseology4 ,we here behold a case of real talent obscured by want of literary polish1 and hope that ,f4 ,a4 ,b41 whoever he or she may be1 will profit by his or her connection with the ,united4 ,stray ,leaves has great possibilities1 and will doubtless prove one of the leading papers of amateur journalism in times to come4 ,,the ,,united ,,official ,,quarterly for ,january hardly lives up to the artistic standard set by the first number1 though it contains much valuable matter4 ,herbert ,b4 ,darrow pleads very ably for the personal acknowledgement of amateur papers received1 while ,paul ,j4 ,campbell writes convincingly on the true value of amateur journalism4 ,pres4 ,hepner1 in the concluding article1 opposes with considerable vigor the ,hoffman policy of issuing co-operative magazines4 ,we are not1 however1 inclined entirely to agree with our executive's conclusions4 ,the co-operative journal is practically the only adequate medium of expression for the amateur of limited means1 and most of the later journals of this class1 of which the ,official ,quarterly is itself an example1 have been of excellent quality4 ,it is perhaps too much to expect the average ,president1 encumbered with a host of other duties1 to conduct this work1 but in any event some suitable official should be delegated for that purpose4 ,the association should not lightly abandon a policy which made the preceding administration one of the most brilliant and successful in years4 ,,the ,,woodbee for ,january exhibits amateur journalism at its best4 ,mrs4 ,anne ,tillery ,renshaw opens the magazine with a pleasing poem1 dedicated to the ,woodbees1 which combines simplicity of diction with regularity of metre4 ,those decasyllabic quatrains are a decided departure from ,mrs4 ,renshaw's usual style1 which explains the slight lack of fluency4 ,the last line of the third stanza contains a redundant syllable1 a defect which might be corrected by the removal of the article before the word louder1 or by the poetical contraction of sympathy into symp'thy4 ,the third line of the fourth stanza possesses only four feet4 ,this may be an intentional shortening to give rhetorical effect1 yet it mars none the less the symmetry of the verse4 ,the ,spiritual ,significance of the ,stars1 by ,leo ,fritter1 is the leading feature of the issue4 ,the inspiring influence of astronomical study on the cultivated intellect is here shown to best advantage4 ,mr4 ,fritter traces the slow unfolding of celestial knowledge to the world1 and points out the divinity of that mental power which enables man to discern the vastness of the universe1 and to comprehend the complex principles by which it is governed4 ,in the laws of the heavens he finds the prototype of all human laws1 and the one perfect model for human institutions4 ,mr4 ,fritter's essay is eminently worthy of a place among the classics of amateur journalism4 ,a ,morn in ,june1 by ,harriet ,e4 ,daily1 is a short and dainty poem of excellent quality1 though marred by a reprehensible attempt to rhyme grass with task4 ,as we mentioned in connection with another amateur poem1 a final consonant on one of two otherwise rhyming syllables utterly destroys the rhyme4 ,we ,are ,builders ,all1 by ,elizabeth ,m4 ,ballou1 is a graceful allegory based on the temple of ,solomon4 ,edna ,mitchell ,haughton's character sketch1 ,the ,family ,doctor1 is just and well drawn4 ,a ,dog for ,comfort1 by ,edna von der ,heide1 is a meritorious poem of gloomy impressiveness4 ,we cannot quite account for the defective second line of the fourth stanza1 since ,miss von der ,heide is so able a poetess4 ,perhaps it is intentional1 but we wish the line were of normal decasyllabic length4 ,my ,grandmother's ,garden1 by ,ida ,cochran ,haughton1 is a truly delightful bit of reminiscent description which deserves more than one reading4 ,a ,little ,girl's ,three ,wishes1 by ,mrs4 ,r4 ,m4 ,moody1 is entertaining in quality and correct in metre4 ,it is a relief to behold amidst the formless cacophony of modern poetry such a regular1 old-fashioned specimen of the octosyllabic couplet4 ,two ,little ,waterwheels1 by ,dora ,m4 ,hepner1 is an exquisite idyllic sketch4 ,in the second paragraph we read of a channel damned up by a projecting root of a tree2 which somewhat surprises us1 since we did not know that tree-roots are accustomed to use profane language4 ,perhaps the author intended to write dammed4 ,the editorials are brief4 ,in one of them it is stated that the paper is submitted without fear to the critics ,,and ,eddie ,cole4 ,in view of ,mr4 ,cole's scholarly and conscientious critical work1 we hope that no reflection upon him is there intended4 ,h4 ,p4 ,,lovecraft1 ,chairman1 ,department of ,public ,criticism4 ,,march ,let other bards with nobler talents sing ,the beauties of the mild1 maturer spring4 ,my rustic ,muse on bleaker times must dwell1 ,when ,earth1 but new-escap'd from winter's spell1 ,uncloth'd1 unshelter'd1 unadorn'd1 is seen2 ,stript of white robes1 nor yet array'd in green4 ,hard blows the breeze1 but with a warmer force4 ,the melting ground1 the brimming watercourse1 ,the wak'ning air1 the birds' returning flight1 ,the longer sunshine1 and the shorter night1 ,arcturus' beams1 and ,corvus' glitt'ring rays1 ,diffuse a promise of the genial days4 ,yon muddy remnant of the winter snow ,shrinks humbly in the equinoctial glow1 ,whilst in the fields precocious grass-blades peep ,above the earth so lately wrapt in sleep4 ,what sweet1 elusive odor fills the soil1 ,to rouse the farmer to his yearly toil6 ,though thick the clouds1 and bare the maple bough1 ,with what gay song he guides the cumbrous plough6 ,in him there stirs1 like sap within the tree1 ,the joyous call to new activity3 ,the outward scene1 however dull and drear1 ,takes on a splendor from the inward cheer4 ,prophetic month6 ,would that ,i might rehearse ,thy hidden beauties in sublimer verse3 ,thy glorious youth1 thy vigor all unspent1 ,thy stirring winds1 of spring and winter blent4 ,summer brings blessings of enervate kind2 ,thy joys1 ,o ,march1 are ecstasies of mind4 ,in ,june we revel in the bees' soft hum1 ,but ,march exalts us with the bliss to come4 --,h4 ,p4 ,,lovecraft4 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,official ,,organ ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,press ,,association ,,of ,,america ,,volume ,,xiv ,,georgetown1 ,,ill41 ,,may1 #aiae4 ,,number #e ,,department ,,of ,,public ,,criticism ,,the ,,blarney ,,stone for ,january-,february is replete with good literature1 amidst which may particularly be mentioned ,arthur ,goodenough's harmonious poem1 ,god ,made ,us ,all of ,clay4 ,the theme is not new1 but appears advantageously under ,mr4 ,goodenough's delicate treatment4 ,m4 ,w4 ,hart's short story1 ,the ,redemption1 is intended to portray a righteous transformation from conventional false morality to true ,christian life1 but in reality presents a very repulsive picture of bestial atavism4 ,the meaner character was not reformed by mercy1 but merely withheld from wholesale vice by isolation4 ,mr4 ,hart is so plainly in earnest when he relates this dismal tale as a sermon1 that we must not be too harsh in questioning his taste or condemning his free standards of civilized morality2 yet we doubt seriously if stories or essays of this type should appear in the press1 and especially in the amateur press4 ,two or three technical points demand attention4 ,the word diversified on page #b might better be diverse1 while environment on page #d1 could well be replaced by condition or state4 ,on page #e occurs the sentence ,all intelligence 444 were 444 instinct4 ,obviously the verb should be in the singular number to correspond with its subject4 ,mr4 ,hart is developing a prose style of commendable dignity1 unusually free from the jarring touch of modern frivolity4 ,h4 ,b4 ,scott is proving himself a finished scholar and a thoughtful editor in his conduct of ,the ,blarney ,stone2 his able essay on ,personality is eminently worthy of more than one perusal4 ,,the ,,boys' ,,herald for ,may presents us with a highly interesting account of ,robert ,louis ,stevenson's career as an amateur journalist1 together with a facsimile reproduction of the cover of ,the ,sunbeam ,magazine1 ,stevenson's hand-written periodical4 ,the column of reminiscences1 containing letters from various old-time amateurs1 is extremely inspiring to the younger members1 showing how persistently the amateur spirit adheres to all who have truly acquired it4 ,nita at the ,passing ,show is a witty and entertaining parody by ,mr4 ,smith1 illustrating the theatrical hobby of ,miss ,gerner2 one of the latest ,united recruits4 ,the ,boys' ,herald discharges a peculiar and important function in the life of the associations1 connecting the present with the past1 and furnishing us with just standards for comparison4 ,,dowdell',s ,,bearcat for ,december opens with a ,christmas poem of great beauty and harmonious construction from the pen of ,dora ,m4 ,hepner4 ,the thoughts and images are without exception lofty and well selected1 and the only possible defect is the attempt to rhyme come with run in the last stanza4 ,edward ,h4 ,cole's review of a recent booklet in memory of ,miss ,susan ,brown ,robbins1 a former amateur1 is more than a criticism4 ,it is a rare appreciation of the bonds of mutual esteem and respect which grow up amongst the congenial members of the press associations4 ,mr4 ,cole is peculiarly well fitted to deal with his subject1 and no praise is needed beyond the statement that the review is characteristic of him4 ,,dowdell',s ,,bearcat for ,january marks the metamorphosis of that periodical into a newspaper4 ,with youthful ambition1 ,mr4 ,dowdell is resolved to furnish the ,united with the latest items of interest concerning amateurs4 ,while the general style of the paper is fluent and pleasing1 we believe that ,bruno might gain much force of expression through the exercise of a little more care and dignity in his prose4 ,for instance1 many colloquial contractions like don't1 won't1 or can't might be eliminated1 while such slang phrases as neck of the woods1 make good1 somewhat off1 or bunch of yellow-backs were better omitted4 ,,dowdell',s ,,bearcat for ,march is notable for an increase in size4 ,a ,visit to ,niagara ,falls1 by ,andrew ,r4 ,koller1 is an intelligent and animated piece of description1 which promises well for the development of its author4 ,what looseness of construction exists may be charged to youth4 ,an ,ambition and a ,vision1 by ,nettie ,a4 ,hartman1 is a neat and grammatically written little sketch1 probably autobiographical1 describing the evolution of an amateur4 ,greater cultivation of rhetorical taste would improve ,miss ,hartman's style1 and we are certain that it possesses a fundamental merit which will make improvement an easy matter4 ,with the usual regret we observe an instance of simple spelling1 which ,mr4 ,dowdell1 who does not fall into this vice himself1 has evidently overlooked in editing4 ,the news items this month are timely and vivacious1 exhibiting ,bruno at his best4 ,,the ,,lake ,,breeze for ,march inaugurates a very welcome revival of the ,united's foremost news sheet1 now to be issued monthly4 ,mr4 ,daas is so active an amateur1 and so closely connected with the development of the association1 that his ably edited journal has almost the authority of an official organ4 ,the editorial entitled ,ashes and ,roses is a powerful and convincing reply to a rather weak attack lately made on the ,united by a member of a less active association4 ,mr4 ,daas uses both sense and sarcasm to great advantage1 leaving but little ground for his opponent to occupy4 ,the ,amateur ,press is a well conducted column of contributed reviews1 among which ,mrs4 ,a4 ,m4 ,adams' eulogy of ,mrs4 ,griffith's essay in ,outward ,bound is perhaps the best4 ,what is ,amateur ,journalism81 by ,el ,imparcial1 is a sketch of the various types of amateurs1 with a suggestion of the ideal type4 ,while free from glaring defects1 the essay gives no really new information1 and brings out no strikingly original ideas4 ,some ,objections to ,moving ,pictures1 by ,edmund ,l4 ,shehan1 presents a strong array of evidence against one of the most popular and instructive amusements of today4 ,we do not believe1 however1 that the objections here offered are vital4 ,the moving picture has infinite possibilities for literary and artistic good when rightly presented1 and having achieved a permanent place1 seems destined eventually to convey the liberal arts to multitudes hitherto denied their enjoyment4 ,mr4 ,shehan's prose style is clear and forceful1 capable of highly advantageous development4 ,,literary ,,buds for ,april is the first number of a paper issued by the new ,athenaeum ,club of ,journalism1 ,harvey1 ,ill4 ,though the text of most of the contributions has suffered somewhat through a slight misapprehension concerning the editing1 the issue is nevertheless pleasing and creditable4 ,a la ,rudyard1 a poem by ,george ,a4 ,bradley1 heads the contents4 ,while hampered by some of the heaviness natural to authors of school age1 ,mr4 ,bradley has managed to put into his lines a laudable enthusiasm and genuine warmth4 ,the editorial column is well conducted1 the second item being especially graphic1 though the superdreadnought metaphor seems rather forced4 ,clara ,inglis ,stalker1 the enthusiastic and capable educator through whose efforts the club was formed1 gives a brief account of her organization1 under the title ,the ,history of an ,eight-,week-,old1 and in a prose style of uniformly flowing and attractive quality4 ,a ,love ,song1 ,miss ,stalker's other contribution1 is a poem of delicate imagery and unusual metre4 ,our ,paring ,knife1 by ,gertrude ,van ,lanningham1 is a short sketch with an aphorism at the end4 ,though this type of moral lesson is a little trite1 ,miss ,van ,lanningham shows no mean appreciation of literary form1 and will1 when she has emerged from the bud stage1 undoubtedly blossom into a graphic and sympathetic writer4 ,co-,education1 by ,caryl ,w4 ,dempsey1 is an interesting but only partially convincing article on a topic of considerable importance4 ,the author1 being enthusiastically in favor of the practice1 enumerates its many benefits2 yet the arguments are decidedly biased4 ,while the advantage of co-education to young ladies is made quite obvious1 it remains far from clear that young men receive equal benefit4 ,a desirable decline of cliques and hazing might1 it is true1 result from the admission of women to men's universities1 but the young men would undoubtedly lose much in earnest1 concentrated energy and dignified virility through the presence of the fair4 ,the experiment1 radical at best1 has failed more than once4 ,the style of this essay is slightly wanting in ease and continuity1 yet possesses the elements of force4 ,the ,traitor1 by ,agnes ,e4 ,fairfield1 is a short story of artistic development but questionable sentiment4 ,the present fad of peace-preaching should not be allowed to influence a writer of sense into glorifying a socialistic1 unpatriotic fanatic who refuses to uphold the institutions that his fathers before him created with their toil1 blood1 and sacrifice4 ,it is not the right of the individual to judge of the necessity of a war2 no layman can form an intelligent idea of the dangers that may beset his fatherland4 ,the man is but a part of the state1 and must uphold it at any cost4 ,we are inclined to wonder at ,miss ,fairfield's mention of a king1 when the name ,phillipe ,la ,roque so clearly proclaims the hero a ,frenchman4 ,france1 be it known1 has been a republic for some little time4 ,penny in the ,slot1 by ,vaughn ,flannery1 possesses a humor that is pleasing and apparently quite spontaneous4 ,we should like to behold more of ,mr4 ,flannery's efforts in this field4 ,viewed in its entirety1 allowance being made for its present essentially juvenile nature1 ,literary ,buds may be regarded as a pronounced success4 ,that it will mature in consonance with the club which it represents is certain1 and each future issue can be relied upon to surpass its predecessor4 ,,ole ,,miss' for ,march1 edited by ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,j4 ,w4 ,renshaw1 easily falls into the very front rank of the season's amateur journals4 ,in this number ,mr4 ,joseph ,w4 ,renshaw makes his initial appearance before the members of the ,united1 producing a very favorable impression with his pure1 attractive prose4 ,the introduction1 credited in another column to ,mr4 ,renshaw1 is of graceful and pleasing character1 recalling the elusively beautiful atmosphere of the ,old ,south which is too soon passing away4 ,the ,humble ,swallow1 an anonymous essay1 praises with singularly delicate art a feathered creature whose charms lie not on the surface4 ,the concluding paragraph1 condemning the wanton slaughter of this winged friend to mankind1 is especially apt at a time of hysterical peace agitation4 ,while the well meaning advocates of peace call wildly upon men to abandon just warfare against destructive and malignant enemies1 they generally pass over without thought or reproof the wholesale murder of these innocent little birds1 who never did nor intended harm to anyone4 ,a ,higher ,recruiting ,standard1 by ,mrs4 ,renshaw1 is an able exposition of the newer and loftier type of ideals prevailing in the ,united4 ,our association has never lacked numbers1 but would undoubtedly be the better for an increased standard of scholarship such as is here demanded4 ,mrs4 ,renshaw's work as a recruiter is in keeping with her policy1 and this1 together with ,mr4 ,moe's work amongst the ,english teachers1 seems destined to raise the ,united far above its lesser contemporaries4 ,an ,a4 ,j4 ,suggestion1 by ,mr4 ,renshaw1 deals ingeniously and logically with the always difficult problem of selecting a printer4 ,though evidently written quite independently1 it ably seconds ,paul ,j4 ,campbell's original suggestion in the ,,united ,,amateur4 ,the advantages of having one printer for all amateur work are many1 and the well presented opinions of ,mr4 ,renshaw should aid much in securing this desirable innovation4 ,the poetry in ,ole ,miss' is all by ,mrs4 ,renshaw1 and therefore of first quality4 ,some ,one ,i ,know is a lightly amatory piece of tuneful rhythm4 ,night of ,rain gives a peculiarly pleasing aspect to a type of scene not usually celebrated in verse4 ,the only jarring note is the rather mundane metaphor which compares the trees to a beautiful mop4 ,though ,mrs4 ,renshaw holds unusual ideas regarding the use of art in poetry1 we contend that this instance of rhetorical frigidity is scarcely permissible4 ,it is too much like ,sir ,richard ,blackmore's description of ,mount ,aetna1 wherein he compares a volcanic eruption to a fit of colic2 or old ,ben ,johnson's battle scene in the fifth act of ,catiline1 where he represents the sun perspiring4 ,man of the ,everyday is a noble panegyric on the solid1 constructive virtues of the ordinary citizen1 portraying very graphically the need of his presence in a world that heeds him but little4 ,considered in all its aspects1 ,ole ,miss' is a notable contribution to amateur literature1 and one which we hope to see oft repeated4 ,,the ,,passing ,,show for ,february is the second annual production of an excellent though informal little paper by ,nita ,edna ,gerner1 a new member of the ,united1 and the daughter of an old-time amateur4 ,miss ,gerner is an enthusiast on all matters pertaining to the theatre1 and has impressed her hobby very strongly on the pages of her publication4 ,the dominant theme of the current issue is that of amateur romance1 exhibiting the press associations in the role of matrimonial agencies4 ,the ,twos-ers1 by ,edwin ,hadley ,smith1 is a long list of couples who became wedded through acquaintanceships formed in amateur journalism4 ,this catalogue1 recording #bf marriages and engagements from the earliest ages to the present1 must have cost its author much time and research4 ,a ,romance of ,amateur ,journalism1 by ,edward ,f4 ,daas1 is a very brief statement of facts in unornamented style4 ,an ',interstate' ,romance1 by ,leston ,m4 ,ayres1 is more elaborate in treatment1 and displays an easy1 colloquial style4 ,the editorial column1 headed ,through the ,opera-,glasses1 is bright and informal4 ,we note with regret that ,miss ,gerner has seen fit to adopt the popular mutilated orthography of the day1 a fad which we trust she will discard in time4 ,,pearson',s ,,pet for ,april is a bright and attractive little paper throughout4 ,burnin' ,off is a delightful specimen of dialect verse which conveys a graphic image4 ,we have never witnessed such an agricultural function as ,mr4 ,pearson describes1 but can gain from his clever lines a vivid idea of its weird impressiveness4 ,how ,i ,met ,elbert ,hubbard is narrated in commendably easy prose1 which same may be said of the sketch or editorial entitled ,broke ,loose ,again4 ,mr4 ,pearson is assuredly a competent exponent of amateur journalism's lighter and less formal side4 ,,the ,,piper for ,may is as pleasing and meritorious as the first number1 both in its verse and its prose4 ,the ,modern ,muse1 exhibiting ,mr4 ,kleiner in a somewhat humorous mood1 is very forceful in its satire on the altered ideals of the poetical fraternity1 but is marred by the noticeably imperfect rhyming of garret and carrot1 it is barely possible that according to the prevailing ,new ,york pronunciation this rhyme is not so forced as it appears1 but we are of ,new ,england1 and accustomed to hearing the sounds more classically differentiated4 ,the defect is trivial at most1 and mentioned here only because ,mr4 ,kleiner professes such a rigid adherence to the law of perfect rhyming4 ,the ,books ,i ,used to ,read is the most delightful appreciation of juvenile literature that has appeared in amateur journalism within our memory4 ,there are few of us in whom this poem will fail to arouse glad reminiscences4 ,spring is a pleasing poem on a subject which though not exactly new1 is nevertheless susceptible to an infinite variety of treatment4 ,the four stanzas are highly creditable1 both sentimentally and metrically4 ,apart from the poetry1 criticism seems the dominant element in ,the ,piper1 and it would be difficult indeed to find a more lucid and discerning series of reviews4 ,mr4 ,kleiner's unvarying advocacy of correct metre and perfect rhyming is refreshing to encounter in this age of laxity and license4 ,perhaps he is a little stern in his condemnation of the allowable rhymes of other days1 especially in view of his recent garret-carrot attempt1 yet we admit that there is much to be said in favor of his attitude4 ,,the ,,plainsman for ,february contains a gruesome moral tale by ,ricardo ,santiago1 entitled ,the ,bell of ,huesca4 ,it is proper to remark here1 that an important sentence was omitted at the top of page #c4 ,the passage should read ',sire1 thy bell has no clapper6' ',thy head shall be the clapper'2 said the king1 and he sent him to the block etc4 ,whatever may be said of the aptness of the allegory1 it is evident that ,mr4 ,santiago possesses the foundations of a pure and forcible prose style1 and a commendable sense of unity in narration and development of climax4 ,this story is undoubtedly worthy of its distinction as winner in ,the ,plainsman's post-card contest4 ,,the ,,spectator for ,june-,july1 #aiad1 though somewhat trite in title1 is the first number of a magazine notable for its quality4 ,walter ,john ,held is without doubt one of the most enterprising youths who have ever joined the ranks of the association1 though his views on paid subscriptions and advertisements show his still imperfect acquisition of the true amateur spirit4 ,mr4 ,held mistakes commercial progress for artistic development1 believing that the aim of every amateur in his ascent toward professional authorship is to write remunerative matter4 ,he therefore considers a publisher's advancement to be best shown in ability to extract an odd penny now and then from a few subscribers who really subscribe only out of courtesy4 ,we wish that ,mr4 ,held might come to consider amateur journalism in its higher aspects2 as a medium for improvement in literature and taste2 an aid to the cultivation of the art for its own sake in the manner of gentlemen1 not of cheap tradesmen4 ,the selection of commercial prosperity as a goal will ruin any true literary progress1 and dull the artistic aspiration of the student as soon as his mercenary instincts shall have been satisfied4 ,besides1 there is really no sound business principle in the so-called sale of little papers4 ,no youth could ever found or sustain a real magazine of substantial price and more than nominal circulation4 ,the various ten-cents-a-year journals which some amateurs try to edit are no logical steps toward actually professional publishing4 ,the latter comes only after literary skill has been attained1 and literary skill must at first be developed without regard for immediate monetary profit4 ,but the merit of ,mr4 ,held's work is none the less unusual4 ,the ,frank ,friend gives evidence of considerable critical ability1 despite the touch of arrogance1 apologized for in a latter issue1 shown in imperfect appreciation of ,mr4 ,edward ,h4 ,cole's phenomenally pure ,english4 ,mr4 ,held1 in his enthusiasm for local color1 forgets that all the ,english-speaking world is heir to one glorious language which should be the same from ,cape ,colony to ,california or ,new ,york to ,new ,zealand4 ,the only poem in this issue is ,olive ,g4 ,owen's ,how ,prayest ,thou81 a piece of true sentiment and artistic beauty4 ,the only fault is metrical2 the use of the word trial as a monosyllable4 ,this tendency to slur over words appears to be ,miss ,owen's one poetical vice1 as exemplified in the imperfect rendering of jewel1 realness1 and cruelness elsewhere4 ,,the ,,spectator for ,august-,september is marred by a resurrection of the ever odious topic of ,consolidation1 but is otherwise of remarkable merit4 ,elbert ,hubbard1 a professional advertiser and writer of considerable popularity in certain circles1 relates in an interesting way the history of his most widely known literary effort4 ,mr4 ,hubbard's prose style is direct and pointed1 though rather abrupt and barren4 ,the ,midnight ,extra1 by ,dora ,m4 ,hepner1 is a humorous short story of unusual merit1 leading from a well created atmosphere of terror to a clever and unexpected anticlimax4 ,,the ,,spectator for ,october-,november contains much matter of very substantial worth4 ,creation1 by ,edward ,r4 ,taylor1 ,dean of the ,university of ,california1 is a beautiful bit of poetical sentiment and harmonious metre1 while ,half-past-twelve1 by ,miss von der ,heide1 is likewise of great merit1 both in thought and in structure4 ,we have lately been told that many apparent metrical defects which we have noted are really no more than typographical errors1 wherefore we will here content ourselves by expressing the belief that the third line of the second stanza of ,half-past-twelve was originally written thus3 ,across the dark their shrilling laughter floats4 ,this rendering would do away with two seeming errors in the printed copy4 ,olive ,g4 ,owen's ,battle-,prayer is powerful in its appeal and faultless in its construction4 ,of marked interest is ,divine ,self-,tower1 a brief essay by ,takeshi ,kanno1 the ,japanese philosopher4 ,these words1 in a tongue foreign to the writer1 contain material for more than a moment's thought4 ,the ,frank ,friend is in this number as interesting a critic as before4 ,the passage of four months has tempered his undue severity2 indeed1 we fear that he has in certain cases veered a little too far toward the other extreme4 ,the most ambitious review is that of ,pig-pen ,pete1 by ,elbert ,hubbard1 which gives ,mr4 ,held an opportunity to display his powers to great advantage4 ,of the two editorials1 that entitled ,life is the more notable4 ,though its philosophy must necessarily be rather artificial1 considering ,mr4 ,held's age1 it is none the less a very artistic and generally creditable piece of composition4 ,the cover of ,the ,spectator would be less ,hearst-like if the fulsome announcements were eliminated4 ,,toledo ,,amateur for ,april greets us in altered form1 as a two-column paper4 ,having given over the previous issue to the credentials of new members1 ,mr4 ,porter very justly claims a goodly space for himself this month1 commenting ably on the affairs and activities of the associations4 ,camp ,columbia1 by ,james ,j4 ,hennessey1 gives an interesting outline of the ,american army routine in ,cuba during the years #aijg and #aijh4 ,observations of an ,outsider1 by ,mrs4 ,porter1 mother of the editor1 sheds light on amateur journalism from a hitherto unusual angle4 ,we note with pleasure that ,toledo ,amateur remains immune from the destructive bacillus of deformed spelling4 ,,the ,,woodbee for ,april contains ,the ,cycle ,eternal1 a lucid philosophical article by ,samuel ,james ,schilling1 wherein is described the dispersal and new combinations of the organic cells that compose the body of mankind4 ,by the perpetual reincorporation or reincarnation of these cells in all other forms of matter1 man is shown to be immortal1 and in the closest degree akin to every natural object surrounding him4 ,his outward form is merely one transient phase of a ceaseless rearrangement of atoms2 he is simply one aspect of infinite and eternal ,nature4 ,save for a few slight traces of rhetorical awkwardness1 ,mr4 ,schilling's expository style is remarkable for its force and clearness2 the arrangement of the essay into ,prologue1 ,body1 and ,epilogue is especially favorable to comprehensiveness4 ,while ,mr4 ,schilling deals with mankind in the abstract1 ,miss ,mabel ,mc,kee1 in ,a ,gift from the ,city1 presents a concrete example of the workings of the human heart4 ,her subject and treatment are not startlingly original1 but such themes lose very little when repeated in pure ,english and attractive style4 ,the story is distinctly pleasing1 and artistically developed throughout4 ,a notable feature of the ,april ,woodbee is ,miss ,hepner's fervent and unstudied tribute to ,mr4 ,leo ,fritter1 candidate for the ,united's ,presidency4 ,though the editorial is bestrewn with slang and distinctly familiar in construction1 it produces upon the reader an impression of absolute sincerity and intensity of feeling which more elaborate rhetoric might fail so forcibly to convey4 ,great as is the tribute1 however1 we feel that ,mr4 ,fritter is worthy of it1 and must congratulate him on having such support4 ,our own efforts for his election1 appearing in ,the ,conservative1 seem slight in comparison4 ,the only verse in this number is ,my ,shrine1 by ,harriet ,e4 ,daily4 ,though containing an attempt to rhyme the words time and shrine1 this ethereal little poem of spring is of great attractiveness4 ,,zeppelin for ,march1 a publication emanating from the pen of ,mr4 ,o4 ,s4 ,hackett of ,canton1 ,pennsylvania1 is scarcely as formidable and menacing as its name1 being distinctly friendly and fraternal in its general tone4 ,mr4 ,hackett's prose has obviously not received its final polishing1 but it is so filled with aspiration1 ambition1 and enthusiasm for the cause of amateur journalism1 that it evidently requires only such development as is obtainable from a closer study of grammar and rhetoric1 and a wider perusal of classic ,english literature4 ,in one matter ,mr4 ,hackett seems to harbor a wrong impression4 ,the name credential1 in the language of the amateurs1 is not applied to all literary productions1 but only to those which are submitted by the new recruits as evidence of their educational fitness for membership in the association they seek to enter4 ,joseph ,r4 ,schaffman's poem1 ,think of ,times ,yet ,coming1 shows the same innate sense of rhyme and metre that has distinguished his earlier work4 ,only the conclusion lacks perfect ease and naturalness4 ,mr4 ,schaffman has so far confined his ,muse to optimistic opinions and moral maxims2 we hope that in the near future he will vary his efforts and attempt to reflect more of his general reading in his poetry4 ,the field is large for one so happily favored with the gift of song4 ,h4 ,p4 ,,lovecraft1 ,chairman4 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,official ,organ of the ,united ,amateur ,press ,association ,,volume ,,xv ,,elroy1 ,,wis41 ,,september1 #aiae ,,number #b ,,department ,,of ,,public ,,criticism ,the ,alabamian for ,spring is a magazine unique amongst the publications of the ,united4 ,devoted wholly to poetry1 it contains some of the finest short verses to appear this season1 whilst even the crudest part of its contents possesses some undoubted merit4 ,the opening poem1 a delightful and ornate nature sonnet entitled ,the ,brook1 professes to be a translation from the ,spanish1 a claim borne out by the use of the word jasmine in a place where the metre throws the accent anomalously on the last syllable1 as in the corresponding ,spanish word jazmin4 ,the sentiment of the whole is exquisite1 and every image exhibits striking beauty4 ,it is to be regretted that both author and translator are suffered to remain unrevealed4 ,a ,poet's ,songs1 by ,miss ,owen1 is a powerful and well-written tribute to her fellow-bards both ancient and modern4 ,in ,coralie ,austin's ,tribute to ,our ,president1 dedicated to ,miss ,hepner1 we may discern the native talent of the true poet1 slightly obscured by the crudities of youth4 ,the opening line appears to lack a syllable1 though this may be due only to the printer's omission of the article before the word laurel4 ,in stanza #a1 line #b1 the trisyllabic word violets appears as a dissyllable4 ,this contraction is a rather natural one1 and must not be criticised too sternly4 ,indeed1 there is here a sort of middle zone betwixt error and allowableness1 wherein no decisive precepts may be laid down4 ,words like radiant1 difference1 and so forth1 are nearly always slurred into dissyllables1 and we were ourselves guilty of an even greater liberalism when we wrote that line in ,quinsnicket ,park which reads3 ,the bending boughs a diamond wealth amass4 ,but in ,miss ,austin's second stanza occur two errors of graver nature4 ,for only her alone is a lamentably tautological line which requires the omission either of only or alone1 and the substitution of some word to carry on the flow of metre4 ,the attempted rhyming of alone and home is obviously incorrect4 ,the dissimilar consonantal sounds render agreement impossible4 ,this m-n rhyme1 as we may call it1 is becoming alarmingly frequent in careless modern verse1 and must ever be avoided with utmost diligence4 ,in the third stanza we discover a marked error in maintenance of number4 ,we are told that the years go and that at its end we will lay trophies1 etc4 ,this mistake may be obviated with ease1 by changing years go to year goes4 ,miss ,austin's poetic talent is great1 but shows the want of precise cultivation4 ,mother o' ,mine1 by ,miss von der ,heide1 is a beautiful piece of anapaestic verse whose metre and sentiment alike attract the reader4 ,parsifal1 by ,miss ,owen1 shows satisfactory depth of thought1 but is rather modern in metre4 ,from the conformation of the last line of the first stanza1 we are led to believe that the word viol is contracted to a monosyllable1 or1 to make a rather reprehensible pun1 that vi-ol has here a vile pronunciation4 ,frailties of ,life1 by ,editor ,baxley1 shows a remarkable system of extended rhyming1 coupled with a noticeable lack of metrical harmony4 ,mr4 ,baxley's technique is such that we believe his improvement would be best effected by a repeated perusal of the older poets1 whose classical exactitude of form would teach him rhythm by rote1 so to speak4 ,let him cultivate his ear for metre1 even though forced to acquire it through nonsensical jingles4 ,we believe that many a child has obtained from his ,mother ,goose a love of correct rhythm which has later helped him in serious poetical efforts4 ,paid ,back1 a short1 powerful poem by ,miss von der ,heide1 concludes an excellent and praiseworthy issue4 ,aurora for ,april is a delightful individual leaflet by ,mrs4 ,ida ,c4 ,haughton1 exclusively devoted to poetical matters4 ,the first poem1 ,aurora1 is truly exquisite as a verbal picture of the summer dawn1 though rather rough-hewn metrically4 ,most open to criticism of all the features of this piece1 is the dissimilarity of the separate stanzas4 ,in a stanzaic poem the method of rhyming should be identical in every stanza1 yet ,mrs4 ,haughton has here wavered between couplets and alternate rhymes4 ,in the opening stanza we behold first a quatrain1 then a quadruple rhyme4 ,in the second we find couplets only4 ,in the third a quatrain is followed by an arrangement in which two rhyming lines enclose a couplet1 while in the final stanza the couplet again reigns supreme4 ,the metre also lacks uniformity1 veering from iambic to anapaestic form4 ,these defects are1 of course1 merely technical1 not affecting the beautiful thought and imagery of the poem2 yet the sentiment would seem even more pleasing were it adorned with the garb of metrical regularity4 ,on the ,banks of ,old ,wegee is a sentimental poem of considerable merit1 which suffers1 however1 from the same faults that affect ,aurora4 ,most of these defects might have been obviated when the stanzas were composed1 by a careful counting of syllables in each line and a constant consultation of some one1 definite plan of rhyming4 ,we must here remark an error made in the typewritten copy of the original manuscript1 and reproduced in the finished magazine1 for which1 of course1 neither the poetical art of the author nor the technique of the printer is to blame4 ,in the second stanza1 lines #f and #g were originally written3 ,how oft ,i've essayed to be ,a fisherman bold1 but my luck never told4 ,anent the ,writing of ,poetry is a short prose essay1 in which many valuable truths are enunciated4 ,mrs4 ,haughton has evidently taken up the poetic art with due seriousness1 and considering the marked talent shown in the first issue of her paper1 we may justly expect to behold a wonderfully rapid development in the near future4 ,the ,badger for ,june fulfills the promise of ,january1 and shows us that the present year has given the ,united a new and serious periodical of satisfying quality4 ,in the ,introductory1 ,mr4 ,george ,schilling discusses in lively fashion the latest topics of the day1 thereby atoning for our own tedious ,finale4 ,ready ,made1 by ,samuel ,j4 ,schilling1 is a thoughtful presentation of a lamentable fact4 ,the evil which he portrays is one that has rendered the masses of ,america almost wholly subservient to the vulgar press2 to be led astray into every sort of radicalism through low tricks of sensationalism4 ,our own poetical attempt1 entitled ,quinsnicket ,park1 contains #aab lines1 and spoils three and a half otherwise excellent pages4 ,it is probable that but few have had the fortitude to read it through1 or even to begin it1 hence we will pass over its defects in merciful silence4 ,what ,may ,i ,own8 by ,a4 ,w4 ,ashby1 is an able sociological essay which displays considerable familiarity with the outward aspects of economic conditions4 ,mr4 ,ashby1 condemning the present system practiced in the coal and iron industries1 declares that on moral grounds he had rather be a brewer or purveyor of liquor than a coal magnate or an ironmaster4 ,in this statement1 evidently born of hasty fervour1 ,mr4 ,ashby forgets the basic character of the two types of industry which he contrasts4 ,beneath the liquor traffic lies a foundation accursed by decency and reason4 ,the entire industry is designed to pander to a false craving whose gratification lowers man in the scale of mental and physical evolution4 ,the distiller and vendor of rum is elementally the supreme foe of the human race1 and the most powerful1 dangerous and treacherous factor in the defiance of progress and the betrayal of mankind4 ,his trade can never be improved or purified1 being itself a crime against ,nature4 ,on the other hand1 the coal and iron industries are1 in their fundamental forms1 desirable and necessary adjuncts to an expanding civilization4 ,their present evils are wholly alien to their essential principles1 being connected only with the uneasy industrialism of this age4 ,these faults are not confined to coal-mining and iron-working1 but are merely those possessed in common with all great industries4 ,joseph ,e4 ,shufelt's article on the ,european war is an amazing outburst of socialism in its worst form4 ,the idea that this shocking carnage is the result of a deliberate plot of the ruling classes of all the belligerents to destroy their labouring element is wonderfully ludicrous in its extravagance4 ,we are led to infer that those best of friends1 der ,kaiser and his cousins ,george and ,nicholas1 are merely pretending hostility in order to rid themselves of a troublesome peasantry6 ,we do not know what ,mr4 ,shufelt has been reading lately1 but we hope that time may modify his ideas to such a degree that he will turn his dignified style and pure ,english to some object worthy of their employment4 ,dowdell's ,bearcat for ,july marks the beginning of an unprecedented era of improvement in the quality of that periodical4 ,having settled down to the conventional #eg size1 it has now acquired a cover and an abundance of pages which the editor informs us will never be lessened4 ,the influence of ,the ,olympian is perceptible in the ,bearcat1 and for his taste in the selection of so worthy a model ,mr4 ,dowdell is to be commended4 ,when the ,tape ,broke is the first article of the editorial column1 and well describes an example of collapsed activity which the ,united should avoid4 ,a ,runaway ,horse1 by ,mrs4 ,ida ,c4 ,haughton1 is a brief and vivid sketch of a fatal accident4 ,tragedy1 an exquisite poem by ,emilie ,c4 ,holladay1 deserves very favourable notice for the delicate pathos of its sentiment1 and perfect adaptation of the measure to the subject4 ,we may discern a few traces of immaturity in the handling of the metre and in the presence of allowable rhymes4 ,as elsewhere stated1 we personally approve and employ the old-fashioned allowable rhyming sounds1 but the best modern taste1 as exemplified in the ,united by its ,laureate1 ,rheinhart ,kleiner1 demands absolute perfection in this regard4 ,as to the metre1 we respectfully offer the following amended second stanza as an example4 ,it is absolutely uniform with the original first stanza1 which1 of course1 furnishes the model4 ,the summer rains ,and autumn winds ,the snowdrop find yet standing2 ,a petal gone1 ,and all alone1 ,her tender roots expanding4 ,the remarkable poetical talent exhibited by ,miss ,holladay deserves a cultivation that shall invest her productions with a technique of the highest order4 ,the ,dignity of ,journalism1 by ourselves1 may be taken by the reader as a sort of supplement to this ,department4 ,we there enumerate in the abstract some of the precepts which we shall here apply to individual writers4 ,there are several misprints1 which we hope will not be taken as evidences of our bad spelling1 and at the conclusion the word even is omitted from the phrase which should read3 the necessity1 or even the expediency4 ,june ,journals is an excellent set of short reviews which display very favourably the critical ability of ,mr4 ,dowdell4 ,the concluding notes on ,amateur ,affairs are brief1 but very interesting4 ,the general excellence of ,dowdell's ,bearcat excuses the instances of imperfect proof-reading1 which fault we are sure will soon be eliminated4 ,the ,blarney ,stone for ,march-,april contains ,thoughts1 a meritorious poem by ,chester ,p4 ,munroe4 ,the tone of the piece is that of sentimental and almost melancholy reverie1 hence the metre is not quite uniform2 but a commendable absence of rough breaks lends a delightful flow to the lines4 ,we hope to behold further efforts from ,mr4 ,munroe's pen4 ,the ,amateur's ,creed1 by ,mrs4 ,renshaw1 is written in the style of this author's previous and now well-known poem1 ,a ,symphony1 and should do much toward lifting the ,united upward to the highest literary ideals4 ,the ,blarney ,stone for ,may-,june has cast off all undue seriousness1 and teems with light and attractive matter concerning the recent ,rocky ,mount convention4 ,some of the displays of wit and cleverness are very striking and entertaining indeed1 while no page departs so far from merit that it may be justly adjudged as dull4 ,the ,boys' ,herald for ,august is an issue of unusual elaborateness1 announcing the engagement of its editor1 ,mr4 ,edwin ,hadley ,smith1 and ,miss ,nita ,edna ,gerner of ,new ,york4 ,excellent portraits of the happy couple follow the formal announcement1 and ,miss ,gerner1 now ,associate ,editor1 describes in an excellent prose style the romance which culminated in the engagement4 ,gerneriana1 consisting mainly of a reprint from an earlier issue1 is an interesting account of the late ,richard ,gerner1 an old-time amateur1 and father of the prospective bride4 ,this article is well supplemented by the reproductions of parts of old amateur papers which adorn the back cover of the magazine4 ,the remainder of ,the ,boys' ,herald is wholly statistical1 dealing with the amateur career of ,mr4 ,smith4 ,few members of the association could produce superior records of activity4 ,the ,brooklynite for ,april maintains the high standard set by the previous number4 ,a ,miracle1 the opening poem1 was composed by ,alice ,l4 ,carson during the course of a meeting of the ,blue ,pencil ,club1 yet exhibits all the grace and harmony expected in a carefully planned and laboriously polished work4 ,spring ,thoughts1 by ,a4 ,m4 ,adams1 is a humorous prose masterpiece by the ,national's new ,critic4 ,seldom is the amateur press favoured with such a well-sustained succession of brilliant epigrams4 ,miss ,owen's ,ode to ,trempealeau ,mountain is a noble specimen of heroic blank verse1 containing some very striking antithetical lines4 ,the title1 however1 is a misnomer1 since a true ode is necessarily of irregular form4 ,some ,late ,amateur ,magazines1 by ,w4 ,b4 ,stoddard1 is a series of brief1 informal reviews4 ,as a critic1 ,mr4 ,stoddard shows considerable discernment1 though having a rather unpleasant air of conscious superiority in certain places4 ,a little more stateliness of style would add to the force of his criticisms4 ,spring reveals ,rheinhart ,kleiner in his favourite domain of amatory verse4 ,mr4 ,kleiner's tuneful numbers and pure diction render his poetry ever a delight4 ,rebellion1 by ,miss von der ,heide1 is a metrically perfect piece of verse whose artistry is marred only by the use of the unpoetical philosophical term subconscious instead of unconscious4 ,the ,brooklynite for ,july is of especial interest as the first paper to print an account of the ,rocky ,mount convention4 ,this description1 from the facile and versatile pen of ,miss von der ,heide1 is of distinctly informal character1 yet is none the less interesting as an animated chronicle of an enjoyable event4 ,rheinhart ,kleiner's account of the ,national convention is more dignified1 and may be considered as a model for this sort of composition4 ,mr4 ,kleiner shines as brightly in prose as in verse1 and each day surprises us with revelations of excellence in various dissimilar departments of literature4 ,the ,conservative for ,july is notable for ,mr4 ,ira ,cole's delightfully pantheistic poem1 ,a ,dream of the ,golden ,age4 ,the unusual poetic genius of ,mr4 ,cole has been revealed but recently1 yet the imaginative qualities pervading some of his prose long ago gave indications of this gift4 ,the pantheistic1 ,nature-worshipping mind of our author lends to his productions an unique and elusive atmosphere which contrasts very favourably with the earthy tone of some of our less fanciful bards4 ,metrically1 ,mr4 ,cole adopts instinctively the regular1 conservative forms of a saner generation4 ,in this specimen of heroic verse he inclines toward the practice of ,keats1 and does not always confine single thoughts to single couplets in the manner of the eighteenth-century poets4 ,we believe that ,mr4 ,cole is commencing a successful career as a ,united poet1 and await the day when he shall be accorded the honor of a laureateship4 ,the ,coyote for ,july reveals a wonderful improvement over the ,march number1 both in the literary quality of its contributions and in general editorial excellence4 ,never before have we seen the perfect amateur spirit acquired so quickly as in ,mr4 ,harrington's case4 ,night ,fancies1 by ,helen ,h4 ,salls1 is a sonnet of exceptional power and artistry1 whose faultless metre is equalled only by its bold and striking images4 ,amidst this profusion of excellent metaphor1 it is difficult to select individual instances for particular praise1 but we might commend especially the passage3 444 the stars still keep ,afloat like boats that black sky-billows ride4 ,miss ,salls is clearly an amateur poet of the first rank1 and it is to be hoped that she will be a liberal contributor to ,united magazines4 ,the ,rebirth of the ,british ,empire1 by ,william ,t4 ,harrington1 is a clear and concise exposition of the virtues whereby ,old ,england maintains her proud position as ,mistress of the ,seas1 and chief colonial empire of the world4 ,the style of the essay is admirable1 and well exhibits the progressive qualities of ,mr4 ,harrington4 ,an ,ideal1 by ,nettie ,hartman1 is a short poem of pleasing sentiment and harmonious metre4 ,the notes on amateur affairs are interesting and well composed1 revealing ,mr4 ,harrington's increasing enthusiasm for the cause4 ,dowdell's ,bearcat for ,may is another striking illustration of the improvement which can affect a paper within a very short time4 ,since last ,october ,mr4 ,dowdell has been progressing swiftly toward journalistic excellence1 and even this cleverly conceived and uniquely shaped issue fails to mark the limit of his ambition4 ,knowest ,thou8 by ,mrs4 ,renshaw1 is an expressive tribute to a nation whose recent infamies can never wholly becloud its rugged virtues4 ,with ,nature ,i ,rejoice is probably the best poem which ,joseph ,r4 ,schaffman has yet written4 ,as his remarkable talent matures1 the didactic element in his verse is gradually giving way to the more purely poetic1 and this latest effort is one of which he may be justly proud4 ,concerning ,mr4 ,dowdell's own spirited prose1 we need only repeat the previous suggestion1 that a little less slang would add much to its force and dignity4 ,dowdell's ,bearcat for ,may #bf contains another poem by ,mrs4 ,renshaw whose national tone is not likely to be popular just now outside the country to which it refers2 in fact1 ,editor ,dowdell has deemed it wise to make an apologetic statement concerning it4 ,however1 if we call ,ein ,mann ,col4 ,theodore ,roosevelt1 and shift the scene to ,san ,juan ,hill1 we may be able to appreciate the real patriotism delineated4 ,dowdell's ,bearcat for ,june is wholly given over to notes of the amateur world4 ,mr4 ,dowdell is indeed a pleasing young writer1 and leaves none of his topics without a characteristic touch of light adornment4 ,the ,lake ,breeze for ,april is distinguished by ,james ,l4 ,crowley's poem entitled ,april1 a brief lyric of marked merit1 highly expressive of the season4 ,writing ,poetry1 an essay by ,dora ,m4 ,hepner1 is a clear and tasteful analysis of the poet's art and inspiration4 ,the ,norwegian ,recruit1 a dialect monologue by ,maurice ,w4 ,moe1 is the leading feature of this issue4 ,this exquisite bit of humor1 recited by ,mr4 ,moe at the ,united's #aiac convention1 is a sketch of rare quality4 ,the ,amateur ,press1 now firmly established as a column of contributed reviews1 is this month of substantial size and fair quality4 ,it is needless to say that the news pages are interesting1 and that the paper as a whole well maintains the high reputation it has ever enjoyed4 ,the ,lake ,breeze for ,june apparently opens an era of unprecedented improvement1 being of distinctly literary rather than political nature4 ,the plea for a ,department of ,instruction is a just one1 and ought to meet with response from some of our pedagogical members4 ,broken ,metre1 by ,mrs4 ,renshaw1 is an attempt at defending the popular atrocities committed in the name of freedom by the modern poets4 ,while the article is superficially quite plausible1 we feel that the settled forms of regular metre have too much natural justification thus to be disturbed4 ,the citation of ,milton1 intended to strengthen ,mrs4 ,renshaw's argument1 really weakens it2 for while he undoubtedly condemns rhyme1 he laments in the course of this very condemnation the lame metre which is sometimes concealed by apt rhyming4 ,some ,views on ,versification1 by ,clara ,i4 ,stalker1 is an essay written from a sounder and more conservative point of view4 ,the middle course in poetical composition1 which avoids alike wild eccentricities and mechanical precision1 has much to recommend it1 and ,miss ,stalker does well to point out its virtues4 ,however1 we do not see why even the few irregularities which are here said to be inevitable1 cannot be smoothed out by the bard without destroying the sense of his poetry4 ,disappointment1 by ,mrs4 ,maude ,k4 ,barton1 is a clever piece of light verse whose sprightly humour makes up for its slight metrical roughness4 ,the imperfect but allowable rhyming of bear and appear in the first stanza is entirely correct according to the old-time standards which we ourselves follow1 but we fear that the delicate ear of a precise metrical artist like ,rheinhart ,kleiner would object to its liberalism4 ,the ,amateur ,press is distinguished by an excellent review from the pen of ,mrs4 ,renshaw4 ,the style is satisfactory1 and the criticism just1 making the whole well worthy of the prize book it has secured for its author4 ',pollyanna1' the ,glad ,book is a meritorious and entertaining review by ,mrs4 ,griffith4 ,hope1 by ,marguerite ,sisson1 is commendable for its use of that noble but neglected measure1 the heroic couplet4 ,mr4 ,daas' concluding editorial1 ,literature and ,politics1 is admirable for its concise exposition of the ,united's new ideals1 and its masterly refutation of the common fallacy that political quarrels are necessary to stimulate activity in the press associations4 ,the ,looking ,glass for ,may is a journal unique in purpose and quality4 ,edited by ,mrs4 ,renshaw in behalf of her many gifted recruits1 it reveals a condition absolutely unexampled2 the acquisition by one member of so many high-grade novices that a special publication is required properly to introduce them to the ,united4 ,to a ,critic of ,shelley1 by ,helen ,h4 ,salls1 is a long piece of beautiful blank verse1 marred only by one accidental rhyme4 ,miss ,salls is evidently one of those few really powerful poets who come all too seldom into ,amateur ,journalism1 startling the ,association with impeccable harmony and exalted images4 ,the present poem grows even more attractive on analysis4 ,the diction is of phenomenal purity and wholly unspoiled by any ultra-modern touch4 ,it might have been a product of ,shelley's own age4 ,the metaphor is marvellous1 exhibiting a soul overflowing with true spirituality1 and a mind trained to express beautiful thought in language of corresponding beauty4 ,such unforced ornateness is rarely met in the domain of amateur poetry4 ,we feel certain that ,miss ,salls has already become a fixed star in the empyrean of the ,united4 ,exalted poetry of quite another type is furnished by the work of our new ,director1 ,rev4 ,frederick ,chenault1 whose two exquisite lyrics1 ,birth and ,the ,sea of ,somewhere1 appear in this issue4 ,with little use of formal rhyme and metre1 ,mr4 ,chenault abounds in delicate conceptions and artistic renditions4 ,retrospection1 by ,kathleen ,baldwin1 is likewise a poem of high order1 and of fairly regular metre1 evidently following comparatively recent models in technique4 ,the ,faithful ,man1 by ,i4 ,t4 ,valentine1 shows growing poetical talent1 but is cruelly injured by the anticlimactic line4 ,not that there is any anticlimax of sentiment1 but the colloquial mode of expression shocks the reader who has been perusing the more dignified lines which go before4 ,the ,stonework of ,life is an excellent prose sermon by ,joseph ,ernest ,shufelt1 which displays great ability in the field of metaphor and allegory4 ,mr4 ,shufelt possesses an admirable style1 unusually well fitted for didactic matter of this sort2 indeed1 it is regrettable that he should ever depart from such congenial themes and turn to the wild sensationalism which he shows in ,the ,badger4 ,in demonstrating the beauties of morality and religion1 he has few superiors1 and a task so appropriate to his genius ought to claim his whole attention4 ,true1 his thoughts may follow strange courses in their quest for truth and beauty1 but were he always to curb them within the bounds of probability and conservatism1 as here1 he would never lose the confidence of his public1 as he has done with his strange war theories4 ,the ,autocracy of ,art1 by ,anne ,vyne ,tillery ,renshaw1 is the leading article of the magazine4 ,herein the author proclaims the supremacy of spiritual utterances over all restrictions created by the mind1 and urges the emancipation of the soaring bard from the earthly chains of rhyme and metre4 ,that the inward promptings of the poetic instinct are of prime value to the poet1 few will dispute2 but that they may give final form to his soul's creations without some regulation by the natural laws of rhythm1 few will agree4 ,the metric sense lies far deeper in the breast of man than ,mrs4 ,renshaw is here disposed to acknowledge4 ,after this article1 the perfectly regular stanzas of ,fellow ,craftsman1 by the same author1 are refreshing4 ,the typography and form of ,the ,looking ,glass leave something to be desired1 but the riches within make ample compensation for outward crudity4 ,the ,new ,member for ,may1 edited by ,william ,dowdell1 contains but one credential1 yet doubtless paves the way for a resumption of the enterprise so ably conducted by ,miss ,hoffman last year4 ,melancholy1 a poem by ,i4 ,t4 ,valentine1 shows traces of the beginner's crudeness1 yet has about it a quality which promises much for the future of the poet4 ,lock-,step ,pete1 by ,miss von der ,heide1 is an unusual poem with a thoughtful suggestion embodied in its concluding stanza4 ,the ,new ,member bound with the ,may ,official ,quarterly is a model that should henceforth be followed as the nearest approach to perfection yet beheld4 ,credentials1 lists of prospective members1 news of recruits1 and accounts of local clubs are here given in just and pleasing proportion4 ,bluets and ,butterflies1 by ,carolyn ,l4 ,amoss1 is a poem of great delicacy and ethereal atmosphere4 ,the solitary1 tiny flaw is the attempted rhyming of ,miss and yes4 ,war in ,america1 by ,annette ,e4 ,foth1 is a pleasant juvenile story4 ,e4 ,ralph ,cheyney's extract from his essay on ,youth is in many ways remarkable1 and shows us that we have another recruit of choice quality4 ,his rather peculiar ideas are well expressed1 though their soundness is quite debatable4 ,a few abnormal characters like ,byron and ,shelley doubtless experienced all the adolescent phenomena which ,mr4 ,cheyney describes1 but we believe that the average youth is a copyist1 and for the most part reflects his environment4 ,radicalism and novel ideas arise just as much from blas1 elderly cynics1 who are tired of sane and sober conservatism4 ,we have been reflecting on ,life for about twenty years1 ever since we were five1 and have consistently believed that the wisdom of the ancient sage is the true wisdom2 that ,life is essentially immutable1 and that the glorious dreams of youth are no more than dreams1 to be dissipated by the dawn of maturity and the full light of age4 ,flowers on the ,grave1 a poem by ,j4 ,d4 ,hill1 has a commendable sentiment1 and is remarkable for its possession of only one repeated rhyming sound4 ,whether or not the latter feature be monotonous1 all must admit that the versification is attractive4 ,we ,are ,all ,desperate6 is a striking philosophical fragment by ,melvin ,ryder1 which first appeared as an editorial in the ,ohio ,state ,lantern4 ,the conjectures are plausible1 and the precepts sound4 ,the news items in this paper are all fresh and interesting1 concluding an issue uniformly excellent4 ,the ,pippin for ,may displays very favourably the high-school club whose founding and maintenance are due entirely to the genius of ,mr4 ,maurice ,w4 ,moe4 ,the ,coasters1 by ,esther ,ronning1 is the only poem in the issue1 but its quality atones for the absence of other verse4 ,the pleasures and perils of coasting are here portrayed with wonderfully graphic pen1 whilst the metre is1 so far as technical correctness is concerned1 all that might be desired4 ,however1 we wish that ,miss ,ronning were less fond of unusual rhyming arrangements4 ,the lines here given are of regular ballad length4 ,were they disposed in couplets1 we should have a tuneful lay of the ,chevy ,chase order2 but as it is1 our ear misses the steady couplet effect to which the standard models have accustomed us4 ,with the ,assistance of ,carmen is a clever short story by ,gladys ,bagg1 derived from the same plot nucleus by ,mr4 ,moe which likewise evoked ,miss ,moore's story in the ,march ,,united ,,amateur4 ,the structure of the narrative is excellent1 but we do not like the use of the plebeian expression onto on page #c4 ,there is properly no such word as onto in the ,english language1 upon being the preposition here required4 ,webster clearly describes onto as a low provincialism or colloquialism4 ,little ,jack in ,fairyland1 by ,ruth ,ryan1 is a well written account of a dream1 with the usual awakening just as events are coming to a climax4 ,the style is very attractive1 and the images ingenious4 ,getting ,what ,you ,want1 by ,mr4 ,moe1 is a brief one-act farce illustrating the subtle devices whereby the sharp housewife bewilders the good-natured landlord into the granting of extraordinary favours4 ,had the heroine kept on to still greater lengths1 she might have secured an entire new house4 ,the present number of ,the ,pippin is1 save for the absence of photographs1 quite as pleasing as the previous number4 ,we trust that ,mr4 ,moe's editorial prophecy may be fulfilled1 and that we may soon behold another issue which shall make us familiar with the new faces brought by revolving time into the congenial ,appleton circle4 ,the ,plainsman for ,july is the best number yet issued1 the two eleventh-hour contributions being very cleverly introduced4 ,revised ,edition1 by ,mrs4 ,jeanette ,timkin1 is a versified piece of keen humour and good metre1 well illustrating the opening of the third or aerial element to human travel4 ,to ,bazine1 ,kansas is a sprightly prose account by ,james ,j4 ,hennessey of his journey from ,boston to ,bazine4 ,an ,incident of ,early ,days1 by ,mrs4 ,john ,cole1 is presented in the same attractive reminiscent style which makes her article in ,the ,trail so readable and interesting4 ,we are here told of the times when herds of bison were common sights1 and are given a pleasing account of the formation of the ,bazine ,sunday-,school4 ,the articles by ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,ira ,cole show their appreciation of the amateurs who have visited them1 and conclude an issue of thoroughly entertaining quality4 ,the ,providence ,amateur for ,june introduces to the ,united another local press club of great enthusiasm4 ,owing to some unauthorized omissions made by the printer1 this first issue is scarcely representative of the club's entire personnel1 but that which still remains affords1 after all1 a fair index to the character and ideals of the new organization4 ,the editorials by ,john ,t4 ,dunn are both frank and fearless4 ,we detest a shifty club whose allegiance wavers betwixt the ,united1 the ,morris ,faction and the ,national1 and so are greatly pleased at ,mr4 ,dunn's manly and open stand for the one real ,united4 ,the editor's opinions on acknowledgment of papers is certainly just from one point of view1 though much may be said for the opposite side4 ,when an amateur journal has been prepared with unusual labour1 and mailed conscientiously to every member of the ,association1 the publisher has substantial reason for resenting any marked display of neglect4 ,we do not blame ,the ,blarney ,stone for its attitude on this question1 and shall probably follow its custom by mailing the next ,conservative only to those who have acknowledged one or both of the previous issues4 ,the ,reflector for ,june is a ,british amateur magazine1 transplanted on ,american soil by its able editor1 ,ernest ,a4 ,dench4 ,crossing the ,atlantic in ,war ,time is a pleasing account of ,mr4 ,dench's voyage from ,liverpool to ,new ,york4 ,chunks of ,copy forms the title of an excellent though informal editorial department1 while ,a ,brain ,tank at ,your ,service teems with witticisms concerning various members of the ,blue ,pencil ,club4 ,this magazine has no connection with any former journal of like title1 but seems likely to prove a worthy successor to all its namesakes4 ,the ,trail for ,spring is a new and substantial illustrated magazine of #bj pages and cover1 issued by our well-known ,private ,critic1 ,mr4 ,alfred ,l4 ,hutchinson4 ,at the head of the contents are the reminiscences of the editor1 which prove extremely interesting reading1 and which are well supplemented by the lines entitled ,the ,tramp ,printer4 ,also by ,mr4 ,hutchinson is the well written and animated account of ,mr4 ,nicholas ,bruehl1 whose artistic photographical work adorns the inside covers of this issue4 ,pioneer ,life in ,kansas1 by ,mrs4 ,john ,cole1 is a delightfully graphic picture of the trials and adventures of the early settlers in the ,west4 ,being written from actual personal experience1 the various incidents leave a lasting impression on the mind of the reader1 while a pleasing smoothness of style enhances the vividness of the narrative4 ,memory-,building is the first of a series of psychological articles by our master amateur1 ,maurice ,w4 ,moe4 ,it is here demonstrated quite conclusively1 that the faculty of memory is dependent on the fundamental structure and quality of the brain1 and may never be acquired or greatly improved through cultivation4 ,evening at ,magnolia ,springs1 by ,laura ,e4 ,moe1 exhibits the same type of literary talent that her gifted husband possesses2 in fact1 this sketch may be compared with ,mr4 ,moe's well-known ,cedar ,lake ,days4 ,the use of trivial incidents gives an intense naturalness to the description4 ,caught1 by ,ruth ,m4 ,lathrop1 is a brilliant short story whose development and climax are natural and unforced4 ,fiction is generally the amateur's weakest spot1 but ,miss ,lathrop is evidently one of the few shining exceptions4 ,so thoroughly excellent is ,the ,trail1 that we hope to see not merely a second issue1 but its permanent establishment as one of the ,united's leading magazines4 ,the ,tryout for ,june belongs to the ,national1 but contains much matter by ,united members4 ,tempora ,mutantur1 a very meritorious short story by ,marguerite ,sisson1 affords an illuminating contrast between the solid culture of #ahcd and the detestable shallowness of the present time4 ,this prevailing frivolity and unscholarliness is something which the ,united is seeking to remedy1 and we are thankful indeed for stories such as this1 which expose modern levity in all its nauseousness4 ,it is evident that ,miss ,sisson is emulating the appreciative ,anne ,carroll of #ahcd1 rather than her obtuse and indifferent descendant4 ,the ,district ,school1 by ,edna ,r4 ,guilford1 describes very vividly the many petty annoyances that beset the average teacher4 ,while the picture is extremely well presented as a whole1 certain roughnesses of diction nevertheless arrest the critical eye4 ,onto1 in the first paragraph1 is a provincialism which should be superseded by to4 ,further on we hear the teacher admonishing a youth to wash up some ink1 and wash it good6 ,would a teacher thus express herself8 ,well is the adverb here needed4 ,too tired to hardly stand is a seriously ungrammatical phrase1 which should read3 almost too tired to stand4 ,we note that one of the pupils' names is given as ,robert ,elsmere4 ,while it may not be essentially a fault thus to use the name of a famous character of fiction1 we feel that the exercise of a little more originality might have avoided this appropriation of ,mrs4 ,humphry ,ward's celebrated hero4 ,miss ,guilford's fundamental talent is unmistakable1 but needs cultivation and practice before it can shine out in full splendour4 ,the ,tryout for ,july contains ,cripple ,george1 a beautiful short story by ,mrs4 ,rose ,l4 ,elmore1 commendable alike in plot and technique4 ,a ,day in the ,mountains1 by ,harry ,h4 ,connell1 is a very interesting sketch whose style exhibits considerable promise4 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur for ,march contains a literary department which will1 we hope1 remain as a regular feature4 ,tobias ,smithers1 ,leading ,man is ,miss ,ellen ,moore's prize-winning attempt at constructing a story from a very brief nucleus given by ,mr4 ,moe4 ,miss ,moore here exhibits a facile pen and a just appreciation of humorous situations4 ,ghosts1 by ,mrs4 ,renshaw1 well illustrates the vague superstitions of the negroes1 those strange creatures of darkness who seem never to cross completely the threshold from apedom to humanity4 ,march1 by ourselves1 is a gem of exquisite poesy1 etc41 etc41 which we have here praised because no one else could ever conscientiously do so4 ,line #aj apparently breaks the metre1 but this seeming break is due wholly to the printer4 ,the line should read3 ,the longer sunshine1 and the shorter night4 ,the ,unknown ,equation is a love story by ,mrs4 ,florence ,shepphird4 ,though the major portion is quite polished and consistent1 we cannot but deem the conclusion too abrupt and precipitate4 ,perhaps1 being a frigid old critic without experience in romance1 we ought to submit the question to some popular newspaper column of ,advice to the ,lovelorn1 inquiring whether or not it be permissible for a young lady1 after only a few hours' acquaintanceship with a young gentleman1 to encourage him to put his arm around her yielding form and kiss her passionately66 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur for ,may is graced by ,reveille1 a powerful and stirring poem written in collaboration by our two gifted bards1 ,mr4 ,kleiner1 the ,laureate1 and ,miss von der ,heide4 ,nature and the ,countryman1 by ,a4 ,w4 ,ashby1 is an iconoclastic attack on that love of natural beauty which is inherent in every poetical1 imaginative and delicately strung brain4 ,in prose of faultless technique and polished style1 ,mr4 ,ashby catalogues like a museum curator every species of flaw that he can possibly pick in the scenes and events of rustic life4 ,but while the career of the farmer is assuredly not one of uninterrupted bliss1 it were folly to assert that ,nature's superlative loveliness is not more than enough to compensate for its various infelicities4 ,no mind of high grade is so impervious to aesthetic emotion that it can behold without admiration the wonders of the rural realm1 even though a vein of sordid suffering ran through the beauteous ensemble4 ,of all our personal friends1 the one who most adores and loves to personify ,nature is a successful farmer of unceasing diligence4 ,mr4 ,ashby errs1 we are certain1 in taking the point of view of the unimaginative and unappreciative peasant4 ,this sort of animal interprets ,nature by physical1 not mental associations1 and is unfitted by heredity to receive impressions of the beautiful in its less material aspects4 ,whilst he grumbles at the crimson flames of ,aurora1 thinking only of the afternoon rain thus predicted1 the man of finer mould1 though equally cognizant that a downpour may follow1 rejoices impulsively at the pure beauty of the scene itself1 a scene whose intellectual exaltation will help him the better to bear the dull afternoon4 ,is not the beauty-lover the happier of the two8 ,both must endure the trials1 but the poet enjoys compensating pleasures which the boor may never know4 ,the personification and deification of ,nature is a legacy from primitive ages which will delight us in an atavistical way till our very race shall have perished4 ,and let ,mr4 ,ashby remember that those early tribes who placed a god or goddess in every leafy tree1 crystal fount1 reedy lake or sparkling brook1 were far closer to ,nature and the soil than is any modern tenant farmer4 ,the ,united ,official ,quarterly for ,may has resumed its former attractive appearance1 and contains a very creditable assortment of literary matter4 ,atmosphere1 by ,mrs4 ,shepphird1 is a thoughtful and pleasing essay1 whose second half well describes the individuality of the various amateur authors and editors4 ,the ,kingly ,power of ,laughter1 by ,louena ,van ,norman1 is no less just and graphic1 illustrating the supreme force of humour and ridicule4 ,leo ,fritter1 in ,concerning ,candidates1 points out some important details for office-seekers1 whilst ,ira ,a4 ,cole1 in ,five ,sticks on ,finance1 gives some interesting suggestions for economy4 ,opportunity1 an essay by ,mildred ,blanchard1 concludes the issue1 and successfully disputes the noxious old platitude1 that ,opportunity knocks but once at each man's door4 ,with the ,quarterly is bound ,the ,new ,member1 reviewed elsewhere1 the two forming a tasteful and meritorious magazine4 ,the ,woodbee for ,july is an issue of unusual interest1 revealing the more serious and substantial activities of the prosperous ,columbus ,club4 ,the opening feature is a sonnet by ,alma ,sanger1 ,to ,autumn ,violets1 which exhibits some poetical talent and a just sense of metrical values4 ,we are sure that the defective second line is the fault of the printer rather than of the author4 ,the ,blind ,prince1 by ,henriette ,ziegfeld1 is an excellent juvenile tale involving a fairy story4 ,the only serious objection is the undercurrent of adult comment which flows through the narrative4 ,particularly cynical is the closing sentence3 ',and here's ,mother1' finished poor ,auntie with a sigh of relief4 ,the ordinary fairy stories told to children are bits of actual ,teutonic mythology1 and should be related with a grave1 absolute simplicity and naivete4 ,however1 as a psychological study of the typical childish auditor1 the sketch as a whole is highly meritorious4 ,we are inclined to wonder at the possible meaning of the strange word alright1 which appears more than once in ,miss ,ziegfeld's tale4 ,it is certainly no part of our language1 and if it be a corruption of all right1 we must say that we fail to perceive why the correct expression could not have been used4 ,what's in a ,name8 by ,irene ,metzger1 is a clever sketch concerning the silly modern practice of giving fancy names to helpless infants4 ,glancing backward a little through history1 ,miss ,metzger would probably sympathize with the innocent offspring of the old ,puritans1 who received such names as ,praise-,god1 and the like4 ,praise-,god ,barebones1 a leading and fanatical member of ,cromwell's rebel parliament1 went a step further than his father1 naming his own son ,if-,jesus-,christ-had-not-died-for-thee -thou-hadst-been-,damned6 ,all this was actually the first name of young ,barebones1 but after he grew up and took a ,doctor's degree1 he was called by his associates1 ,damned ,dr4 ,barebones6 ,moonlight on the ,river1 by ,ida ,cochran ,haughton1 is an exquisite sentimental poem1 each stanza of which ends with the same expression4 ,the atmosphere is well created1 and the images dexterously introduced4 ,the whole piece reminds the reader of one of ,thomas ,moore's beautiful old ,irish ,melodies4 ,that ,mrs4 ,haughton's talent has descended to the second generation is well proven by ,edna ,m4 ,haughton's ,review of the ,literary ,work of the ,quarter4 ,miss ,haughton is a polished and scholarly reviewer1 and her criticisms are in every instance just and helpful4 ,the editorial on ,miss ,united is very well written1 and should be carefully perused by those in danger of succumbing to the autumnal advances of that sour old maid1 ,miss ,national4 --,,howard ,p4 ,,lovecraft ,chairman4 ,little ,journeys to the ,homes of ,prominent ,amateurs ,among the many amateurs ,i have never met in the flesh and realness of ,life1 ,howard ,phillips ,lovecraft1 poet1 critic and student1 appeals to me as no other recent find in the circles of amateuria has ever appealed4 ,and ,lovecraft is a distinct find4 ,just why he holds a firm grip on my heart-strings is something of a mystery to me4 ,perhaps it is because of his wholesome ideals2 perhaps it is because he is a recluse1 content to nose among books of ancient lore2 perhaps it's because of his physical afflictions2 his love of things beautiful in ,life2 his ardent advocacy of temperance1 cleanliness and purity--,i don't know4 ,we disagree on many questions2 he criticises my literary activities2 he smiles at my suffrage theories1 and disapproves of my language in ,chain ,lightning4 ,but ,i like him4 ,howard ,phillips ,lovecraft has an interesting history1 and this fact was known to ,official ,editor ,daas when he asked me to take a little journey to the study-home of the ,vice-,president4 ,don't stint yourself for space was noted on the assignment tab1 and after glancing over the biographical notes before me--,i am sure that ,daas has again exemplified his quiet humor during a serious moment4 ,lovecraft was born at #ded ,angell ,st41 ,providence1 ,r4 ,i41 on ,august #bj1 #ahij4 ,his nationality is ,anglo-,american1 and under ,british law he can claim to be a ,british subject1 since he is a grandson in direct male line of a ,british subject not naturalized in the ,united ,states4 ,his ancestry is purely ,english4 ,on the paternal side he is a descendant of the ,lovecrafts1 a ,devonshire family which has furnished a great many clergymen to the ,church of ,england1 and the ,allgoods of ,northumberland1 a history-honored family of which several members have been knighted4 ,the ,allgoods have been a military line1 and this may account for ,lovecraft's militarism and belief in the justice of war4 ,on the maternal side he is a typical ,yankee1 coming from ,east ,english stock which settled in ,rhode ,island about #afhj4 ,lovecraft is a student of astronomy--it is a domineering passion with him--and this love was apparently inherited from his maternal grandmother1 ,rhoby ,phillips1 who studied it thoroughly in her youth at ,lapham ,seminary1 and whose collection of old astronomical books first interested him4 ,lovecraft came from pure-blood stock1 and he is the last male descendant of that family in the ,united ,states4 ,with him the name will die in ,america4 ,he is unmarried4 ,as he was about to enter college at the age of eighteen1 his feeble health gave way1 and since then he has been physically incapacitated and rendered almost an invalid4 ,being thus deprived of his cherished hope to further his education and prepare himself for a life of letters1 he has contented himself with his home1 which is just three squares from his birthplace1 and where he lives with his mother4 ,and his home life is ideal4 ,his personal library--his haven of contentment--contains more than #aejj volumes1 many of them yellowed with age1 and crude examples of the printer's art4 ,among these treasured books may be found volumes which have passed through the various branches of his family1 some dating back to #afha and #agjb1 and methinks ,i can see ,lovecraft poring over these time-stained bits o' bookish lore as the monks of old followed the printed lines with quivering fingers in the taper's uncertain1 flickering light4 ,for ,lovecraft appeals to me as a bookworm--one of those lovable mortals whose very existence seems to hang on the numbered pages of a heavy1 clumsy book6 ,his connection with organized amateur journalism is of recent date4 ,on ,april #f1 #aiad1 his application for membership in the ,united ,amateur ,press ,association of ,america was forwarded to the ,secretary4 ,like a great many of the recruits1 ,lovecraft was completely ignored for several months4 ,in ,july of last year he became active1 and he has proven to be an invaluable asset to the literary life of the ,association4 ,he is not a politician4 ,however1 his literary activities had been prosecuted many years before he had ever heard of the ,united4 ,at the age of eight and one-half years he published the ,scientific ,gazette1 a weekly periodical1 written in pencil and issued in editions of four carbon copies4 ,this journal was devoted to the science of chemistry1 which was one of his earliest hobbies1 and ran from ,march1 #ahii1 to ,february1 #aijd4 ,as in most cases1 my knowledge of chemistry was acquired after ,i had spent four years in high-school1 and the fact that any boy should be interested in that study at the age of eight and one-half years appeals to me as something out of the ordinary4 ,but ,lovecraft was not an ordinary boy4 ,his second and more ambitious venture was the ,rhode ,island ,journal of ,astronomy4 ,this was at first published as a weekly1 and later changed to a monthly publication4 ,this was carefully printed by hand and then duplicated on the hectograph and issued in lots of twenty-five copies4 ,the ,journal was issued from #aijc to #aijg1 and contained the latest astronomical news1 re-written from the original telegraphic reports issued from ,harvard ,university and seen at the ,ladd ,observatory4 ,it also contained many of his original articles and forecasts of phenomena4 ,he owns a #c-;inch telescope of ,french make1 and aside from amateur journalism1 his one great hobby is astronomy4 ,at the age of sixteen he commenced writing monthly astronomical articles for the ,providence ,tribune1 and later changed to the ,evening ,news1 to which he still contributes4 ,during the present year he has contributed a complete elementary treatise on astronomy in serial form to the ,asheville 7,n4 ,c47 ,gazette-,news4 ,besides contributing a great many poems and articles to the amateur press1 editing ,the ,conservative and assisting with the editorial work on ,the ,badger1 the appearance of ,mr4 ,lovecraft's work in the professional magazines is of common occurrence4 ,during the past year he has had charge of the ,bureau of ,public ,criticism in ,,the ,,united ,,amateur1 where he has proven himself a just1 impartial and painstaking critic4 ,that he will achieve a great popularity in the world of amateur letters is a foregone conclusion1 and ,i do not think that ,i am indulging in extravagant praise in predicting a brilliant future for him in the professional field4 ,i am acquainted with ,howard ,phillips ,lovecraft only through correspondence2 ,i have never felt the flesh of his palm1 and yet1 ,i know he is a man--every inch of him--and that amateur journalism will be enriched and promoted to its highest plane through his kindly influence and literary leadership4 ,,andrew ,,francis ,,lockhart ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,february #aiaf ,the ,teuton's ,battle-,song ,omnis erat vulnus unda ,terra rubefacta calido ,frendebat gladius in loricas ,gladius findebat clypeos-- ,non retrocedat vir a viro ,hoc fuit viri fortis nobilitas diu-- ,laetus cerevisiam cum ,asis ,in summa sede bibam ,vitae elapsae sunt horae ,ridens moriar4 --,,regner ,,lodbrog ,the mighty ,woden laughs upon his throne1 ,and once more claims his children for his own4 ,the voice of ,thor resounds again on high1 ,while arm'd ,valkyries ride from out the sky3 ,the ,gods of ,asgard all their pow'rs release ,to rouse the dullard from his dream of peace4 ,awake6 ye hypocrites1 and deign to scan ,the actions of your brotherhood of ,man4 ,could your shrill pipings in the race impair ,the warlike impulse put by ,nature there8 ,where now the gentle maxims of the school1 ,the cant of preachers1 and the ,golden ,rule8 ,what feeble word or doctrine now can stay ,the tribe whose fathers own'd ,valhalla's sway8 ,too long restrain'd1 the bloody tempest breaks1 ,and ,midgard 'neath the tread of warriors shakes4 ,on to thy death1 ,berserker bold6 ,and try ,in acts of ,godlike bravery to die6 ,who cares to find the heaven of the priest1 ,when only warriors can with ,woden feast8 ,the flesh of ,sehrimnir1 and the cup of mead1 ,are but for him who falls in martial deed3 ,yon luckless boor1 that passive meets his end1 ,may never in ,valhalla's court contend4 ,slay1 brothers1 ,slay6 ,and bathe in crimson gore2 ,let ,thor1 triumphant1 view the sport once more6 ,all other thoughts are fading in the mist1 ,but to attack1 or if attack'd1 resist4 ,list1 great ,alfadur1 to the clash of steel2 ,how like a man does each brave swordsman feel6 ,the cries of pain1 the roars of rampant rage1 ,in one vast symphony our ears engage4 ,strike6 ,strike him down6 ,whoever bars the way2 ,let each kill many ere he die today6 ,ride o'er the weak2 accomplish what ye can2 ,the ,gods are kindest to the strongest man6 ,why should we fear8 ,what greater joy than this8 ,asgard alone could give us sweeter bliss6 ,my strength is waning2 dimly can ,i see ,the helmeted ,valkyries close to me4 ,ten more ,i slay6 ,how strange the thought of fear1 ,with ,woden's mounted messengers so near6 ,the darkness comes2 ,i feel my spirit rise2 ,a kind ,valkyrie bears me to the skies4 ,with conscience clear1 ,i quit the earth below1 ,the boundless joys of ,woden's halls to know4 ,the grove of ,glasir soon shall ,i behold1 ,and on ,valhalla's tablets be enroll'd3 ,there to remain1 till ,heimdall's horn shall sound1 ,and ,ragnarok enclose creation round2 ,and ,bifrost break beneath bold ,surtur's horde1 ,and ,gods and men fall dead beneath the sword2 ,when sun shall die1 and sea devour the land1 ,and stars descend1 and naught but ,chaos stand4 ,then shall ,alfadur make his realm anew1 ,and ,gods and men with purer life indue4 ,in that blest country shall ,abundance reign1 ,nor shall one vice or woe of earth remain4 ,then1 not before1 shall men their battles cease1 ,and live at last in universal peace4 ,through cloudless heavens shall the eagle soar1 ,and happiness prevail forevermore4 --,h4 ,p4 ,,lovecraft ,author's ,note4 ,the writer here endeavours to trace the ruthless ferocity and incredible bravery of the modern ,teutonic soldier to the hereditary influence of the ancient ,northern ,gods and ,heroes4 ,despite the cant of the peace-advocate1 we must realise that our present ,christian civilisation1 the product of an alien people1 rests but lightly upon the ,teuton when he is deeply aroused1 and that in the heat of combat he is quite prone to revert to the mental type of his own ,woden-worshipping progenitors1 losing himself in that superb fighting zeal which baffled the conquering cohorts of a ,caesar1 and humbled the proud aspirations of a ,varus4 ,though appearing most openly in the ,prussian1 whose recent acts of violence are so generally condemned1 this native martial ardour is by no means peculiar to him1 but is instead the common heritage of every branch of our indomitable ,xanthochroic race1 ,british and ,continental alike1 whose remote forefathers were for countless generations reared in the stern precepts of the virile religion of the ,north4 ,whilst we may with justice deplore the excessive militarism of the ,kaiser ,wilhelm and his followers1 we cannot rightly agree with those effeminate preachers of universal brotherhood who deny the virtue of that manly strength which maintains our great ,north ,european family in its position of undisputed superiority over the rest of mankind1 and which in its purest form is today the bulwark of ,old ,england4 ,it is needless to say to an educated audience that the term ,teuton is in no way connected with the modern ,german ,empire1 but embraces the whole ,northern stock1 including ,english and ,belgians4 ,in the ,northern religion1 ,alfadur1 or the ,all-,father1 was a vague though supreme deity4 ,beneath him were among others ,woden1 or ,odin1 practically the supreme deity1 and ,woden's eldest son ,thor1 the ,god of ,war4 ,asgard1 or heaven1 was the dwelling-place of the ,gods1 whilst ,midgard was the earth1 or abode of man4 ,the rainbow1 or bridge of ,bifrost1 which connected the two regions1 was guarded by the faithful watchman ,heimdall4 ,woden lived in the palace of ,valhalla1 near the grove of ,glasir1 and had as messengers to earth the ,valkyries1 armed1 mailed and mounted virgins who conveyed from the earth to ,asgard such men as had fallen bravely in battle4 ,only those who fell thus could taste to the full the joys of paradise4 ,these joys consisted of alternate feasting and fighting4 ,at ,woden's feasts in ,valhalla was served the flesh of the boar ,sehrimnir1 which1 though cooked and eaten at every meal1 would regain its original condition the next day4 ,the wounds of the warriors in each celestial combat were miraculously healed at the end of the fighting4 ,but this heaven was not to last forever4 ,some day would come ,ragnarok1 or the ,twilight of the ,gods1 when all creation would be destroyed1 and all the ,gods and men save ,alfadur perish4 ,surtur1 after killing the last of these ,gods1 would burn up the world4 ,afterward the supreme ,alfadur would make a new earth or paradise1 creating again the ,gods and men1 and suffering them ever after to dwell in peace and plenty4 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,official ,,organ ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,press ,,association ,,volume ,,xv ,,georgetown1 ,,ill41 ,,april1 #aiaf ,,number #i ,,department ,,of ,,public ,,criticism ,the ,brooklynite for ,january contains one of ,rheinhart ,kleiner's characteristic poems1 entitled ,a ,mother's ,song4 ,mr4 ,kleiner's command of good taste1 harmony1 and correctness requires no further panegyric amongst those who know him2 but to the more recent ,united members who have not yet read extensively in our journals1 his work may well be recommended as undoubtedly the safest of all amateur poetical models for emulation4 ,mr4 ,kleiner has a sense of musical rhythm which few amateur bards have ever possessed1 and his choice of words and phrases is the result of a taste both innate and cultivated1 whose quality appears to rare advantage in the present degenerate age4 ,this remarkable young poet has not yet fully displayed in verse the variety of thoughts and images of which his fertile brain and well selected reading have made him master1 but has preferred to concentrate most of his powers upon delicate amatory lyrics4 ,while some of his readers may at times regret this limitation of endeavor1 and wish he might practice to a greater extent that immense versatility which he permitted the amateur public to glimpse in the ,september ,piper2 it is perhaps not amiss that he should cultivate most diligently that type of composition most natural and easy to him1 for he is obviously a successor of those polished and elegant poets of gallantry whose splendour adorned the reigns of ,queen ,elizabeth and ,king ,james the ,first4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,conservative for ,january opens with ,winifred ,virginia ,jordan's ,song of the ,north ,wind1 one of the most powerful poems lately seen in the amateur press4 ,mrs4 ,jordan is the newest addition to the ,united's constellation of genuine poetical luminaries2 shining as an artist of lively imagination1 faultless taste1 and graphic expression1 whose work possesses touches of genius and individualism that have already brought her renown in amateur circles4 ,in the poem under consideration1 ,mrs4 ,jordan displays a phenomenal comprehension of the sterner aspects of ,nature1 producing a thoroughly virile effect4 ,words are chosen with care and placed with remarkable force1 whilst both alliteration and onomatopoeia are employed with striking success4 ,by the same author is the shorter poem entitled ,galileo and ,swammerdam1 which though vastly different in aspect and rhythm1 yet retains that suggestion of mysticism so frequently encountered in ,mrs4 ,jordan's work4 ,james ,tobey ,pyke1 a lyrical and philosophical poet of high scholastic attainments1 contributes two poems2 ,maia1 and ,the ,poet4 ,the latter is a stately sonnet1 rich in material for reflection4 ,such is the quality of ,mr4 ,pyke's work1 that his occasional contributions are ever to be acclaimed with the keenest interest and appreciation4 ,rheinhart ,kleiner1 our ,laureate1 is another bard twice represented in the ,january ,conservative4 ,his two poems1 ,consolation and ,to ,celia1 though widely different in structure1 are yet not unrelated in sentiment1 being both devoted to the changing heart4 ,one amateur critic has seen fit to frown upon so skilled an apotheosis of inconsistency1 but it seems almost captious thus to analyse an innocuous bit of art so daintily and tastefully arrayed4 ,to ,celia is perhaps slightly the better of the two1 having a very commendable stateliness of cadence1 and a gravity of thought greater than that of ,consolation4 ,the ,horizon of ,dreams1 by ,mrs4 ,renshaw1 is a graphic and enthralling venture into the realm of nocturnal unreality4 ,the free play of active imagination1 the distorted and transitory conceptions and apparitions1 and the strangely elusive analogies1 all lend charm and color to this happy portrayal of the vague boundaries of ,somnus' domain4 ,mrs4 ,renshaw's rank as a poet is of very high tone1 most of her productions involving a spiritual insight and metaphysical comprehension vastly beyond that of the common mind4 ,but this very nobility of imagination1 and superiority to the popular appeal1 are only too likely to render her best work continually underestimated and unappreciated by the majority4 ,she is not a poet of the masses1 and her graver efforts must needs reach audiences more notable for cultured than numerical magnitude4 ,of ,mrs4 ,renshaw's liberal metrical theories1 enough is said elsewhere4 ,this ,department can neither endorse principles so radical1 nor refrain from remarking that want of proper rhyme and metre has relegated to obscurity many a rich and inspired poem4 ,departed1 by ,maude ,kingsbury ,barton1 is a sentimental poem of undoubted grace and sweetness1 happily cast in unbroken metre4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,coyote for ,january is adorned by no less than three of ,mrs4 ,winifred ,v4 ,jordan's exquisite short poems4 ,the ,night-,wind is a delicately beautiful fragment of dreamy metaphor4 ,there is probably a slight misprint in the last line1 since the construction there becomes somewhat obscure4 ,my ,love's ,eyes has merit1 but lacks polish4 ,the word azure in the first stanza1 need not be in the possessive case2 whilst the use of a singular verb with a plural noun in the second stanza 7smiles-beguiles7 is a little less than grammatical4 ,longing exhibits the author at her best1 the images and phraseology alike showing the touch of genius4 ,other poetry in this issue is by ,adam ,dickson1 a bard of pleasing manner but doubtful correctness4 ,smile needs rigorous metrical and rhetorical revision to escape puerility4 ,silver ,bells of ,memory is better1 though marred by the ungrammatical passage thoughts doth linger4 ,in this passage1 either the noun must be made singular1 or the verb form plural4 ,prohibition in ,kansas is a well written prose article by ,editor ,william ,t4 ,harrington1 wherein he exhibits a commendably favourable attitude toward the eradication of the menace of strong drink4 ,mr4 ,harrington is an able and active amateur1 and takes an intelligent interest in many public questions4 ,his style and taste are steadily improving1 so that ,the ,coyote has already become a paper of importance among us4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,dixie ,booster for ,january is ,mr4 ,raymond ,e4 ,nixon's ,capital ,city ,news1 transferred to the amateur world1 and continued under the new name4 ,with this number the editor's brother1 ,mr4 ,roy ,w4 ,nixon1 assumes the position of ,associate ,editor4 ,this neat little magazine is home-printed throughout1 and may well remind the old-time amateurs of those boyish palmy days whose passing they lament so frequently4 ,by means of a cut on the third page1 we are properly introduced to ,editor ,nixon1 who at present boasts but thirteen years of existence4 ,the gifted and versatile associate editor1 ,mr4 ,roy ,w4 ,nixon1 shows marked talent in three distinct departments of literature2 essay-writing1 fiction1 and verse4 ,writing as a ,means of ,self-,improvement is a pure1 dignified and graceful bit of prose whose thought is as commendable as its structure4 ,a ,bottle of ,carbolic ,acid is a gruesome but clever short story of the ,poe type1 exhibiting considerable comprehension of abnormal psychology as treated in literature4 ,my ,valentine is a poem of tuneful metre and well expressed sentiment1 though not completely polished throughout4 ,the third stanza1 especially1 might be made less like prose in its images4 99 99 99 99 99 ,dowdell's ,bearcat for ,december is quaint and attractive in appearance4 ,the youthful editor has provided himself with a series of cuts of the metaphorical ,bruin in various attitudes and various employments1 these clever little pictures lending a pleasing novelty to the cover and the margins4 ,judiciously distributed red ink1 also1 aids in producing a ,christmas number of truly festive quality4 ,mr4 ,dowdell's ,growls from the ,pit is a series of editorials both timely and interesting1 while his ,did ,you ,hear ,that is a lively page of fresh news4 ,this issue is notable for ,mrs4 ,winifred ,v4 ,jordan's poetical contributions1 of which there are three4 ,life's ,sunshine and ,shadows is a tuneful moral poem whose rhythm and imagery are equally excellent4 ,contentment is brief but delightful4 ,when the ,woods ,call is a virile1 graphic piece2 vibrant with the thrill of the chase1 and crisp with the frosty air of the ,northern ,woods4 ,the present reviewer's lines ,to ,samuel ,loveman contain five misprints1 as follows3 ,line #c for are read art #e ,appollo ,apollo #f versus verses #ae eternal ethereal #ah the thee ,beads from my ,rosary1 by ,mary ,m4 ,sisson1 is a collection of well written and sensible paragraphs on amateur journalism1 which ought to assist in arousing enthusiasm amongst many members hitherto dormant4 ,editor ,dowdell's pithy little epigrams at the foot of each page form an entertaining feature1 many of them being of considerable cleverness4 ,dowdell's ,bearcat will soon revert to its original newspaper form1 since ,mr4 ,dowdell intends to make newspaper work his life ,profession4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,inspiration for ,november is a decidedly informal though exceedingly clever personal paper issued by ,miss ,edna von der ,heide as a reminiscence of the ,rocky ,mount convention4 ,prose and verse of whimsically humorous levity are employed with success in recording the social side of the amateur gathering4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,looking ,glass for ,january is composed wholly of biographical matter1 introducing to the association the multitude of accomplished recruits obtained through ,mrs4 ,renshaw and others4 ,in these forty life stories1 most of them autobiographical1 the student of human nature may find material for profound reflection on the variety of mankind4 ,the more recent members of the ,united1 as here introduced1 are in the aggregate a maturer1 more serious1 and more scholarly element than that which once dominated the amateur world2 and if they can be properly welcomed and acclimated to the realm of amateur letters1 they will be of great value indeed in building up the ideals and character of the association4 ,for this influx of sedate1 cultivated members1 the ,united has ,mrs4 ,renshaw to thank1 since the present policy of recruiting was originated and is conducted largely by the ,second ,vice-,president4 99 99 99 99 99 ,ole ,miss' for ,december is the most important of all recent additions to amateur letters1 and it is with regret that we learn of the magazine's prospective discontinuance4 ,the issue under consideration is largely local1 most of the contributions being by ,mississippi talent1 and it must be said that the contributors all reflect credit upon their native or adopted ,state4 ,mr4 ,j4 ,w4 ,renshaw's page of editorials is distinguished equally by good sense and good ,english4 ,his attitude of disapproval toward petty political activities and fruitless feuds in the ,united is one which every loyal member will endorse1 for nearly all of the past disasters in amateur history have been caused not by serious literary differences1 but by conflicting ambitions among those seeking no more than cheap notoriety4 ,mrs4 ,renshaw is well represented both by prose and by verse1 the most interesting of her pieces being possibly the essay entitled ,poetic ,spontaneity1 wherein more arguments are advanced in her effort to prove the inferior importance of form and metre in poesy4 ,according to ,mrs4 ,renshaw1 the essence of all genuine poetry is a certain spontaneous and involuntary spiritual or psychological perception and expression2 incapable of rendition in any prescribed structure1 and utterly destroyed by subsequent correction or alteration of any kind4 ,that is1 the bard must respond unconsciously to the noble impulse furnished by a fluttering bird1 a dew-crowned flower1 or a sun-blest forest glade2 recording his thoughts exactly as evolved1 and never revising the result1 even though it be detestably cacophonous1 or absolutely unintelligible to his less inspired circle of readers4 ,to such a theory as this we must needs reply1 that while compositions of the sort indicated may indeed represent poesy1 they certainly represent art in its proper sense no more than do futuristic pictures and other modern monstrosities of a like nature4 ,the only exact means whereby a poet may transmit his ideas to others is language1 a thing both definite and intellectual4 ,granting that vague1 chaotic1 dissonant lines are the best form in which the tender suitor of the ,muses may record his spiritual impressions for his own benefit and comprehension1 it by no means follows that such lines are at all fitted to convey those impressions to minds other than his own4 ,when language is used without appropriateness1 harmony1 or precision1 it can mean but little save to the person who writes it4 ,the soul of a poem lies not in words but in meaning2 and if the author have any skill at all in recording thought through language1 he will be able to refine the uncouth mass of spontaneous verbiage which first comes to him as representing his idea1 but which in its original amorphous state may fail entirely to suggest the same idea to another brain4 ,he will be able to preserve and perpetuate his idea in a style of language which the world may understand1 and in a rhythm which may not offend the reader's sense of propriety with conspicuous harshness1 breaks1 or sudden transitions4 ,flames of the ,shadow1 ,mrs4 ,renshaw's longest poetical contribution to this issue1 is a powerful piece which1 despite the author's theory1 seems in no way injured by its commendably regular structure4 ,immortality of ,love is likewise rather regular1 though the plan of rhyming breaks down in the last stanza4 ,for ,you and ,sacrament of ,spirit are short pieces1 the former containing an allowable rhyming of tongue and long1 which would not meet with the approval of the ,kleiner type of critic1 but upon which this department forbears to frown4 ,james ,t4 ,pyke's two poems1 ,to a ,butterfly and ,life and ,time are gems of incomparable beauty4 ,ole ,gardens1 by ,winifred ,v4 ,jordan1 is a haunting bit of semi-irregular verse which deserves warm applause for the cleverness of its imagery and the aptness of its phraseology4 ,the ,reward of it ,all1 by ,emilie ,c4 ,holladay1 is a potent but pathetic poem of sentiment1 whose development is highly commendable1 but whose metrical construction might be improved by judicious care4 ,a ,mississippi ,autumn was written as prose by ,mrs4 ,renshaw1 and set in heroic verse without change of ideas by the present critic4 ,the metaphor is uniformly lofty and delicate1 whilst the development of the sentiment is facile and pleasing4 ,it is to be hoped that the original thoughts of the author are not impaired or obscured by the technical turns of the less inspired versifier4 ,my ,dear1 ,sweet1 ,southern ,blossom1 dedicated to ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,renshaw with ,compliments of the ,author1 ,james ,laurence ,crowley1 is a saccharine and sentimental piece of verse reminiscent of the popular ballads which flourished ten or more years ago4 ,triteness is the cardinal defect1 for each genuine image is what our discerning private critic ,mr4 ,moe would call a rubber-stamp phrase4 ,mr4 ,crowley requires a rigorous course of reading among the classic poets of our language1 and a careful study of their art as a guide to the development of his taste4 ,at present his work has about it a softness bordering on effeminacy1 which leads us to believe that his conception of the poet's art is rather imperfect4 ,it is only in caricature that we discover the poet as a sighing1 long-haired scribbler of gushing flights of infantile awe or immature adoration4 ,earnestness1 dignity1 and at times1 sonorous stateliness1 become a good poet2 and such thoughts as are generally suggested by the confirmed use of ,oh1 ,ah1 dear1 little1 pretty1 darling1 sweetest flow'ret of all1 where the morning-glory twineth1 and so on1 belong less to literary poetry than to the ,irving ,berlin song-writing industry of ,tin ,pan ,alley in the ,yiddish wilds of ,new ,york ,city4 ,mr4 ,crowley has energy of no mean sort1 and if he will apply himself assiduously to the cultivation of masculine taste and technic1 he can achieve a place of prominence among ,united bards4 ,w4 ,s4 ,harrison deserves a word of praise for his poem of ,nature1 entitled ,our ,milder ,clime1 wherein he celebrates the charms of ,mississippi1 his native state4 ,the lines contain an old-fashioned grace too often wanting in contemporary verse4 ,other contributions to ,ole ,miss' are ,mrs4 ,maude ,k4 ,barton's ,something of ,natchez1 a very interesting descriptive sketch in prose1 and ,dr4 ,rolfe ,hunt's two negro dialect pieces1 both of which are of inimitable wit and cleverness4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,pippin for ,february is the first number of this important high-school journal to be issued without the supervision of ,mr4 ,moe1 and its excellence well attests the substantial independent merit of the ,appleton ,club4 ,the city of ,appleton forms the dominant theme in this number1 and with the assistance of seven attractive half-tone illustrations1 the publication well displays the beauty and advantages of the pleasant ,wisconsin town4 ,miss ,eleanor ,halls cleverly weaves into conversational form much information concerning the remote history of ,appleton1 emphasizing the superior character resulting from the select quality of the settlers1 and the early introduction of learning4 ,mr4 ,alfred ,galpin surprises many readers when he reveals the fact that ,appleton possessed the first of all telephone systems1 a surprise quickly followed by ,mr4 ,joseph ,harriman's illustrated paragraph telling of the first street-car1 also an ,appleton innovation4 ,among other articles1 that by ,miss ,torrey on ,lawrence ,college is of unusual interest4 ,the ,immortalization of the ,princess1 by ,miss ,fern ,sherman1 is an excellent ,indian tale1 whose structure and atmosphere well suggest not only the characteristic tribal legends of the red folk1 but other and more classical myths as well4 ,though ,miss ,sherman is not yet a member of the ,united1 one of such gifts would be heartily welcomed in the ranks4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,plainsman for ,december is the most substantial number of his journal which ,mr4 ,ira ,cole has yet issued4 ,first in order of importance among the contents is perhaps the editor's own prose sketch entitled ,monuments1 wherein ,mr4 ,cole reveals to particular advantage his exceptional skill in depicting and philosophizing upon the various aspects and phenomena of ,nature4 ,mr4 ,cole's style is constantly improving1 though not now of perfect polish1 it is none the less remarkable for its grace and fluency4 ,to ,florence ,shepphird1 also by ,mr4 ,cole1 is a rather long piece of blank verse1 containing many beautiful passages4 ,the author's skill in stately and sonorous poetry is far above the common level1 and his work has about it an atmosphere of the polished past which that of most amateur bards lacks2 yet the present poem is not without errors4 ,the passage 7lines #aj-aa7 reading3 calm days that knoweth not dread ,boreas' chilling breath must be changed so that either the noun shall be singular or the verb plural4 ,the double negative in line #bc might well be eliminated4 ,two lines whose metre could be improved are the #acth and #ejth4 ,the final quatrain is pleasing to the average ear1 including that of the present critic2 though the very exact taste of today1 as represented by ,mr4 ,kleiner1 frowns upon such deviation from the dominant blank verse arrangement4 ,on the ,cowboys of the ,west is a brief bit of verse by this reviewer1 accompanied by a note from the pen of ,mr4 ,cole4 ,the note is better than the verse1 and exhibits ,mr4 ,cole's vivid and imaginative prose at its best4 ,the ,sunflower1 a versified composition by ,james ,laurence ,crowley1 concludes the issue4 ,there is much attractiveness in the lines2 though we may discover particularly in the second stanza1 that touch of excessive softness which occasionally mars ,mr4 ,crowley's work4 ,no one can fail to discern the weakness of such a line as ,you big giant of all the flowers4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,providence ,amateur for ,february is worthy of particular attention on account of ,mr4 ,peter ,j4 ,mac,manus' absorbing article on ,the ,irish and the ,fairies4 ,mr4 ,mac,manus firmly believes not only that fairies exist in his native ,ireland1 but that he has actually beheld a troop of them2 facts which impart to this article a psychological as well as a literary interest4 ,the prose style of ,mr4 ,mac,manus is very good1 being notable alike for fluency and freedom from slang1 whilst his taste is of the best4 ,his future work will be eagerly awaited by the amateur public4 ,edmund ,l4 ,shehan contributed both verse and prose to this issue4 ,death is a stately poem on a grave subject1 whose sentiments are all of suitable humility and dignity4 ,the apparently anomalous pronoun her1 in the tenth line1 is a misprint for he4 ,the piece ends with a rhyming couplet1 to which ,mr4 ,kleiner1 representing correct modern taste1 takes marked exception4 ,the present reviewer1 however1 finds no reason to object to any part of ,mr4 ,shehan's poem1 and attributes this concluding couplet to the influence of similar ,shakespearian terminations4 ,the prose piece by ,mr4 ,shehan well describes a visit to a cinematograph studio1 and is entitled ,the ,making of a ,motion ,picture4 ,in the verses entitled ,a ,post-,christmas ,lament1 ,mr4 ,john ,t4 ,dunn combines much keenness of wit with commendable regularity of metre4 ,mr4 ,dunn is among the cleverest of the ,united's humorous writers4 ,to ,charlie of the ,comics is a harmless parody on our ,laureate's excellent poem ,to ,mary of the ,movies1 which appeared some time ago in ,the ,piper4 ,in ,the ,bride of the ,sea1 ,mr4 ,lewis ,theobald1 ,jr41 presents a rather weird piece of romantic sentimentality of the sort afforded by bards of the early nineteenth century4 ,the metre is regular1 and no flagrant violations of grammatical or rhetorical precepts are to be discerned1 yet the whole effort lacks clearness1 dignity1 inspiration1 and poetic spontaneity4 ,the word printed enhanc'd in the sixth stanza is properly entranc'd4 99 99 99 99 99 ,tom ,fool1 ,le ,roi bears no definite date1 but is a sort of pensive autumn reverie following the ,rocky ,mount convention of last summer4 ,this grave and dignified journal is credited to the ,house of ,tillery1 and if typographical evidence may be accepted1 it belongs most particularly to that branch now bearing the name of ,renshaw and having its domain in ,coffeeville1 ,mississippi4 ,mother ,gooseries from the ,convention1 by ,emilie ,c4 ,holladay1 is a long stanzaic and ,pindaric ode1 whose taste and technic are alike impeccable4 ,the exalted images are sketched with artistic touch1 whilst the deep underlying philosophy1 skillfully clothed in well balanced lines1 arouses a sympathetic reaction from every cultural intellect4 ,the ,carnival1 by ,mrs4 ,e4 ,l4 ,whitehead1 is an admirable example of stately descriptive prose mixed with aesthetic verse4 ,the long and euphonious periodic sentences suggest the style of ,gibbon or of ,dr4 ,johnson1 whilst the occasional metrical lines remind the reviewer of ,dr4 ,young's solemn ,night ,thoughts4 ,dummheit1 by ,dora ,m4 ,hepner1 is a grave discourse on ,original ,sin1 describing the planning of ,tom ,fool1 ,le ,roi4 ,elizabeth ,m4 ,ballou's article entitled ,our ,absent ,friend forms a notable contribution to amateur historical annals1 and displays ,miss ,ballou as the possessor of a keen faculty for observation1 and a phenomenally analytical intellect4 ,banqueters from the ,styx1 ,mrs4 ,renshaw's masterly description of the convention dinner and its honoured guests from the regions of ,elysium and elsewhere1 reminds the reviewer of the #aath book of the ,odyssey and the #fth book of the ,aeneid1 wherein the fraternizing of men with the shades of men is classically delineated4 ,tom ,fool is a memorable publication1 suggesting the old fraternal papers1 whose passing so many amateurs regret4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur for ,november contains besides the official matter a small but select assortment of poems1 prominent among which is ,the ,meadow ,cricket1 by ,jas4 ,t4 ,pyke4 ,it is impossible to overestimate the beauty of thought and expression which ,mr4 ,pyke shows in all his verses1 and the ,united is fortunate in being able to secure specimens of his work4 ,remorse1 by ,james ,laurence ,crowley1 is one of the best samples of this gentleman's poesy which we have yet seen1 though ,mr4 ,crowley insists that one of the punctuation marks has been wrongfully located by the reviser4 ,since the present critic prepared the manuscript for publication1 he is willing to assume full culpability for this crime4 ,there is genuine poetic feeling in this short piece2 and it seems an undoubted fact that ,mr4 ,crowley with a little added restraint and dignity of expression1 is capable of producing excellent work4 ,list to the ,sea1 by ,winifred ,v4 ,jordan1 is a delightfully musical lyric1 whose dancing dactyls and facile triple rhymes captivate alike the fancy and the ear4 ,the ,wind and the ,beggar1 by ,maude ,k4 ,barton1 is sombre and powerful4 ,ambition1 by ,william de ,ryee1 is regular in metre and commendable in sentiment1 yet not exactly novel or striking in inspiration4 ,choose ye1 by ,ella ,c4 ,eckert1 is a moral poem of clever conception and correct construction4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,united ,official ,quarterly for ,january opens with ,a ,prayer for the ,new ,year1 by ,frederick ,r4 ,chenault4 ,mr4 ,chenault is a poet of the first order so far as inspiration is concerned1 but his work is frequently marred by irregularity of metre1 and the use of assonance in place of rhyme4 ,the metre of this poem is correct1 but the two attempted rhymes deeper-meeker and supremely-sincerely are technically no more than assonant sounds4 ,pres4 ,fritter writes very powerfully on our publishing situation in this number2 and his article should not only be perused with attention1 but heeded with sincerity and industriousness4 ,behind the ,canvas ,wall1 by ,william ,j4 ,dowdell1 is one of the cleverest and most ingenious bits of fiction which the amateur press has contained for some time4 ,that it is of a nature not exactly novel is but a trivial objection4 ,the homely1 appealing plot1 and the simple1 sympathetic treatment1 both point to ,mr4 ,dowdell as a possible success in the realm of short story writing1 should he ever care to enter it seriously4 ,another excellent tale is ,the ,good ,will of a ,dog1 by ,p4 ,j4 ,campbell4 ,the plot is of a well defined type which always pleases1 whilst the incidents are graphically delineated4 ,the ,bookstall is a metrical monstrosity by the present reviewer4 ,mr4 ,maurice ,w4 ,moe1 the distinguished ,private ,critic1 lately gave us the following opinion of our verse4 ,you are1 he writes1 steeped in the poetry of a certain age2 an age1 by the way1 which cut and fit its thought with greater attention to one model than any other age before or since2 and the result is that when you turn to verse as a medium of expression1 it is just as if you were pressing a button liberating a perfect flood of these perfectly good but stereotyped formulae of expression4 ,the result is very ingenious1 but just because it is such a skillful mosaic of ,georgian 'rubber-stamp' phrases1 it must ever fall short of true art4 ,mr4 ,moe is correct4 ,we have1 in fact1 heard this very criticism reiterated by various authorities ever since those prehistoric days when we began to lisp in numbers4 ,yet somehow we perversely continue to mosaic along in the same old way6 ,but then1 we have never claimed to possess true art2 we are merely a metrical mechanic4 ,a ,new ,point of ,view ,in ,home ,economics1 a clever article by ,miss ,eleanor ,barnhart1 concludes the ,official ,quarterly proper4 ,but the ,new ,member supplement1 with its profusion of brilliant credentials1 yet remains to be considered4 ,dutch ,courage1 by ,louis ,e4 ,boutwell1 is a liquorish sketch whose scene is laid in a ,new ,jersey temple of ,bacchus4 ,being totally unacquainted with the true saloon atmosphere1 we find ourself a little embarrassed as to critical procedure1 yet we may justly say that the characters are all well drawn1 every man in his humor4 ,ol' ,man ,murdock is a quaint1 and in two senses an absorbing1 figure4 ,the rest of the issue is given over to the ,muses of poesy4 ,the ,saturday ,fray is a clever piece by ,daisy ,vandenbank4 ,the rhyming is a little uneven1 and in one case assonance is made to answer for true rhyme4 ,cream and mean cannot make an artistic couplet4 ,the ,common ,soldiers1 by ,john ,w4 ,frazer1 is a poem of real merit2 whilst ,little ,boy ,blue1 by ,w4 ,hume1 is likewise effective4 ,mr4 ,hume's pathetic touch is fervent and in no manner betrays that weakness bordering on the ridiculous1 to which less skillful flights of pathos are prone4 ,the ,two ,springs is a pleasant moral sermon in verse by ,margaret ,ellen ,cooper4 ,concluding the issue is ,the ,under ,dog in the ,fight1 a vigorous philosophical poem by ,andrew ,stevenson4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,woodbee for ,january is distinguished by ,mrs4 ,winifred ,v4 ,jordan's brilliant short poem entitled ,oh1 ,where is ,springtime8 ,the sentiment of the piece is an universal one1 and the pleasing lines will appeal to all4 ,retribution1 by ,mrs4 ,ida ,c4 ,haughton1 is a clever story1 but the present critic's extreme fondness for cats makes it difficult to review after reading the first sentence4 ,however1 the well-approached conclusion is indeed just4 ,the moral is a pathetic example of unregeneracy6 ,miss ,edna ,m4 ,haughton's critical article is direct and discerning2 the ,woodbee ,club is fortunate in having among its members so capable a reviewer4 ,editor ,fritter likewise mounts the reviewer's throne in this issue1 proceeding first of all to demolish our own fond dream of yesterday2 ,the ,conservative4 ,looking backward down the dim vista of those bygone but memory-haunted days of ,october1 #aiae1 when we perpetrated the horribly plainspoken and frightfully ungentle number whereof ,mr4 ,fritter treats1 we are conscious of our manifold sins1 and must beg the pardon of the liquor interests for shouting so rudely in the cause of total abstinence4 ,pres4 ,fritter's critical style is a good one1 and is developing from month to month4 ,his advocacy of lukewarmness in writing is perhaps not so complete as one might judge from this article2 though his use of the cautious phrase it is rumored in connection with a well known statement seems hardly necessary4 ,rigid impartiality1 the critic's greatest asset1 is manifest throughout the review1 and we thoroughly appreciate the favorable mention not infrequently accorded us4 ,in passing upon the merits of ,dowdell's ,bearcat1 ,mr4 ,fritter shows equal penetration and perspicuity1 and we are convinced that his rank amongst amateur reviewers is very high4 ,h4 ,p4 ,,lovecraft1 ,chairman4 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,official ,,organ ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,press ,,association ,,volume ,,xv ,,georgetown1 ,,ill41 ,,june1 #aiaf ,,number #aa ,,department ,,of ,,public ,,criticism ,the ,coyote for ,july opens with ,harry ,e4 ,rieseberg's verses entitled ,the ,sum of ,life1 whose structure is excellent as a whole1 though defective in certain places4 ,the word mirage is properly accented on the second syllable1 hence is erroneously situated in the first stanza4 ,a mirage forever seeming is a possible substitute line4 ,other defects are the attempted rhymes of decay with constancy1 carried with hurried1 and appalled with all4 ,the metre is without exception correct1 and the thoughts and images in general well presented1 wherefore we believe that with a little more care ,mr4 ,rieseberg can become a very pleasing poet indeed4 ,the ,philippine ,question1 by ,earl ,samuel ,harrington1 aged #ae1 is an excellent juvenile essay1 and expresses a very sound opinion concerning our ,asiatic colonies4 ,it is difficult to be patient with the political idiots who advocate the relinquishment of the archipelago by the ,united ,states1 either now or at any future time4 ,the mongrel natives1 in whose blood the ,malay strain predominates1 are not and never will be racially capable of maintaining a civilized condition by themselves4 ,how ,fares the ,garden ,rose8 is a poem bearing the signature of ,winifred ,virginia ,jordan1 which is a sufficient guarantee of its thorough excellence4 ,to a ,breeze1 also by ,mrs4 ,jordan1 is distinguished by striking imagery1 and displays in the epithet moon-moored1 that highly individualistic touch which is characteristic of its author4 ,peace1 by ,andrew ,francis ,lockhart1 is a poem of excellent construction1 though marred by two serious misprints which destroy the harmony of the first and third lines4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,dixie ,booster for ,march-,april is an exceedingly neat and clever paper from the ,house of ,nixon4 ,spring in the ,south1 a poem by ,maude ,k4 ,barton1 opens the issue in pleasant fashion1 the attractive images well atoning for certain slight mechanical deficiencies4 ,dick's ,success1 by ,gladys ,l4 ,bagg1 is a short story whose phraseology exhibits considerable talent and polish4 ,the didactic element is possibly more emphasized than the plot1 though not to a tedious extent4 ,whether or not a rough draft of a novel may be completed in the course of a single afternoon1 a feat described in this tale1 we leave for the fiction-writing members of the ,united to decide6 ,of the question raised regarding the treatment of the ,indian by the white man in ,america it is best to admit in the words of ,sir ,roger de ,coverly1 that much might be said on both sides4 ,whilst the driving back of the aborigines has indeed been ruthless and high-handed1 it seems the destiny of the ,anglo-,saxon to sweep inferior races from his path wherever he goes4 ,there are few who love the ,indian so deeply that they would wish this continent restored to its original condition1 peopled by savage nomads instead of civilized colonists4 ,the ,deuce and ,your ,add1 by ,melvin ,ryder1 is a bit of light philosophy whose allegorical case is well maintained4 ,to a ,warbler1 by ,roy ,w4 ,nixon1 is a meritorious piece of verse whose rhythm moves with commendable sprightliness1 though the first line of the first stanza might be made to correspond better with the first line of the second stanza4 ,the word apparent in the last line1 seems a little unsuited to the general style of the poem1 being more suggestive of the formal type of composition4 ,grandma1 also by ,mr4 ,roy ,nixon1 is a noble sonnet whose quality foreshadows real poetical distinction for its author4 ,you1 by ,dora ,m4 ,hepner1 contains sublime images1 but possesses metrical imperfections4 ,the general anapaestic or dactylic rhythm is much disturbed by the iambic fourth line of the first stanza4 ,the editorials1 jokes1 and jingles in this issue are all clever1 and proclaim ,mr4 ,raymond ,nixon as a capable and discriminating editor4 99 99 99 99 99 ,literary ,buds for ,february exhibits the amateurs of ,harvey1 ,illinois1 after a long absence from the publishing arena4 ,the present issue1 edited by ,mr4 ,caryl ,wilson ,dempesy1 contains matter of merit and interest4 ,the ,dells of the ,wisconsin1 by ,a4 ,myron ,lambert1 is an interesting account of an outing spent amidst scenes of natural grandeur and beauty4 ,the author's style is fluent and pleasing1 though a few slight crudities are to be discerned4 ,on page #a1 where the height of a large dam is mentioned1 it is stated that the water must raise that distance before it can fall4 ,of course1 rise is the verb which should have been used4 ,another erroneous phrase is nature tract4 ,nature is not an adjective1 but a noun2 natural is the correct word4 ,however1 this anomalous use of nouns for adjectives has only too much prevalence amongst all grades of writers today1 and must not be too harshly censured in this case4 ,on page #d the word onto should be supplanted by upon1 and the awkward phrase3 to be convinced that we had ventured to a place that we did not know any dangers were connected with1 should be changed to something like this3 to convince us that we had ventured to a seemingly dangerous place whose apparent dangers we had not then noticed4 ,a ,song of ,love1 by ,editor ,dempesy1 is cast in uniformly flowing and regular metre1 but some of the words require comment4 ,lover is not generally applied by bards to adored members of the gentler sex1 love being the conventional term4 ,likewise1 the phrase heart which always softly does its beating might well be revised with greater attention to poetical precedent4 ,yet the whole is of really promising quality1 and exhibits a metrical correctness much above the average4 ,the ,operation is a very witty sketch by ,miss ,clara ,i4 ,stalker1 with a sudden turn toward the end which arouses the complete surprise and unexpected mirth of the reader4 ,the ,high ,cost of ,flivving1 by ,albert ,thompson1 is a bright bit of versified humour involving novel interpretations of certain technical terms of literature4 ,the swinging dactylic rhythm is well managed except where the words descending and ascending occur1 and where1 in line #bd1 the metre becomes momentarily anapaestic4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,looking ,glass for ,may is the final number of ,mrs4 ,renshaw's journal of introductions1 and makes known to the association a group of #bg new members4 ,one of the most interesting autobiographies is that of ,mr4 ,j4 ,e4 ,hoag of ,greenwich1 ,new ,york1 whose friendly sentences1 written from the cumulative experience of #he years of life1 possess an elusively captivating quality4 ,of the non-biographical matter in this issue1 ,mrs4 ,renshaw's compilation entitled ,writing for ,profit deserves particular perusal4 ,this is well set off by the same author's colloquial lines1 ,pride ,o' ,the ,pen1 wherein the lethal taint of trade in literature is effectively deplored4 ,something1 by ,david ,h4 ,whittier1 is a thoughtful analysis of conditions in the ,united1 with suggestions for improvement4 ,one ,bright ,star ,enough ,for ,me1 by ,mr4 ,john ,hartman ,oswald of ,texas1 is a pious poem reminding one of ,mr4 ,addison's well known effort which begins3 ,the spacious firmament on high4 ,we doubt1 however1 if ,mr4 ,addison has been much improved upon1 since several instances of imperfect poetical taste are to be found in ,mr4 ,oswald's lines4 ,but there are evidences of a great soul throughout the ten stanzas1 and the metre is in the main correct4 ,what ,mr4 ,oswald appears to require is a thorough reading of the ,english classics1 with minute attention to their phraseology and images4 ,with such study we believe him capable of development into a poet of enviable force and sincerity4 99 99 99 99 99 ,toledo ,amateur for ,april marks the welcome reappearance of ,mr4 ,wesley ,h4 ,porter's neat little journal after a year's absence4 ,a ,story1 by ,david ,h4 ,whittier1 possesses a tragical plot whose interest is slightly marred by triteness and improbable situations4 ,of the latter we must point out the strained coincidence whereby four distinct things1 proceeding from entirely unrelated causes1 give rise to the final denouement4 ,the culmination of the aged father's resolve to kill his enemy1 the conditions which make possible the return of the son1 the presence of the enemy's hat and coat under the wayside tree1 and the storm which prompts the son to don these garments1 are all independent circumstances1 whose simultaneous occurrence1 each at exactly the proper time to cause the catastrophe1 may justly be deemed a coincidence too great for the purpose of good literature4 ,in an artistically constructed tale1 the various situations all develop naturally out of that original cause which in the end brings about the climax2 a principle which1 if applied to the story in question1 would limit the events and their sequences to those arising either directly or indirectly from the wrong committed by the father's enemy4 ,since there is no causative connection between the immediate decision of the father to kill his foe1 and the developments or discoveries which enable the son to return1 the simultaneous occurrence of these unusual things is scarcely natural4 ,superadded to this coincidence are two more extraneous events2 the rather strange presence of the hat and coat near the road1 and the timely or untimely breaking of the storm1 the improbability indeed increasing in geometrical progression with each separate circumstance4 ,it must1 however1 be admitted that such quadruple coincidences in stories are by no means uncommon among even the most prominent and widely advertised professional fiction-blacksmiths of the day4 ,mr4 ,whittier's style is that of a careful and sincere scholar1 and we believe that his work will become notable in this and the succeeding amateur journalistic generation4 ,the minuteness of the preceding criticism has been prompted not by a depreciatory estimate of his powers1 but rather by an appreciative survey of his possibilities4 ,say1 ,brother1 by ,mrs4 ,renshaw1 is a poem describing life in the trenches of the ,huns4 ,the metre is quite regular1 and the plan of rhyming but once broken4 ,mr4 ,porter's prose work2 editorial1 introductory1 and narrative1 is all pleasing1 though1 not wholly free from a certain slight looseness of scholarship4 ,we should advise rigorous exercise in parsing and rhetoric4 ,respite1 by ,edgar ,ralph ,cheyney1 shows real poetical genius1 and the iambic heptameters are very well handled1 save where one redundant syllable breaks the flow of the last line4 ,even that would be perfect if the tongue could condense the noun and article the music1 into th' music4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,tornado for ,april constitutes the publishing debut of ,mrs4 ,addie ,l4 ,porter1 mother of ,toledo ,amateur's gifted young editor4 ,mrs4 ,porter's ,recollections ,from ,childhood are pleasant and well phrased1 bringing to mind very vividly the unrivalled joys of ,christmas as experienced by the young4 ,wesley ,h4 ,porter1 in ,my ,vacation1 tells entertainingly of his visit to the hive of the ,woodbees last ,september4 ,the editorial and news paragraphs are all of attractive aspect1 completing a bright paper whose four pages teem with enthusiasm and personality4 ,it is to be hoped that other comparatively new ,united members may follow ,mr4 ,porter's example in entering the publishing field2 for individual journals1 though of no greater size than this1 are ever welcome1 and do more than anything else to maintain interest and promote progress in the association4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,trail for ,april must by no means be confused with ,alfred ,l4 ,hutchinson's professionalized magazine of identical title1 for this ,trail is an older and emphatically non-professional publication issued co-operatively by ,dora ,m4 ,hepner and ,george ,w4 ,macauley4 ,non-professionalism1 indeed1 seems to dominate the entire issue to a degree unusual in the broadened and developed ,united4 ,with the exception of one poem and one short story or sketch1 the contents are wholly personal and social4 ,he ,reached my ,hand1 by ,dora ,m4 ,hepner1 is an excellent piece of verse1 though perhaps not of that extreme polish which is observed in the productions of very careful bards4 ,miss ,hepner has great refinement of fancy and vigour of expression1 but evidently neglects to cultivate that beautiful rhetoric and exquisite rhythmic harmony which impress us so forcibly in the work of scholars and bookmen like ,rheinhart ,kleiner4 ,a ,girl of the ,u4 ,s41 by ,george ,w4 ,macauley1 is a prose piece whose nature seems to waver between that of a story and a descriptive sketch4 ,though description apparently preponderates1 the narrative turn toward the conclusion may sanction classification as fiction4 ,the faults are all faults of imperfect technique rather than of barren imagination1 for ,mr4 ,macauley wields a graphic pen1 and adorns every subject he approaches4 ,in considering minor points1 we must remark the badly fractured infinitive to no longer walk1 and the unusual word reliefful4 ,we have never seen the latter expression before1 and though it may possibly be a modernism in good usage1 it was certainly unknown in the days when we attempted to acquire our education4 ,mr4 ,macauley1 with his marked descriptive ability1 is less at ease in stories of contemporary life than in historical fiction1 particularly mediaeval and ,oriental tales4 ,his genius is not unlike that of ,sir ,walter ,scott1 and shows to especial advantage in annals of knights and chivalry4 ,scratchings are by the pen of ,miss ,hepner1 and display an active wit despite the profusion of slang4 ,it would seem1 however1 that so brilliant a writer could preserve the desired air of vivacity without quite so many departures from the standard idioms of our language4 ,miss ,hepner's remarks on the assimilation of new ,united members are worthy of note4 ,the cruder amateurs should not feel discouraged by the extraordinary average scholarship of the recent element1 but should rather use it as a model for improvement4 ,they should establish correspondence with the cultivated recruits1 thereby not only benefiting themselves1 but helping each gifted newcomer to find a useful and congenial place amongst us4 ,the present situation is pitifully ludicrous1 for practically all young aspirants call upon only one or two sadly overburdened older members for literary aid1 forgetting that there are scores of brilliant writers1 teachers1 and professors waiting anxiously but vainly to be of real service to their fellow-amateurs4 ,several of the scholarly new members have particularly inquired how they can best assist the association2 yet the association1 as represented by its literary novices1 has failed to take advantage of most of these offers of instructions and co-operation4 ,we are impelled here to reiterate the slogan which ,mr4 ,daas has so frequently printed in his various journals3 ,welcome the ,recruits64 ,such a welcome is certain to react with double felicity upon the giver4 ,from the ,michigan ,trail is ,mr4 ,macauley's personal column1 and contains so bitter an attack on some of the ,united's policies of improvement1 that we are tempted to remonstrate quite loudly4 ,the captious criticism of the ,second ,vice-,president's invaluable activities1 constructive labours which have practically regenerated the association and raised it to a higher plane in the world of educational endeavour1 is positively ungenerous4 ,to speak of the article in ,ole ,miss' entitled ,manuscripts and ,silver as mercenary1 is the summit of injustice1 for it was nothing more or less than the absolutely gratuitous offer to the ,united of what is now the ,symphony ,literary ,service4 ,we are rather at a loss to divine ,mr4 ,macauley's precise notion of amateur journalism4 ,he speaks of it as a tarn1 but we cannot believe he would have it so stagnant a thing as that name implies4 ,surely1 the ,united is something greater than a superficial fraternal order composed of mediocre and unambitious dabblers4 ,progress leads toward the outside world of letters1 and to cavil at work such as ,mrs4 ,renshaw's is to set obstacles in the path of progress4 ,professional literary success on the part of amateur journalists can never react unfavorably on the ,united1 and it seems far from kind and proper to impede the development of members4 ,why is a professional author necessarily less desirable as an amateur journalist than a professional plumber or boiler-maker8 ,but there is one sound principle at the base of ,mr4 ,macauley's argument1 which deserves more emphasis than the points he elaborates4 ,professionalism must not enter into the workings of the association1 nor should the professionalized amateur take advantage of amateur connexions to create a market for writings otherwise unsalable4 ,this applies to the now happily extinct tribe of ten-cents-a-year publishers1 who coolly expected all amateur journalists to subscribe to their worthless misprints as a matter of fraternal obligation4 ,mr4 ,macauley is an extremist on the subject of amateur rating1 a fact which explains many otherwise puzzling allusions in his current editorials4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur for ,february is the final number of the ,daas regime1 and constitutes a noble valedictory indeed4 ,we find it impossible to express with sufficient force our regret at the withdrawal of ,mr4 ,daas from the ,united1 and we can but hope that the retirement may prove merely temporary4 ,the ,february official organ is wholly literary in contents1 and in quality sustains the best traditions of amateur journalism4 ,miss ,olive ,g4 ,owen's poem1 ,give us ,peace61 which opens the issue1 is tasteful in imagery and phraseology1 and correct in rhyme and metre1 but contains the customary unrealities and substitutions of emotion for reasoning which are common to all pacific propaganda4 ,the ,little ,old ,lady's ,dream1 by ,m4 ,almedia ,bretholl1 is a short story of the almost unpleasantly realistic type1 whose development and atmosphere exhibit much narrative talent and literary skill4 ,the ,teuton's ,battle-,song is an attempt of the present critic to view the principles of human warfare without the hypocritical spectacles of sentimentality4 ,nature in ,literature1 by ,arthur ,w4 ,ashby1 is an essay of unusual quality1 revealing a depth of well assimilated scholarship and a faculty for acute observation and impartial analysis1 of which few amateur writers may justly boast4 ,his ,all1 is an excellent poem by ,mrs4 ,ella ,colby ,eckert1 distinguished equally for its noble thought and facile rhythm4 ',twixt the ,red and the ,white1 a short story by ,miss ,coralie ,austin1 displays marked skill in construction and phraseology1 though its development is not without a few of the typical crudities of youthful work4 ,there is a trifling suspicion of triteness and banality in plot and dialogue2 which is1 however1 compensated for in the artistic passages so frequently encountered4 ,romance1 ,mystery1 and ,art1 an essay by ,edgar ,ralph ,cheyney1 reflects the learning and thoughtfulness of its author4 ,the poetical fragments entitled ,songs from ,walpi1 by ,mrs4 ,winifred ,v4 ,jordan1 describe the hopeless affection of a ,southwestern ,indian prince for a maiden of the conquering white race4 ,the atmosphere and images are cleverly wrought1 whilst the rhythm is in every detail satisfactory4 ,nescio ,quo1 by ,kathleen ,baldwin1 is a poem of great attractiveness both in structure and sentiment4 ,a ,crisis1 by ,eleanor ,j4 ,barnhart1 is a short story of distinctly modern type1 whose substance and development compare well with professional work4 ,my ,heart and ,i1 a sonnet by ,james ,t4 ,pyke1 exhibits the skill and philosophical profundity characteristic of its author4 ,my ,native ,land1 a poem by ,adam ,dickson1 describes the ,scottish ,border with pleasing imagery and bounding anapaestic metre4 ,mr4 ,dickson is a poet whose progress should be carefully watched4 ,his improvement is steady1 the present piece being easily the best specimen of his work to appear in the amateur press4 ,poetry and its ,power1 by ,helen ,m4 ,woodruff1 is a delightful essay containing liberal quotations from various classic bards4 ,a ,resolution1 by ,harry ,z4 ,moore1 seems to be modelled after ,mrs4 ,renshaw's well known poem1 ,a ,symphony4 ,the various precepts are without exception sound and commendable4 ,helene ,e4 ,hoffman presents a brief but pleasing critique of ,sir ,thomas ,browne's ,hydriotaphia1 ,urn-,burial2 or a ,discourse of the ,sepulchral ,urns lately found in ,norfolk4 ,it is refreshing to discover a modern reader who can still appreciate the quaint literature of the seventeenth century1 and ,miss ,hoffman is to be thanked for her sympathetic review of the pompous1 ,latinised phrases of the old physician4 ,he and ,she1 by ,margaret ,a4 ,richard1 is a thoroughly meritorious poem whose two allowable rhymes1 fair-dear1 and head-prayed1 would be censured only by a critic of punctilious exactitude4 ,at ,sea1 a witty bit of vers de societe by ,henry ,cleveland ,wood1 forms an appropriately graceful conclusion to a richly enjoyable issue of the magazine4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur for ,march brings to the fore ,mr4 ,george ,s4 ,schilling's unusual editorial talent1 and makes manifest the bright future of the official organ for the balance of the present administrative year4 ,the chief literary contribution is ,hail1 ,autumn61 one of ,mr4 ,arthur ,ashby's brilliant and scholarly essays on ,nature4 ,the quality of ,mr4 ,ashby's work deserves particular attention for its reflective depth of thought1 and glowing profusion of imagery4 ,his style is remarkably mature1 and escapes completely that subtle suggestion of the schoolboy's composition which seems inseparable from the average amateur's attempts at natural description and philosophizing4 ,mr4 ,schilling's editorials are forcible and straightforward1 vibrant with enthusiasm for the welfare of the association4 ,a ,representative ,official ,organ1 by ,paul ,j4 ,campbell1 serves to explain the author's highly desirable constitutional amendment proposed for consideration at the coming election1 which will open the columns of ,,the ,,united ,,amateur to the general membership at a very reasonable expense4 ,the ,news ,notes in the present issue are sprightly and interesting4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur for ,april is made brilliant by the presence of ,henry ,clapham ,mc,gavack's terse and lucid exposure of hyphenated hypocrisy1 entitled ,dr4 ,burgess1 ,propagandist4 ,mr4 ,mc,gavack's phenomenally virile and convincing style is supported by a remarkable fund of historical and diplomatic knowledge1 and the feeble fallacies of the pro-,german embargo advocates collapse in speedy fashion before the polished but vigorous onslaughts of his animated pen4 ,another essay inspired by no superficial thinking is ,edgar ,ralph ,cheyney's ,nietzschean ,philosophy1 wherein some of the basic precepts of the celebrated iconoclast are set forth in comprehensive array4 ,the ,master ,voice of ,ages ,calls for ,peace1 a poem by ,mrs4 ,frona ,scott1 has fairly regular metre1 though its sentiment is one of conventional and purely emotional pacifism4 ,a ,gentle ,satire on ,friendship1 by ,freda de ,larot1 is a very clever piece of light prose2 which could1 however1 be improved by the deletion of much slang1 and the rectification of many loose constructions4 ,a ,wonderful ,play is ,mrs4 ,eloise ,r4 ,griffith's well worded review of ,jerome ,k4 ,jerome's ,the ,passing of the ,third ,floor ,back1 as enacted by ,forbes-,robertson4 ,mrs4 ,griffith has here1 as in all her essays1 achieved a quietly pleasing effect1 and pointed a just moral4 ,fire ,dreams is a graphic and commendably regular poem by ,mrs4 ,renshaw4 ,the ,beach1 a poem by ,o4 ,m4 ,blood1 requires grammatical emendation4 ,how better could the hours been spent and ,when life and love true pleasure brings cannot be excused even by the exigencies of rhyme and metre4 ,after the second stanza1 the couplet form shifts in an unwarranted manner to the quatrain arrangement4 ,the phraseology of the entire piece displays poetical tendencies yet reveals a need for their assiduous cultivation through reading and further practice4 ,my ,shrine1 by ,james ,laurence ,crowley1 exhibits real merit both in wording and metre1 yet has a rather weak third stanza4 ,the lines3 ,one day ,i crossed the desert sands2 ,one day ,i ride my train2 are obviously anticlimactic4 ,to say that the subject is trite would be a little unjust to ,mr4 ,crowley's ,muse1 for all amatory themes1 having been worked over since the very dawn of poesy1 are necessarily barren of possibilities save to the extremely skilled metrist4 ,contemporary love-lyrics can scarcely hope to shine except through brilliant and unexpected turns of wit1 or extraordinarily tuneful numbers4 ,the following lines by ,margaret1 ,duchess of ,newcastle1 who died in #afgc1 well express the situation despite their crudeness3 ,o ,love1 how thou art tired out with rhyme6 ,thou art a tree whereon all poets climb2 ,and from thy branches every one takes some ,of the sweet fruit1 which ,fancy feeds upon4 ,but now thy tree is left so bare and poor1 ,that they can hardly gather one plum more6 ,indicatory1 a brilliant short sketch by ,ethel ,halsey1 well illustrates the vanity of the fair1 and completes in pleasing fashion a very creditable number of our official magazine4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur for ,may forms still another monument to the taste and energy of our official editor1 ,mr4 ,schilling4 ,biography is the keynote of the current issue1 ,mrs4 ,renshaw1 ,mr4 ,j4 ,e4 ,hoag1 and ,mr4 ,henry ,cleveland ,wood each receiving mention4 ,miss ,emilie ,c4 ,holladay displays a pleasing prose style in her account of our ,second ,vice-,president1 and arouses interest with double force through the introduction of juvenile incidents4 ,happiness ,defined is a delightful little sketch by ,ida ,c4 ,haughton1 whose philosophy will awake an universal response from the breasts of the majority4 ,the ,wind ,fairies1 by ,jean ,f4 ,barnum1 is a poem in prose which contains more of the genuine poetic essence than does the average contemporary versified effort4 ,the grace and grandeur of the clouds and the atmosphere have in all ages been admired1 and it is but natural that they figure to a great extent in the beautiful legends of primitive mythology4 ,the ,ship that ,sails ,away1 by ,j4 ,e4 ,hoag1 is a delicate and attractive poem whose images and phraseology are equally meritorious4 ,mr4 ,hoag's poetical attainments are such that we await with eagerness the appearance of the pieces predicted in his biography4 ,to ,flavia1 by ,chester ,pierce ,munroe1 is a sweet lyric addressed to a young child and pervaded throughout with a quaintly whimsical1 almost ,georgian1 semblance of stately gallantry4 ,the first word of the seventeenth line should read small instead of swell4 ,as misprinted1 this line conveys a rather incongruous impression4 ,mountains in ,purple ,robes of ,mist1 a vivid and powerful poem of ,nature by ,rev4 ,eugene ,b4 ,kuntz1 is cast in ,alexandrine quatrains1 a rather uncommon measure4 ,the only possible defect is in line thirteen1 where the accent of the word sublime seems to impede the flow of the metre4 ,line nineteen apparently lacks two syllables1 but the deficiency is probably secretarial or typographical rather than literary4 ,man as ,cook1 also by ,dr4 ,kuntz1 is a clever bit of humorous verse in octosyllabic couplets4 ,consolation well exhibits ,andrew ,francis ,lockhart's remarkable progress as a poet4 ,his verse is increasing every day in polish1 and is fast becoming one of the most pleasing and eagerly awaited features of amateur letters4 ,at the ,end of the ,road1 by ,mary ,faye ,durr1 is a graphic and touching description of a deserted schoolhouse4 ,the atmosphere of pensive reminiscence is well sustained by the judiciously selected variety of images and allusions4 ,there's ,none ,like ,mine at ,home1 by ,james ,laurence ,crowley1 is a characteristic bit of ,crowleian sentimentality which requires revision and condensation4 ,there is not enough thought to last out three stanzas of eight lines each4 ,technically we must needs shudder at the apparent incurable use of m-n assonance4 ,own and known are brazenly and repeatedly flaunted with roam and home in attempted rhyme4 ,but the crowning splendour of impossible assonance is attained in the ,worlds-girls atrocity4 ,mr4 ,crowley needs a long session with the late ,mr4 ,walker's well-known ,rhyming ,dictionary6 ,metrically1 ,mr4 ,crowley is showing a decided improvement of late4 ,the only censurable points in the measure of this piece are the redundant syllables in lines #a and #c1 which might in each case be obviated by the substitution of ,i've for ,i have1 and the change of form in the first half of the concluding stanza4 ,of the general phraseology and imagery we may only remark that ,mr4 ,crowley has much to forget1 as well as to learn1 before he can compete with ,mr4 ,kleiner or other high-grade amatory poets in the ,united4 ,such expressions as my guiding star1 my own dear darling ,kate1 or she's the sweetest girl that e'er on earth did roam1 tell the whole sad story to the critical eye and ear4 ,if ,mr4 ,crowley would religiously eschew the popular songs and magazine poetry of the day1 and give over all his time to a perusal of the recognized classics of ,english verse1 the result would immediately be reflected in his own compositions4 ,as yet1 he claims to be independent of scholarly tradition1 but we must remind him of the ,latin epigram of ,mr4 ,owen1 which ,mr4 ,cowper thus translated under the title of ,retaliation3 ,the works of ancient bards divine1 ,aulus1 thou scorn'st to read2 ,and should posterity read thine1 ,it would be strange indeed6 ,so energetic and prolific a writer as ,mr4 ,crowley owes it alike to himself and to his readers to develop as best he can the talent which rests latent within him4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,woodbee for ,april opens with a melodious poem by ,adam ,dickson1 entitled ,love4 ,while the metre might well be changed in the interests of uniformity1 the general effect is not at all harsh1 and the author is entitled to no small credit for his production4 ,the only other poem in the magazine is ,alone ,with ,him1 by ,mrs4 ,ida ,c4 ,haughton4 ,this piece is remarkable for its rhyming arrangement1 each rhyme being carried through four lines instead of the usual couplet4 ,the sentiments are just1 the images well drawn1 and the technique correct2 the whole forming a highly commendable addition to amateur literature4 ,the ,melody and ,colour of ',the ,lady of ,shalott'1 by ,mary ,faye ,durr1 is a striking ,tennysonian critique1 whose psychological features1 involving a comparison of chromatic and poetic elements1 are ingenious and unusual4 ,miss ,durr is obviously no careless student of poesy1 for the minute analyses of various passages give evidence of thorough assimilation and intelligent comprehension4 ,on ,being ,good1 by ,newton ,a4 ,thatcher1 contains sound sense and real humour1 whilst its pleasingly familiar style augurs well for ,mr4 ,thatcher's progress in this species of composition4 ,war ,reflections1 by ,herbert ,albing1 is an apt and thoughtful epitome of the compensating benefits given to mankind by the present belligerent condition of the world4 ,the cogent and comprehensive series of reviews by ,miss ,edna ,m4 ,haughton1 and the crisp and pertinent paragraphs by ,editor ,fritter1 combine with the rest of ,the ,woodbee's contents to produce an issue uniformly meritorious4 ,h4 ,p4 ,,lovecraft1 ,chairman4 ,,the ,,poetry ,,of ,,the ,,month ,,content4 ,an ,epistle to ,,rheinhart ,,kleiner1 ,esq41 ,poet-,laureate1 and ,author of ,another ,endless ,day4 ,beatus ille qui procul negotiis1 ,ut prisca gens mortalium1 ,paterna rura bobus exercet suis4 --,,horace4 ,,kleiner6 in whose quick pulses wildly beat ,the youth's ambition1 and the lyrist's heat1 ,whose questing spirit scorns our lowly flights1 ,and dares the heavens for sublimer heights3 ,if passion's force will grant an hour's relief1 ,attend a calmer song1 nor nurse thy grief4 ,what is true bliss8 ,must mortals ever yearn ,for stars beyond their reach1 and vainly burn2 ,must suff'ring man1 impatient1 seek to scale ,forbidden steeps1 where sharper pangs prevail8 ,alas for him who chafes at soothing ease1 ,and cries for fever'd joys and pains to please3 ,they please a moment1 but the pleasure flies1 ,and the rack'd soul1 a prey to passion1 dies4 ,away1 false lures6 and let my spirit roam ,o'er sweet ,arcadia1 and the rural home2 ,let my sad heart with no new sorrow bleed1 ,but rest content in ,morven's mossy mead4 ,wild thoughts and vain ambitions circle near1 ,whilst ,i1 at peace1 the abbey chimings hear4 ,loud shakes the surge of ,life's unquiet sea1 ,yet smooth the stream that laves the rustic lea4 ,let others feel the world's destroying thrill1 ,as 'midst the kine ,i haunt the verdant hill4 ,rise1 radiant sun6 to light the grassy glades1 ,whose charms ,i view from grateful beechen shades2 ,o'er spire and peak diffuse th' expanding gleam ,that gilds the grove1 and sparkles on the stream4 ,awake6 ye sylphs of ,flora's gorgeous train1 ,to scent the fields1 and deck the rising main4 ,soar1 feathered flock1 and carol o'er the scene1 ,to cheer the lonely watcher on the green4 ,sweet is the song the morning meadow bears1 ,and with the darkness fade ambitious cares3 ,above the abbey tow'r the rays ascend1 ,as light and peace in matchless beauty blend4 ,why should ,i sigh for realms of toil and stress1 ,when now ,i bask in ,nature's loveliness2 ,what thoughts so great1 that they must needs expand ,beyond the hills that bound this fragrant land8 ,these friendly hills my infant vision knew1 ,and in the shelt'ring vale from birth ,i grew4 ,yon distant spires ,ambition's limit show1 ,for who1 here born1 could farther wish to go8 ,when sky-blest evening soothes the world and me1 ,are moon and stars more distant from my lea8 ,no urban glare my sight of heav'n obscures1 ,and orbs undimm'd rise o'er the neighb'ring moors4 ,what priceless boon may spreading ,fame impart1 ,when village dignity hath cheer'd the heart8 ,the little group that hug the tavern fire ,to air their wisdom1 and salute their squire1 ,far kinder are1 than all the courtly throng ,that flatter ,kings1 and shield their faults in song6 ,and in the end2 what if no man adore ,my senseless ashes 'neath ,westminster's floor8 ,may not my weary frame1 at ,life's dim night1 ,sleep where my childhood first enjoy'd the light8 ,rest were the sweeter in the sacred shade ,of that dear fane where all my fathers pray'd2 ,ancestral spirits bless the air around1 ,and hallow'd mem'ries fill the gentle ground4 ,so stay1 belov'd ,content6 nor let my soul ,in fretful passion seek a farther goal4 ,apollo1 chasing ,daphne1 gain'd his prize1 ,but lo6 she turn'd to wood before his eyes6 ,our earthly prizes1 though as holy sought1 ,prove just as fleeting1 and decay to naught4 ,enduring bliss a man may only find ,in virtuous living1 and contented mind4 ,h4 ,p4 ,,lovecraft4 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,august #aiaf ,,department ,,of ,,public ,,criticism ,,first ,,annual ,,report #aiae-aiaf4 ,following a novel idea originated by the present ,columbus administration1 the ,department of ,public ,criticism will herewith submit for the first time in its history an annual report1 or summary of the preceding year's literary events within the ,united ,amateur ,press ,association4 ,the programme of improvement informally decided upon in the official year of #aiac-aiad received its definite ratification at the ,rocky ,mount ,convention1 when the assembled representatives of the ,united pledged ,individual collective support to ,mr4 ,fritter1 the new ,president1 in his endeavors to raise the literary standard of our society1 and when an absolutely unanimous vote invested ,mrs4 ,j4 ,w4 ,renshaw1 the leading spirit of progress1 with the important office of ,second ,vice-,president4 ,pres4 ,fritter has since discharged his obligations and sustained his responsibilities in a thoroughly satisfactory manner despite many trying difficulties1 whilst ,mrs4 ,renshaw1 as a recruiter1 has succeeded in laying the foundations of a completely broadened1 elevated1 and rejuvenated association4 ,yet all that has been accomplished is merely the prologue of that greater period of change which must bring about the final assimilation of ,mrs4 ,renshaw's phenomenally gifted recruits1 and the materialization of the still nebulous plans evolved during the past twelvemonth4 ,the undersigned has on several occasions advocated the formation of a regular ,department of ,instruction in the ,united1 to be conducted by professional teachers and college instructors for the purpose of guiding the more or less inexperienced members4 ,he has communicated his idea to several high-school preceptors of great ability1 and has learned that under present conditions such a department is not perfectly feasible4 ,it has been suggested that if each experienced and educated amateur would assume a personal and sympathetic advisory position toward some one of the younger or cruder members1 much actual good might result4 ,as our list now stands1 the crude and the cultured are perhaps evenly balanced1 yet instant success even in this modified course can scarcely be expected4 ,at least another year seems to be required1 in which the various members may gain a closer knowledge of each other through the wider diffusion of their printed efforts4 ,however1 the need for a more uniformly educated membership is pressing1 and the undersigned will welcome aid or advice of any kind from those willing to assist him in establishing some sort of scholastic ,department4 ,another idea which has received undeserved neglect and discouraging opposition is the ,authors' ,placing ,bureau or ,united ,literary ,service1 as outlined by the ,second ,vice-,president4 ,the normal goal of the amateur writer is the outside world of letters1 and the ,united should certainly be able to provide improved facilities for the progress of its members into the professional field4 ,the objections offered to this plan are apparently less vital than those affecting the ,department of ,instruction1 and it is to be hoped that the mistaken zeal of our non-professional sticklers may not serve to prevent a step so sorely needed4 ,passing on to the details of ,departmental work1 the undersigned is pleased to report a remarkable increase in the literary value of the compositions brought forth in the ,united this year2 an increase which may be fairly declared to constitute a true elevation of our intellectual standard1 and which undoubtedly compensates for the present regrettable paucity of amateur publishing media4 ,in verse1 particularly1 is the advance notable4 ,some of our poets are securing recognition in the outside world of letters1 whilst many lesser bards show a steady upward trend in their amateur efforts4 ,prose continues to suffer because of the seemingly unavoidable brevity of the average amateur journal4 ,it is impossible to crowd any really well developed piece of prose within the limits generally assigned1 hence our best authors seem almost to be driven into verse as a medium of expression4 ,financial prosperity of sufficient extent to ensure the publication of larger papers is obviously the only remedy for this deplorable condition4 ,of our poets1 the ,laureate ,rheinhart ,kleiner 7also ,laureate of the ,national for #aiaf-aiag7 continues as the foremost technician and harmonist4 ,his accurate and tasteful lines satisfy the ear and the understanding with equal completeness1 and he shows no sign of yielding to the corrupting influences of decadent modern standards4 ,in his own journal1 ,the ,piper1 he reveals a versatile and phenomenally well stocked mind4 ,the ,september number1 containing imitations of the work of other amateur poets1 will long be remembered4 ,mrs4 ,renshaw maintains her high place as a philosophical and expressionistic bard1 though hampered by unusual theories of spontaneous versification4 ,a greater deference to the human ear and metrical sense would render her already lofty poetry as attractive as it is exalted4 ,miss ,olive ,g4 ,owen1 former ,laureate1 has lately returned to activity1 and may well be expected to duplicate her former successes in the domain of the ,muses4 ,the poetical progress of ,andrew ,francis ,lockhart is a notable feature of amateur letters this year4 ,mr4 ,lockhart has always possessed the true genius of the bard1 writing ably and voluminously2 but his recent technical care is bringing out hitherto undiscovered beauties in his verse1 and placing him in the very front rank of ,united poets4 ,benediction and ,consolation are vastly above the average4 ,of the new poets of prime magnitude who have risen above our horizon during the past year1 ,mrs4 ,winifred ,virginia ,jordan of ,newton ,centre1 ,mass41 deserves especial mention both for high quality and great volume of work4 ,mrs4 ,jordan's poetry is of a tunefully delicate and highly individualistic sort which has placed it in great demand amongst amateur editors1 and it is not unlikely that the author may be rewarded with a ,laureateship at no distant date4 ,the work is invariably of spontaneously graceful rhythm and universally pleasing in sentiment1 having frequently an elusive suggestion of the unreal4 ,a few of ,mrs4 ,jordan's poems are of the grimly weird and powerful variety4 ,the ,song of the ,north ,wind is a remarkable contribution to amateur letters1 and has won the enthusiastic admiration of the ,united's poetical element4 ,professional success has recently crowned the efforts of ,mrs4 ,jordan4 ,weekly ,unity for ,june #ag contains her lines on ,the ,singing ,heart1 whilst several other poems from her pen have been accepted by ,the ,national ,magazine4 ,rev4 ,james ,tobey ,pyke is another poet of the first order whose writings have lately enriched the literature of the ,united4 ,his style is correct1 and his thought deep and philosophical4 ,the ,meadow ,cricket is a poem which deserved more than a superficial perusal4 ,john ,russell1 formerly of ,scotland but now of ,florida1 is a satirist and dialect writer of enviable talent4 ,his favorite measure is the octosyllabic couplet1 and in his skilled hands this simple metre assumes a new and sparkling lustre4 ,rev4 ,frederick ,chenault is a prolific lyrical poet whose sentiments are of uniform loftiness4 ,the substitution of exact rhyme for assonance in his lines would double the already immense merit of his work4 ,other new bards of established ability are ,w4 ,s4 ,harrison1 ,kathleen ,baldwin1 ,eugene ,b4 ,kuntz1 ,mary ,evelyn ,brown1 ,henry ,cleveland ,wood1 ,john ,w4 ,frazier1 ,william ,hume1 ,ella ,colby ,eckert1 ,j4 ,e4 ,hoag1 ,edgar ,ralph ,cheyney1 ,margaret ,a4 ,richard1 ,william de ,ryee1 ,helen ,h4 ,salls1 and ,jeanette ,aylworth4 ,of the poets whom we may term rising1 none presents a more striking figure than ,ira ,a4 ,cole of ,bazine1 ,kansas4 ,previously well known as a prose writer and publisher1 he made his debut as a metrist just a year ago1 through a very beautiful piece in the heroic couplet entitled ,a ,dream of the ,golden ,age4 ,mr4 ,cole is one of the few survivors of the genuine classic school1 and constitutes a legitimate successor to the late ,georgian poets4 ,his development has been of extraordinary rapidity1 and he will shortly surprise the amateur public both by a poetic drama called ,the ,pauper and the ,prince1 and by a long mythological poem not unlike ,moore's ,lalla ,rookh4 ,the natural and pantheistic character of ,mr4 ,cole's philosophy adapts him with phenomenal grace to his position as a mirror of classical antiquity4 ,another developing poet is ,mr4 ,roy ,wesley ,nixon of ,florida4 ,grandma1 his latest published composition1 is a sonnet of real merit4 ,adam ,dickson1 a ,scotsman by birth1 but now a resident of ,los ,angeles1 writes tunefully and pleasantly4 ,his pieces are not yet of perfect polish1 but each exhibits improvement over the preceding4 ,he tends to favor the anapaest and the iambic tetrameter4 ,mrs4 ,ida ,cochran ,haughton of ,columbus is scarcely a novice1 but her latest pieces are undeniably showing a great increase of technical grace4 ,chester ,pierce ,munroe of ,north ,carolina is a delicate amatory lyrist of the ,kleiner type4 ,he has the quaint and attractive ,georgian touch1 particularly evident in ,to ,flavia and ,to ,chloris4 ,miss ,m4 ,estella ,shufelt is absolutely new to the kingdom of poesy1 yet has already produced work of phenomenal sweetness and piety4 ,mrs4 ,e4 ,l4 ,whitehead1 though formerly confined wholly to prose1 has entered the poetical field with intelligent and discriminating care4 ,her words are thoughtfully weighed and selected1 whilst her technique has rapidly assumed a scholarly exactitude4 ,two new poets whose work requires much technical improvement are ,mrs4 ,agnes ,r4 ,arnold and ,mr4 ,george ,m4 ,whiteside4 ,mr4 ,whiteside has indications of qualities not far remote from genius1 and would be well repaid by a rigorous course of study4 ,messrs4 ,john ,hartman ,oswald and ,james ,laurence ,crowley are both gifted with a fluency and self-sufficiency which might prove valuable assets in a study of poesy4 ,w4 ,f4 ,booker of ,north ,carolina possesses phenomenal grace1 which greater technical care would develop into unusual power4 ,rev4 ,robert ,l4 ,selle1 ,d4 ,d41 of ,little ,rock1 ,arkansas1 is inspired by sincerest religious fervor1 and has produced a voluminous quantity of verse whose orthodoxy is above dispute4 ,mrs4 ,maude ,k4 ,barton writes frequently and well1 though her technical polish has not yet attained its maximum4 ,john ,osman ,baldwin of ,ohio is a natural poet of spontaneous grace1 though requiring cultivation in correct style4 ,from the foregoing estimate it may easily be gathered that imperfect technique is the cardinal sin of the average amateur poet4 ,we have among us scores of writers blest with beautiful thoughts and attractive fluency1 yet the number of precise versifiers may be counted on one's fingers4 ,our association needs increased requirements in classic scholarship and literary exactitude4 ,at present1 it is impossible for an impartial critic to give unstinted approval to the technique of any well known ,united poet save ,rheinhart ,kleiner4 ,turning to the consideration of our prose writers1 the undersigned finds it difficult to render a true judgment1 owing to the adverse conditions mentioned earlier in this report4 ,many fluent pens are doubtless cramped into feebleness through want of space4 ,fiction is among us the least developed of all the branches of literature4 ,really good stories are rare phenomena1 whilst even mediocrity is none too common4 ,the best short stories of the year are probably those by ,m4 ,almedia ,bretholl and ,eleanor ,barnhart2 the others are mainly juvenile work4 ,roy ,w4 ,nixon and ,miss ,coralie ,austin represent the extremes of excitement and tameness1 with ,a ,bottle of ,carbolic ,acid on the one hand1 and with ,jane and ',twixt the ,red and the ,white on the other4 ,both of these authors possess substantial ability4 ,david ,h4 ,whittier is developing along classic lines1 and will be a prominent figure in the next generation of amateur journalists4 ,mr4 ,moe's pupils are all good story-tellers1 the work of ,miss ,gladys ,l4 ,bagg standing forth quite prominently this year4 ,florence ,brugger's ,tale of the ,sea is a graphic narrative from a youthful pen1 as is ,william ,dowdell's ,behind the ,canvas ,wall1 in a somewhat different way4 ,henriette and ,florenz ,ziegfeld have each contributed excellent work1 nor must ,mary ,m4 ,sisson's ,tempora ,mutantur be forgotten4 ,the rather loosely defined domain of the sketch has thriven this year1 since it elicits fluent expression from those less prolific in other branches of literature4 ,mr4 ,melvin ,ryder has entertained us with an entire magazine of this sort of material1 whilst ,mrs4 ,ida ,c4 ,haughton1 ,irene ,metzger1 ,benjamin ,repp1 ,mary ,faye ,durr1 ,ethel ,halsey1 ,clara ,inglis ,stalker1 ,freda de ,larot1 ,helene ,e4 ,hoffman ,cole1 ,helen ,m4 ,woodruff1 ,ira ,a4 ,cole1 and ,eloise ,n4 ,griffith prove no less entertaining with shorter sketches4 ,criticism is well represented by ,leo ,fritter1 ,edna ,m4 ,haughton1 ,mrs4 ,j4 ,w4 ,renshaw1 and ,rheinhart ,kleiner4 ,the latter is no less gifted a critic than a poet1 and gives out very acute judgments in his journal1 ,the ,piper4 ,in viewing the formal essays of the year1 one is impressed with the profusion of mere schoolboy compositions4 ,masters of the ,addisonian art are few but those few almost atone for the general lack of polish4 ,henry ,clapham ,mc,gavack leads the list with a clarity of style and keenness of reasoning unsurpassed in the association4 ,his ,dr4 ,burgess1 ,propagandist is an amateur classic4 ,edgar ,ralph ,cheyney is an extreme radical1 but is none the less a masterful essayist4 ,his articles take a very high rank both for thoughtfulness and for diction4 ,a third writer of unusual power and analytical depth is ,arthur ,w4 ,ashby1 whose essays on the varied aspects of ,nature command our serious attention4 ,the two ,schillings1 ,george and ,samuel1 deserve more than a passing mention1 whilst ,pres4 ,fritter's ,laureateship well attests his merit4 ,rev4 ,e4 ,p4 ,parham has produced work of attractive quality4 ,joseph ,w4 ,renshaw's essays and editorials command notice whenever beheld2 whilst ,ira ,a4 ,cole1 ever versatile1 will shortly display his epistolary skill in the now unpublished series of ,churchill-,tutcombie ,letters4 ,william ,t4 ,harrington has progressed by leaps and bounds to a prominent place amongst our essay-writers1 his able encomiums of ,old ,england being a delightful feature of the year4 ,it would be gratifying to speak of ,maurice ,w4 ,moe's splendid style and terse ,english at this point1 for he is one of our very foremost essayists2 but his enforced inactivity in amateur journalism this year has deprived us of any current specimens save the brief editorial in the ,february ,pippin4 ,the general quality of our prose is by no means satisfactory4 ,too many of our authors are contaminated with modern theories which cause them to abandon grace1 dignity1 and precision1 and to cultivate the lowest forms of slang4 ,papers and magazines have been neither ample nor numerous this year2 in fact1 the tendency of the times appears to be a centralization of effort in ,,the ,,united ,,amateur2 something which is for many reasons to be applauded1 and for a few reasons to be deplored4 ,those members who feel capable of issuing individual papers should be encouraged to do so2 whilst those who are ordinarily silent1 should be encouraged to join the contributing staff of ,,the ,,united ,,amateur as provided by the ,campbell amendment4 ,the best individual journal of the year is ,ole ,miss'4 ,for frequency and regularity1 ,the ,scot1 ,the ,woodbee1 ,the ,dixie ,booster1 and ,the ,coyote are to be commended4 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur has prospered as a monthly despite adverse conditions4 ,the elaborate ,september1 ,october and ,february numbers put us in deep debt to ,mr4 ,edward ,f4 ,daas1 while subsequent examples of good editorship must be accredited to ,mr4 ,george ,schilling4 ,it is gratifying to note the increasing literary character of the ,official ,organ2 purely official numbers are invariably tedious1 many of the long1 detailed reports being quite superfluous4 ,it is a strong and sincere hope of the undersigned1 that ,mr4 ,daas may rejoin us at and after the present convention4 ,the resumption of ,the ,lake ,breeze would supply a pressing need4 ,mr4 ,moitoret's ,cleveland ,sun1 which promises to be a frequently issued paper1 made its first appearance lately1 and will1 after much of its loudness has been removed1 be of substantial benefit to new members4 ,the sporting features should be eliminated at once1 as not only being in bad taste1 but exerting a noxious influence over the literary development of the younger members4 ,while upon the subject of papers1 the undersigned would like to enter a renewed protest against the persistent use of certain distorted forms of spelling commonly called simplified4 ,these wretched innovations1 popular amongst the less educated element during the past decade1 are now becoming offensively prominent in certain periodicals of supposedly better grade1 and require concerted opposition on the part of all friends of our language4 ,the advantages claimed for the changes are almost wholly unsubstantial1 whilst the inevitable disadvantages are immense4 ,let us see fewer thrus and thoros in the amateur press6 ,what the association needs above all things is a return to earlier forms in prose and verse alike2 to poetry that does not pain the ear1 and paragraphs that do not affront the aesthetic sense of the reader4 ,if our writers would pay more attention to the tasteful ,georgian models1 they would produce work of infinitely less cacophonous quality4 ,almost every one of our authors who is familiar with the literature of the past1 is distinguished by exceptional grace and fluency of composition4 ,as this report draws toward its conclusion1 a few minor aims of the ,department of ,public ,criticism are to be noted4 ,it is now the desire of the undersigned to aid authors in rectifying the injustices to which they are subjected by the wretched typography of most amateur journals4 ,writers are hereby encouraged to transmit to this ,department corrected copies of all misprinted work1 the corrections to be made public in ,,the ,,united ,,amateur4 ,by this method it is hoped that no amateur journalist will again be forced to suffer for faults not his own1 as so many have suffered in the past4 ,of course1 the critical reports themselves are frequently misprinted1 but the vast majority of mistakes may with care be eliminated4 ,concerning the name of this association1 which a number wish changed in a manner that will eliminate the word amateur1 the undersigned feels that the sentiment of the veteran element is too strongly against such a move to warrant its immediate adoption4 ,the primary object is the training of young writers before they have attained the professional grade1 wherefore the present title is by no means such a misnomer as might be inferred from the talents of the more cultivated members4 ,however1 the proposed alteration is certainly justified in many ways1 hence the idea should be deferred rather than abandoned altogether4 ,the wane of interest in amateur political affairs is to be commended as a recognition of the superior importance of literary matters4 ,amateur journalism is rapidly progressing nearer and nearer its ideal3 a device for the instruction of the young and crude1 and an aid for the obscure author of any sort1 rather than a playground for the aimless and the frivolous4 ,last of all1 the undersigned wishes to thank the membership for its kind reception of the ,department's reports4 ,it is ever the ,chairman's design to render impartial judgment1 and if harshness or captiousness may at any time have been noticed in the reports1 it has in each case been unintentional4 ,an ideal of sound conservatism has been followed1 but in no instance has the critic sought to enforce upon others that peculiarly archaic style of which he is personally fond1 and which he is accustomed to employ in his own compositions4 ,the ,department of ,public ,criticism aspires to be of substantial assistance to the members of the ,united1 and hopes next year to co-operate with ,mr4 ,lockhart in presenting reviews of truly constructive quality4 ,solicitous for the approval1 and confident of the indulgence of the association1 the ,department herewith has the honor to conclude its first annual report2 in the hope that such a summary of events and estimate of conditions may be of use to the incoming administration4 ,h4 ,p4 ,,lovecraft1 ,chairman4 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,september #aiaf ,,department ,,of ,,public ,,criticism ,the ,amateur ,special for ,july is a voluminous magazine of credentials and other work of new members1 edited by ,mrs4 ,e4 ,l4 ,whitehead1 retiring ,eastern ,manuscript ,manager1 with the assistance of the ,recruiting ,committee4 ,of all papers lately issued in the ,united1 this is without doubt among the most valuable and most significant2 since it is the pioneer of the new regime1 whereby the talent of all our membership is to be brought out by better publishing facilities4 ,mrs4 ,whitehead1 with notable generosity1 has reserved for herself but one page1 on which we find a clever and correct bit of verse1 and a number of graceful acknowledgments and useful suggestions4 ,the contents in general are well calculated to display the thorough literary excellence and supremacy of the ,united in its present condition2 for in this collection of stories1 poems1 and articles1 taken practically at random from the manuscript bureaus1 there is scarce a line unworthy of commendation4 ,tatting1 by ,julian ,j4 ,crump1 is a fluent and graceful colloquial sketch4 ,mother and ,child1 by ,j4 ,e4 ,hoag1 is a sombre and thoughtful poem having a certain atmosphere of mysticism4 ,the metre1 which is well handled1 consists of regular iambic pentameter quatrains with a couplet at the conclusion4 ,an annoying misprint mars the first stanza1 where sigh is erroneously rendered as sight4 ,homesick for the ,spring1 a poem by ,bessie ,estelle ,harvey1 displays real merit in thought and construction alike4 ,mother ,earth1 by ,rev4 ,e4 ,p4 ,parham1 is a well adorned little essay in justification of the traditional saying that the earth is mother of us all4 ,george ,m4 ,whiteside1 a new member of the ,united1 makes his first appearance before us as a poet in ,the ,little ,freckled ,face ,kid4 ,mr4 ,whiteside's general style is not unlike that of the late ,james ,whitcomb ,riley1 and its prevailing air of homely yet pleasing simplicity is well maintained4 ,to ,chloris1 by ,chester ,pierce ,munroe1 is a smooth and melodious amatory poem of the ,kleiner school4 ,the imagery is refined1 and the polish of the whole amply justifies the inevitable triteness of the theme4 ,the word adorns1 in next the last line1 should read adorn4 ,a ,dream1 by ,helen ,harriet ,salls1 is a hauntingly mystical succession of poetic images cast in appropriate metre4 ,the natural phenomena of the morning are vividly depicted in a fashion possible only to the true poet4 ,the printer has done injustice to this exquisite phantasy in three places4 ,in the first stanza wonderous should read wondrous1 while in the seventh stanza arient should be orient4 ,thou'st1 in the eleventh stanza1 should be ,thou'rt4 ,prayers1 a religious poem by ,rev4 ,robert ,l4 ,selle1 ,d4 ,d41 displays the classic touch of the eighteenth century in its regular octosyllabic couplets1 having some resemblance to the work of the celebrated ,dr4 ,watts4 ,snow of the ,northland1 by ,m4 ,estella ,shufelt1 is a religious poem of different sort1 whose tuneful dactylic quatrains contain much noble and appropriate metaphor4 ,in the final line the word re-cleaned should read re-cleansed4 ,in ,passing ,by1 by ,sophie ,lea ,fox1 is a meritorious poem of the thoughtful1 introspective type1 which has been previously honoured with professional publication4 ,a ,time to ,sing1 by ,m4 ,b4 ,andrews1 introduces to the ,united another genuine poet of worth4 ,the lines are happy in inspiration and finished in form1 having only one possible defect1 the use of heralding as a dissyllable4 ,the ,stately ,mountains1 by ,rev4 ,eugene ,b4 ,kuntz1 ,d4 ,d41 is a notable contribution to amateur poetic literature4 ,dr4 ,kuntz chooses as his favourite metre the stately ,alexandrine2 and using it in a far more flexible and ingenious manner than that of ,drayton1 he manages to achieve a dignified and exalted atmosphere virtually impossible in any other measure4 ,the even caesural break so common to ,alexandrines1 and so often urged by critics as an objection against them1 is here avoided with great ingenuity and good taste4 ,dr4 ,kuntz's sentiments and phrases are as swelling and sublime as one might expect from his metre4 ,his conception of ,nature is a broad and noble one1 and his appreciation of her beauties is that of the innate poet4 ,an ,april ,memory acquaints us with ,w4 ,frank ,booker1 a gifted lyrist whose lines possess all the warmth1 witchery and grace of his native ,southland4 ,james ,j4 ,hennessey1 in his essay on ,the ,army in ,times of ,peace1 exhibits very forcibly the various indispensable services so quietly and efficiently performed by the ,united ,states ,army in every-day life4 ,mr4 ,hennessey makes plain the great value of having among us a body of keen1 versatile1 and well-trained men ready for duty of any sort1 and ever alert for their country's welfare in peace or in war4 ,the ,american ,soldier well deserves ,mr4 ,hennessey's tribute1 and the present essay adds one more to the already incontrovertible array of arguments in favour of an adequate military system4 ,as printed1 the article is marred by a superfluous letter s on the very last word1 which should read citizen4 ,sowing the ,good1 a brief bit of moralizing by ,horace ,fowler ,goodwin1 contains a serious misprint1 for the final word of line #a1 stanza #b1 should be say4 ,bobby's ,literary ,lesson1 by ,gladys ,l4 ,bagg1 is a delightful specimen of domestic satire in prose4 ,the handling of the conversation exhibits ,miss ,bagg as a writer of considerable skill and promise4 ,the ,leaf1 a clever poem of ,nature by ,emily ,barksdale1 contains some gruesome atrocities by the printer4 ,in the second stanza it's should be it1 and wonderous should be wondrous4 ,in the third stanza the typographical artist has killed a pretty woodland copse with the letter r1 so that it reads corpse6 ,in the fourth stanza head should read heard4 ,perhaps the r which murdered the copse escaped from this sadly mutilated word6 ,in stanza five1 ,chaots should be chants4 ,but why continue the painful chronicle8 ,mr4 ,kleiner said just what we would like to say about misprints over a year ago1 when he wrote ,the ,rhyme of the ,hapless ,poet6 ,submission1 by ,eugene ,b4 ,kuntz1 is a delightful bit of light prose1 forming the autobiography of a much-rejected manuscript4 ,this piece well exhibits ,dr4 ,kuntz's remarkable versatility4 ,the humour is keen1 and nowhere overstrained4 ,number #abhg1 a short story by ,gracia ,isola ,yarbrough1 exhibits many of the flaws of immature work1 yet contains graphic touches that promise well for the author4 ,the lack of unity in plot and development detracts somewhat from the general effect1 while the unusual lapses of time and artificial working up of the later situations are also antagonistic to technical polish4 ,triteness is present1 but that is to be expected in all amateur fiction4 ,a ,drama of ,business1 by ,edgar ,ralph ,cheyney1 is a terse bit of prose which might well serve as an editorial in a liberal literary magazine4 ,the ,schools of ,yesterday and ,today1 a sketch by ,selma ,guilford1 presents in pleasing fashion an interesting and optimistic contrast4 ,in ,mother1 ,george ,m4 ,whiteside treats a noble theme in rather skilful fashion1 though the rhyming of breezes and trees is can hardly be deemed suitable in a serious poem4 ,when the ,sea ,calls1 a poem by ,winifred ,virginia ,jordan1 is possibly the most striking feature of the magazine4 ,mrs4 ,jordan's style in dealing with the wilder aspects of ,nature has a grim potency all its own1 and we can endorse without qualification the judgment of ,mr4 ,moe when he calls this poem positively magnificent in dynamic effect4 ,to ,mrs4 ,jordan is granted a natural poetic genius which few other amateurs can hope to parallel4 ,not many of our literary artists can so aptly fit words to weird or unusual passages1 or so happily command all the advantages of alliteration and onomatopoeia4 ,we believe that ,mrs4 ,jordan's amateur eminence will eventually ripen into professional recognition4 ,preachers in ,politics1 by ,rev4 ,james ,thomas ,self1 is a long1 thoughtful1 and extremely well phrased essay against the descent of the ministry to the uncertain affairs of practical legislation4 ,dr4 ,self has a just idea of the dignity of the cloth2 an idea which some clergymen of less conservative habits would do well to acquire4 ,very painful is the sight of the slang-mouthing evangelist who deserts his pulpit for the stump or the circus-tent4 ,peace1 ,germany61 a poem by ,maude ,kingsbury ,barton1 constitutes an appeal to the present outlaw among nations4 ,we feel1 however1 that it is only from ,london that ,germany will eventually be convinced of the futility of her pseudo-,napoleonic enterprise4 ,and when peace does come to ,germany1 it will be ,british-made peace6 ,the structure of ,mrs4 ,barton's poem is regular1 and many of the images are very well selected4 ,the worst misprints are those in the sixth stanza1 where in is omitted before the word pomp1 and in the seventh stanza where come is printed as came4 ,in the biographical sketch entitled ,two ,lives1 ,helen ,hamilton draws a powerful moral from the contrasting but contemporaneous careers of ,florence ,nightingale and the ex-,empress ,eugenie4 ,class-,room ,spirits ,i ,have ,known1 an essay by ,bessie ,estelle ,harvey1 displays a sound comprehension of pedagogical principles4 ,two more poems by ,mrs4 ,jordan conclude the issue4 ,the ,time of ,peach ,tree ,bloom is the fourth of the ,songs from ,walpi1 three of which appeared in ,,the ,,united ,,amateur4 ,in a ,garden is a gem of delightful delicacy and ethereal elegance4 ,it is indeed not without just cause that the author has1 from the very first1 held the distinction of being the most frequent poetical contributor in all amateur journalism4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,cleveland ,sun for ,june is the first number of an amateur newspaper edited by ,anthony ,f4 ,moitoret1 ,edwin ,d4 ,harkins1 and ,william ,j4 ,dowdell2 and remarkable for an excellent heading1 drawn by a staff artist of the ,cleveland ,leader4 ,the present issue is printed in close imitation of the modern professional daily1 and displays some interesting examples of newspaper ,english4 ,mr4 ,moitoret is an old-time ,united man1 now reentering the sphere of activity1 and he is to be commended warmly both for his generous attitude toward the new members1 and for his really magnanimous offer of aid to those desirous of issuing individual papers4 ,his editorial hostility toward the ,campbell amendment is1 we believe1 mistaken2 yet is none the less founded on a praiseworthy desire to serve what he deems the best interests of the ,association4 ,were ,mr4 ,moitoret more in touch with the rising ideals of the newer ,united1 he would realize the essential childishness of our official business as contrasted with the substantial solidity of our developing literature4 ,possibly the plan of ,mr4 ,campbell1 as experimentally tried during the present year1 will alter ,mr4 ,moitoret's present opinion4 ,taken altogether1 we are not sure whether the ,sun will prove beneficial or harmful to the ,united4 ,we most assuredly need some sort of stimulus to activity1 yet the comparatively crude atmosphere of newspaperdom is anything but inspiring in a literary society4 ,we cannot descend from the ideals of ,homer to those of ,hearst without a distinct loss of quality1 for which no possible gain in mere enthusiasm can compensate4 ,headlines such as ,columbus ,bunch ,boosting ,paul or ,hep ,still ,shows ,pep1 are positive affronts to the dignity of amateur journalism4 ,there is room for an alert and informing news sheet in the ,united1 yet we feel certain that the ,sun must become a far more sedate and scholarly publication before it can adequately supply the need4 ,at present1 its garish rays dazzle and blind more than they illuminate2 in a perusal of its pages we experience more of sunstroke than of sunshine4 ,of ,the ,best ,sport ,page ,in ,amateurdom we find it difficult to speak or write4 ,not since perusing the delectable lines of ,tom ,crib's ,memorial to ,congress1 by jovial old ,anacreon ,moore1 have we beheld such an invasion of prize-fight philosophy and race-track rhetoric4 ,we learn with interest that a former ,united member named ,handsome ,harry has now graduated from literature to left field1 and has1 through sheer genius1 risen from the lowly level of the ambitious author1 to the exalted eminence of the classy slugger4 ,too proud to push the pen1 he now swats the pill4 ,of such doth the dizzy quality of sempiternal ,fame consist6 ,speaking without levity1 we cannot but censure ,mr4 ,dowdell's introduction of the ringside or ball-field spirit into an ,association purporting to promote culture and lettered skill4 ,our members can scarcely be expected to place the ,stygian-hued ,john ,arthur ,johnson1 ,esq41 on a pedestal beside his well-known namesake ,samuel2 or calmly to compare the stinging wit of a ,sidney ,smith with the stinging fist-cuffs of a ,gunboat ,smith4 ,in a word1 what is suited to the street-corner is not always suited to the library1 and the taste of the ,united is as yet but imperfectly attuned to the lyrical liltings of the pool-room ,muse4 ,it is both hard and unwise to take the ,best ,sport ,page seriously4 ,as a copy of yellow models it is a work of artistic verisimilitude2 indeed1 were ,mr4 ,dowdell a somewhat older man1 we might justly suspect a satirical intention on his part4 ,we trust that ,the ,cleveland ,sun may shine on without cloud or setting1 though we must needs hope that the ,united's atmosphere of academic refinement will temper somewhat the scorching glare with which the bright orb has risen4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,conservative for ,april opens with ,andrew ,francis ,lockhart's melodious and attractive poem entitled ,benediction4 ,as a whole1 this is possibly the best piece of verse which ,mr4 ,lockhart has yet written2 the sentiment is apt1 if not entirely novel1 whilst the technical construction is well-nigh faultless4 ,such expressions as pearl-scarr'd serve to exhibit the active and original quality of ,mr4 ,lockhart's genius4 ,another ,endless ,day1 by ,rheinhart ,kleiner1 is a beautiful and harmonious poetical protest against monotony4 ,much to be regretted is the misprint in line #c of the third stanza1 where the text should read3 ,a love to thrill with new delight4 ,april1 by ,winifred ,virginia ,jordan1 is a seasonable and extremely tuneful poem whose imagery is of that dainty1 sprightly sort which only ,mrs4 ,jordan can create4 ,in ,morven's ,mead1 also by ,mrs4 ,jordan1 contains an elusive and haunting suggestion of the unreal1 in the author's characteristic style4 ,the ,night ,wind ,bared ,my ,heart completes a highly meritorious trilogy4 ,in justice to the author1 it should be stated that the last of these three poems is1 as here presented1 merely a rough draft4 ,through our own reprehensible editorial oversight1 the printer received this unpolished copy instead of the finished poem4 ,the following emendations should be observed3 ,stanza ,i1 line #d1 to read3 ,awak'd my anguish'd sighs4 ,stanza ,,ii1 line #c1 to read3 ,but ,oh1 from grief were prest4 ,the ,best ,wine1 by ,william de ,ryee1 is an earnestly introspective poem1 well cast in iambic pentameter quatrains4 ,ye ,ballade of ,patrick von ,flynn is a comic delineation of the cheap pseudo-,irish1 ,england-hating agitators who have been so offensively noisy on this side of the ,atlantic ever since the ,european war began1 and particularly since the late riots in ,dublin4 ,this class1 which so sadly misrepresents the loyal ,irish people1 deserves but little patience from ,americans4 ,its members stutter childishly about breaches of neutrality every time a real ,american dares speak a word in favour of the ,mother ,country2 yet they constantly violate neutrality themselves in their clumsy attempts to use the ,united ,states as a catspaw against ,england4 ,the actual ,german propagandists have the excuse of patriotism for their race and ,vaterland1 but these ,hibernian hybrids1 neither good ,irishmen nor good ,americans1 have no excuse whatever when they try to subvert the functions of the country which is giving them protection and livelihood4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,conservative for ,july pays a deserved tribute to one of the most lucid and acute of our amateur essayists1 by devoting the entire issue to his work4 ,henry ,clapham ,mc,gavack1 in ,the ,american ,proletariat versus ,england1 exposes with admirable fearlessness the silly ,anglophobic notions which a mistaken conception of the ,revolution1 and an ignorant ,irish population1 have diffused among our lower classes4 ,it is seldom that an author ventures to speak so frankly on this subject1 for the servile tendency of the times impels most writers and publishers to play the demagogue by essaying to feed the ,irish masses with the anti-,english swill they desire2 but ,mr4 ,mc,gavack wields an independent pen1 and records the truth without fear of the mobile vulgus and its shallow views4 ,in power1 directness1 urbanity1 and impartiality1 ,mr4 ,mc,gavack cannot be excelled4 ,he marshals his arguments without passion1 bias1 or circumlocution2 piling proof upon proof until none but the most stubborn ,england-hater can fail to blush at the equal injustice and stupidity of those who malign that mighty empire to whose earth-wide circle of civilisation we all belong4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,coyote for ,april is a ,special ,english ,number1 dedicated to our soldier-member1 ,george ,william ,stokes of ,newcastle-on-,tyne4 ,the opening poem ,to ,england1 well exhibits the versatility of ,mrs4 ,winifred ,v4 ,jordan1 who here appears as a national panegyrist of commendable dignity and unexceptionable taste4 ,the word at the beginning of the fourth line should read ,is instead of ,to4 ,the short yet stirring metre is particularly well selected4 ,active ,english ,amateurs ,i ,have ,met1 by ,ernest ,a4 ,dench1 is a rather good prose piece1 though not without marks of careless composition4 ,the ,vultur1 by ,henry ,j4 ,winterbone of the ,b4 ,a4 ,p4 ,a41 is a remarkably good story whose development and conclusion would do credit to a professional pen4 ,we hope ,mr4 ,winterbone may join the ,united1 thereby giving ,american readers a more ample opportunity to enjoy his work4 ,editor ,william ,t4 ,harrington1 whose prose is so rapidly acquiring polish and fluency1 contributes two brief but able essays3 ,history ,repeats and ,how ,great ,britain ,keeps ,her ,empire4 ,in ,history ,repeats1 certain parts of the second sentence might well be amended a trifle in structure1 to read thus3 it must be remembered that the first half was a series of victories for the ,south1 and that only after the ,battle of ,gettysburg did the strength of the ,north begin to assert itself4 ,this number of ,the ,coyote is an exceedingly timely and tasteful tribute to our ,mother ,country1 appearing at an hour when the air of ,america reeks with the illiterate anti-,british trash of the ,sinn ,fein simpletons and ,prussian propagandists4 99 99 99 99 99 ,invictus for ,july is the second number of ,mr4 ,paul ,j4 ,campbell's personal organ1 and represents the strictly individual magazine in its most tasteful and elaborate form4 ,unimpeachably artistic in appearance1 its contents justify the exterior2 the whole constituting a publication of the first rank1 wherein are joined the virtues both of the old and of the new schools of amateur journalism4 ,since ,mr4 ,campbell is preeminently an essayist1 it is to his dissertations on ,the ,pursuit of ,happiness and ,the ,age of ,accuracy which we turn most eagerly2 and which in no way disappoint our high expectations4 ,the first of these essays is a dispassionate survey of mankind in its futile but frantic scramble after that elusive but unreal sunbeam called happiness4 ,the author views the grimly amusing procession of human life with the genuine objective of an impartial spectator1 and with commendable freedom from the hypocritical colouring of those who permit commonplace emotions and tenuous idealizings to obscure the less roseate but more substantial vision of their intellects4 ,the ,age of ,accuracy presents an inspiring panorama of the evolution of ,intellect1 and of its increasing domination over the more elemental faculties of instinct and emotion4 ,at the same time1 much material for reflection is furnished1 since it is obvious that the advance is necessarily confined to a comparatively small and select part of humanity4 ,instinct and emotion are still forces of tremendous magnitude1 against which ,reason wages an upward struggle of incredible bravery4 ,only the strong can escape the clutch of the primitive1 wherefore there can be no successful social order which does not conform in its essentials to the blind impulses of the natural man or man-ape4 ,we are in danger of overestimating the ascendancy and stability of ,reason1 for it is in reality the most fragile and rudimentary element in our mortal fabric4 ,a heavy blow on certain parts of the skull1 or a bullet in certain parts of the brain1 can destroy in an instant all the accumulated intellect which aeons of heredity have bestowed1 depressing the victim from the zenith of culture and refinement to a condition separated only by colour and contour from that of the negro or the gorilla2 yet not all the edicts of the lawgiver1 devices of the educator1 measures of the reformer1 or skill of the surgeon1 can extirpate the ingrained instincts and seated superstitions of the average human animal4 ,the poetry of ,mr4 ,campbell is represented in ,invictus by three specimens1 whose merit speaks well for the author's progress in the art4 ,the ,sunshine ,girl is an amatory panegyric of no small skill and polish1 though not strikingly novel in sentiment or expression4 ,german ,kultur is a scathing and virile indictment of the present enemies of humanity4 ,the versification is bold1 and in places rugged1 whilst the imagery is appropriately grim and sardonic4 ,points which we might criticise are the repeated use of civilization as a word of only four syllables1 and the archaic pronunciation of drown-ed as a dissyllable4 ,this latter usage would be objectionable in verse of stately or conservative cast1 but here grates upon the ear as an anachronism4 ,the trenchant wit of the piece is well sustained1 and brought out with particular force in the second and fourth stanzas4 ,the ,major ,strain is without doubt the foremost verse of the issue4 ,this is real poetry4 ,the sustained rhyming1 whereby each stanza contains only one rhyming sound1 is pleasing and unusual4 ,mr4 ,campbell's comment on ,amateur ,affairs really deserves to be classed as an essay1 for its thoughtful conclusions and intelligent analyses of human nature certainly draw it within the pale of true literature4 ,the broad comprehension and continued love of amateur journalism here exhibited1 are potent justifications of the author's practically unanimous election to the ,presidency of the ,united4 ,invictus is one of the very foremost journals of the amateur world1 and the only possible objection which can be raised against it1 is its infrequency of appearance4 ,it is the voice of a virile and vibrant personality who unites vigour of thought with urbanity of expression4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,scot for ,may marks the advent of this highly entertaining and well conducted magazine to the ,united1 and extends the northern frontier of amateur journalism to ,bonnie ,dundee1 in ,auld ,scotland1 the ,land of ,mountain and ,flood4 ,hidden ,beauty1 a poem in blank verse by ,r4 ,m4 ,ingersley1 opens the issue with a combination of lofty conceptions1 vivid imagery1 and regular structure4 ,england's ,glory1 by ,clyde ,dane1 is a stirring tale of that fearless and self-sacrificing honour which has given to the ,anglo-,saxon the supremacy of the world4 ,it would be in bad taste to cavil at slight technical imperfections or instances of triteness when considering so earnest and glowing a delineation of the ,british character2 the noblest human type ever moulded by the ,creator4 ,oh ,rose1 ,red ,rose6 is a tuneful little lyric by ,winifred ,v4 ,jordan1 whose work is never too brief to be pleasing1 or too long to be absorbing4 ,clemency versus ,frightfulness1 by ,william ,t4 ,harrington1 is a thoughtful and lucid exposition of the ,british governmental ideal of lenient justice2 an ideal whose practical success has vividly demonstrated its thorough soundness4 ,at ,last1 by ,muriel ,wilson1 is a blank verse poem of much merit4 ,do ,you ,remember81 by the late ,lieut4 ,roy ,arthur ,thackara1 ,r4 ,n41 is a delicate sketch possessing the additional interest of coming from the pen of one who has now given his life for ,king and ,country2 the author having gone down with ,h4 ,m4 ,s4 ,india4 ,a ,battle with the ,sea1 a sketch by ,midshipman ,ernest ,l4 ,mc,keag1 exhibits descriptive power of no common order1 yet might well have a less abrupt conclusion4 ,to ,some ,one1 by ,margaret ,trafford1 is a poem in dactylic measure1 dedicated to the women of ,britain4 ,the sentiment is noble1 and the encomium well bestowed1 though the metre could be improved in polish4 ,gum1 by ,henry ,j4 ,winterbone1 is a delightfully humorous sketch4 ,it is evident that those who depreciate ,british humour must have taken pains to avoid its perusal1 since it has a quietly pungent quality seldom found save among ,anglo-,saxons4 ,personally1 we believe that the summit of clumsy pseudo-jocoseness is attained by the average comic supplement of the ,hearst ,sunday papers4 ,these1 and not the ,british press1 present the pathetic spectacle of utter inanity and repulsive grotesqueness without the faintest redeeming touch of genuine comedy1 legitimate satire1 or refined humour4 ,life's ,voyage1 by ,matthew ,hilson1 is a poem of great attractiveness1 though of scarcely impeccable construction4 ,concerning the expression tempests wild do roar1 we must reiterate the advice of ,mr4 ,pope1 who condemned the expletive do1 doth1 or did as a feeble aid4 ,such usage has1 in fact1 been in bad taste ever since the reign of ,queen ,anne2 ,dryden being the last bard in whom we need not censure the practice4 ,mr4 ,mc,coll's editorials are brief but informing4 ,he may well be congratulated on his work as a publisher1 and he certainly deserves as hearty a welcome as the ,united can give4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,scot for ,june is a ,british ,old-,timers' ,number1 confined wholly to the work of the senior amateur journalists of the ,mother ,country4 ,edward ,f4 ,herdman1 to whom this number is dedicated1 opens the issue with a religious poem entitled ,life1 which compares well with the bulk of current religious verse4 ,mr4 ,herdman also contributes one of several prose essays on amateur journalism1 in which the various authors view our field of endeavor from similar angles4 ,a ,song of a ,sailor1 by ,r4 ,d4 ,roosemale-,cocq1 exhibits buoyant animation1 and considerable ease in the handling of a rollicking measure4 ,the internal rhymes are for the most part well introduced1 though greater uniformity might have been used in their distribution4 ,the first two lines have none4 ,in the last stanza there are two lines whose metre seems deficient1 but being conscious of the uncertainties of the secretarial and typographical arts1 we suspend judgment on the author4 ,a ,song of ,cheer1 by ,alfred ,h4 ,pearce1 is an optimistic ode of real merit4 ,the last line furnishes a particularly pleasing example of sprightly wit4 ,mr4 ,gavin ,t4 ,mc,coll is sensible and perspicuous in all his editorial utterances4 ,his work in issuing one of the only two regular monthly magazines in amateurdom has already brought him to prominence1 though his connexion with the press associations is still new4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur for ,june is given over largely to critical and official matter1 though two pieces of verse serve to vary the monotony4 ,content1 from our own pen1 is an answer to ,mr4 ,rheinhart ,kleiner's delightful poem in the ,april ,conservative1 entitled ,another ,endless ,day4 ,the lines are notable chiefly on account of some fearful and wonderful typographical errors4 ,in the fourth line sublime should read sublimer4 ,in the eighth line there should be no apostrophe in the word stars4 ,in the second column1 eleventh line from the end1 there should be no apostrophe in the word fathers1 and finally1 in the ninth line from the end1 hollow'd should read hallow'd4 ,the ,swing in the ,great ,oak ,tree1 by ,mrs4 ,agnes ,richmond ,arnold1 is a reminiscent poem whose measure is as swinging as its subject1 and whose atmosphere is pleasantly rural4 ,there are flaws in the metre1 and irregularities in the rhyming arrangement1 but the spirit of the whole rises blithesomely above such slight technical matters4 ,editor ,schilling's column is to be praised for its dignified style1 and endorsed for its sound opinions4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,woodbee for ,july is an attractive and important contribution to the history of amateur journalism2 since it is entirely devoted to the biographies of the gifted ,columbus amateurs1 and to the annals of their brilliant local organization4 ,the ,woodbees undoubtedly form the most active and representative adult club in the ,united2 to which only the ,appleton ,club1 representing the juvenile ,muse1 may justly be compared4 ,the ,woodbees are typical1 in a sense1 of all that is best in the entire association4 ,they are pursuing courses of serious literary study1 producing a regularly issued magazine of unfailing merit and good taste1 working enthusiastically for the welfare and expansion of the ,united1 and leading or following every worthy or progressive movement in amateur politics4 ,they reflect credit upon themselves1 their society1 the ,association1 and amateur journalism as a whole4 ,the delightful biographical article which occupies the major portion of the current ,woodbee is unsigned2 but deserves particular praise1 whoever the author may be4 ,the various characters are well displayed1 and their pleasing qualities and manifold activities well exhibited4 ,mr4 ,fritter's editorials are as usual timely1 lucid1 and sensible4 ,his advocacy of the ,campbell ,amendment is to be applauded2 and will1 we trust1 be justified by the year's trial which that measure is now undergoing4 ,the present issue marks the conclusion of ,mr4 ,fritter's term as editor4 ,he has given the amateur public a creditable volume1 and is entitled to the gratitude of every member of our ,association4 ,a final word of praise is due the excellent group photograph of the ,woodbees which forms the frontispiece of the magazine4 ,added to the biographical matter1 it completes a thoroughly commendable introduction to a thoroughly commendable body of literary workers4 ,h4 ,p4 ,,lovecraft1 ,chairman4 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,official ,,organ ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,press ,,association ,,volume ,,xvi ,,georgetown1 ,,ill41 ,,november1 #aiaf ,,number #d ,,the ,,alchemist ,high up1 crowning the grassy summit of a swelling mound whose sides are wooded near the base with the gnarled trees of the primeval forest1 stands the old chateau of my ancestors4 ,for centuries its lofty battlements have frowned down upon the wild and rugged countryside about1 serving as a home and stronghold for the proud house whose honoured line is older even than the moss-grown castle walls4 ,these ancient turrets1 stained by the storms of generations and crumbling under the slow yet mighty pressure of time1 formed in the ages of feudalism one of the most dreaded and formidable fortresses in all ,france4 ,from its machicolated parapets and mounted battlements ,barons1 ,counts1 and even ,kings had been defied1 yet never had its spacious halls resounded to the footstep of the invader4 ,but since those glorious years all is changed4 ,a poverty but little above the level of dire want1 together with a pride of name that forbids its alleviation by the pursuits of commercial life1 have prevented the scions of our line from maintaining their estates in pristine splendour2 and the falling stones of the walls1 the overgrown vegetation in the parks1 the dry and dusty moat1 the ill-paved courtyards1 and toppling towers without1 as well as the sagging floors1 the worm-eaten wainscots1 and the faded tapestries within1 all tell a gloomy tale of fallen grandeur4 ,as the ages passed1 first one1 then another of the four great turrets were left to ruin1 until at last but a single tower housed the sadly reduced descendants of the once mighty lords of the estate4 ,it was in one of the vast and gloomy chambers of this remaining tower that ,i1 ,antoine1 last of the unhappy and accursed ,comtes de ,c----1 first saw the light of day1 ninety long years ago4 ,within these walls1 and amongst the dark and shadowy forests1 the wild ravines and grottoes of the hillside below1 were spent the first years of my troubled life4 ,my parents ,i never knew4 ,my father had been killed at the age of thirty-two1 a month before ,i was born1 by the fall of a stone somehow dislodged from one of the deserted parapets of the castle1 and my mother having died at my birth1 my care and education devolved solely upon one remaining servitor1 an old and trusted man of considerable intelligence1 whose name ,i remember as ,pierre4 ,i was an only child1 and the lack of companionship which this fact entailed upon me was augmented by the strange care exercised by my aged guardian in excluding me from the society of the peasant children whose abodes were scattered here and there upon the plains that surround the base of the hill4 ,at the time1 ,pierre said that this restriction was imposed upon me because my noble birth placed me above association with such plebeian company4 ,now ,i know that its real object was to keep from my ears the idle tales of the dread curse upon our line1 that were nightly told and magnified by the simple tenantry as they conversed in hushed accents in the glow of their cottage hearths4 ,thus isolated1 and thrown upon my own resources1 ,i spent the hours of my childhood in poring over the ancient tomes that filled the shadow-haunted library of the chateau1 and in roaming without aim or purpose through the perpetual dusk of the spectral wood that clothes the sides of the hill near its foot4 ,it was perhaps an effect of such surroundings that my mind early acquired a shade of melancholy4 ,those studies and pursuits which partake of the dark and occult in nature most strongly claimed my attention4 ,of my own race ,i was permitted to learn singularly little1 yet what small knowledge of it ,i was able to gain1 seemed to depress me much4 ,perhaps it was at first only the manifest reluctance of my old preceptor to discuss with me my paternal ancestry that gave rise to the terror which ,i ever felt at the mention of my great house1 yet as ,i grew out of childhood1 ,i was able to piece together disconnected fragments of discourse1 let slip from the unwilling tongue which had begun to falter in approaching senility1 that had a sort of relation to a certain circumstance which ,i had always deemed strange1 but which now became dimly terrible4 ,the circumstance to which ,i allude is the early age at which all the ,comtes of my line had met their end4 ,whilst ,i had hitherto considered this but a natural attribute of a family of short-lived men1 ,i afterward pondered long upon these premature deaths1 and began to connect them with the wanderings of the old man1 who often spoke of a curse which for centuries had prevented the lives of the holders of my title from much exceeding the span of thirty-two years4 ,upon my twenty-first birthday1 the aged ,pierre gave to me a family document which he said had for many generations been handed down from father to son1 and continued by each possessor4 ,its contents were of the most startling nature1 and its perusal confirmed the gravest of my apprehensions4 ,at this time1 my belief in the supernatural was firm and deep-seated1 else ,i should have dismissed with scorn the incredible narrative unfolded before my eyes4 ,the paper carried me back to the days of the thirteenth century1 when the old castle in which ,i sat had been a feared and impregnable fortress4 ,it told of a certain ancient man who had once dwelt on our estates1 a person of no small accomplishments1 though little above the rank of peasant2 by name1 ,michel1 usually designated by the surname of ,mauvais1 the ,evil1 on account of his sinister reputation4 ,he had studied beyond the custom of his kind1 seeking such things as the ,philosopher's ,stone1 or the ,elixir of ,eternal ,life1 and was reputed wise in the terrible secrets of ,black ,magic and ,alchemy4 ,michel ,mauvais had one son1 named ,charles1 a youth as proficient as himself in the hidden arts1 and who had therefore been called ,le ,sorcier1 or the ,wizard4 ,this pair1 shunned by all honest folk1 were suspected of the most hideous practices4 ,old ,michel was said to have burnt his wife alive as a sacrifice to the ,devil1 and the unaccountable disappearances of many small peasant children were laid at the dreaded door of these two4 ,yet through the dark natures of the father and the son ran one redeeming ray of humanity2 the evil old man loved his offspring with fierce intensity1 whilst the youth had for his parent a more than filial affection4 ,one night the castle on the hill was thrown into the wildest confusion by the vanishment of young ,godfrey1 son to ,henri1 the ,comte4 ,a searching party1 headed by the frantic father1 invaded the cottage of the sorcerers and there came upon old ,michel ,mauvais1 busy over a huge and violently boiling cauldron4 ,without certain cause1 in the ungoverned madness of fury and despair1 the ,comte laid hands on the aged wizard1 and ere he released his murderous hold his victim was no more4 ,meanwhile joyful servants were proclaiming aloud the finding of young ,godfrey in a distant and unused chamber of the great edifice1 telling too late that poor ,michel had been killed in vain4 ,as the ,comte and his associates turned away from the lowly abode of the alchemists1 the form of ,charles ,le ,sorcier appeared through the trees4 ,the excited chatter of the menials standing about told him what had occurred1 yet he seemed at first unmoved at his father's fate4 ,then1 slowly advancing to meet the ,comte1 he pronounced in dull yet terrible accents the curse that ever afterward haunted the house of ,c----4 ,may ne'er a noble of thy murd'rous line ,survive to reach a greater age than thine6 spake he1 when1 suddenly leaping backwards into the black wood1 he drew from his tunic a phial of colourless liquid which he threw in the face of his father's slayer as he disappeared behind the inky curtain of the night4 ,the ,comte died without utterance1 and was buried the next day1 but little more than two and thirty years from the hour of his birth4 ,no trace of the assassin could be found1 though relentless bands of peasants scoured the neighboring woods and the meadow-land around the hill4 ,thus time and the want of a reminder dulled the memory of the curse in the minds of the late ,comte's family1 so that when ,godfrey1 innocent cause of the whole tragedy and now bearing the title1 was killed by an arrow whilst hunting1 at the age of thirty-two1 there were no thoughts save those of grief at his demise4 ,but when1 years afterward1 the next young ,comte1 ,robert by name1 was found dead in a nearby field from no apparent cause1 the peasants told in whispers that their seigneur had but lately passed his thirty-second birthday when surprised by early death4 ,louis1 son to ,robert1 was found drowned in the moat at the same fateful age1 and thus down through the centuries ran the ominous chronicle2 ,henris1 ,roberts1 ,antoines1 and ,armands snatched from happy and virtuous lives when a little below the age of their unfortunate ancestor at his murder4 ,that ,i had left at most but eleven years of further existence was made certain to me by the words which ,i read4 ,my life1 previously held at small value1 now became dearer to me each day1 as ,i delved deeper and deeper into the mysteries of the hidden world of black magic4 ,isolated as ,i was1 modern science had produced no impression upon me1 and ,i laboured as in the ,middle ,ages1 as wrapt as had been old ,michel and young ,charles themselves in the acquisition of demonological and alchemical learning4 ,yet read as ,i might1 in no manner could ,i account for the strange curse upon my line4 ,in unusually rational moments1 ,i would even go so far as to seek a natural explanation1 attributing the early deaths of my ancestors to the sinister ,charles ,le ,sorcier and his heirs2 yet having found upon careful inquiry that there were no known descendants of the alchemist1 ,i would fall back to my occult studies1 and once more endeavour to find a spell that would release my house from its terrible burden4 ,upon one thing ,i was absolutely resolved4 ,i should never wed1 for since no other branches of my family were in existence1 ,i might thus end the curse with myself4 ,as ,i drew near the age of thirty1 old ,pierre was called to the land beyond4 ,alone ,i buried him beneath the stones of the courtyard about which he had loved to wander in life4 ,thus was ,i left to ponder on myself as the only human creature within the great fortress1 and in my utter solitude my mind began to cease its vain protest against the impending doom1 to become almost reconciled to the fate which so many of my ancestors had met4 ,much of my time was now occupied in the exploration of the ruined and abandoned halls and towers of the old chateau1 which in youth fear had caused me to shun1 and some of which old ,pierre had once told me had not been trodden by human foot for over four centuries4 ,strange and awsome were many of the objects ,i encountered4 ,furniture1 covered by the dust of ages and crumbling with the rot of long dampness met my eyes4 ,cobwebs in a profusion never before seen by me were spun everywhere1 and huge bats flapped their bony and uncanny wings on all sides of the otherwise untenanted gloom4 ,of my exact age1 even down to days and hours1 ,i kept a most careful record1 for each movement of the pendulum of the massive clock in the library tolled off so much more of my doomed existence4 ,at length ,i approached that time which ,i had so long viewed with apprehension4 ,since most of my ancestors had been seized some little while before they reached the exact age of the ,comte ,henri at his end1 ,i was every moment on the watch for the coming of the unknown death4 ,in what strange form the curse should overtake me1 ,i knew not2 but ,i was resolved at least that it should not find me a cowardly or a passive victim4 ,with new vigour ,i applied myself to my examination of the old chateau and its contents4 ,it was upon one of the longest of all my excursions of discovery in the deserted portion of the castle1 less than a week before that fatal hour which ,i felt must mark the utmost limit of my stay on earth1 beyond which ,i could have not even the slightest hope of continuing to draw breath1 that ,i came upon the culminating event of my whole life4 ,i had spent the better part of the morning in climbing up and down half ruined staircases in one of the most dilapidated of the ancient turrets4 ,as the afternoon progressed1 ,i sought the lower levels1 descending into what appeared to be either a mediaeval place of confinement1 or a more recently excavated storehouse for gunpowder4 ,as ,i slowly traversed the nitre-encrusted passageway at the foot of the last staircase1 the paving became very damp1 and soon ,i saw by the light of my flickering torch that a blank1 water-stained wall impeded my journey4 ,turning to retrace my steps1 my eye fell upon a small trap-door with a ring1 which lay directly beneath my feet4 ,pausing1 ,i succeeded with difficulty in raising it1 whereupon there was revealed a black aperture1 exhaling noxious fumes which caused my torch to sputter1 and disclosing in the unsteady glare the top of a flight of stone steps4 ,as soon as the torch1 which ,i lowered into the repellent depths1 burned freely and steadily1 ,i commenced my descent4 ,the steps were many1 and led to a narrow stone-flagged passage which ,i knew must be far underground4 ,this passage proved of great length1 and terminated in a massive oaken door1 dripping with the moisture of the place1 and stoutly resisting all my attempts to open it4 ,ceasing after a time my efforts in this direction1 ,i had proceeded back some distance toward the steps1 when there suddenly fell to my experience one of the most profound and maddening shocks capable of reception by the human mind4 ,without warning1 ,i heard the heavy door behind me creak slowly open upon its rusted hinges4 ,my immediate sensations are incapable of analysis4 ,to be confronted in a place as thoroughly deserted as ,i had deemed the old castle with evidence of the presence of man or spirit1 produced in my brain a horror of the most acute description4 ,when at last ,i turned and faced the seat of the sound1 my eyes must have started from their orbits at the sight that they beheld4 ,there in the ancient ,gothic doorway stood a human figure4 ,it was that of a man clad in a skull-cap and long mediaeval tunic of dark colour4 ,his long hair and flowing beard were of a terrible and intense black hue1 and of incredible profusion4 ,his forehead1 high beyond the usual dimensions2 his cheeks1 deep sunken and heavily lined with wrinkles2 and his hands1 long1 claw-like and gnarled1 were of such a deathly1 marble-like whiteness as ,i have never elsewhere seen in man4 ,his figure1 lean to the proportions of a skeleton1 was strangely bent and almost lost within the voluminous folds of his peculiar garment4 ,but strangest of all were his eyes2 twin caves of abysmal blackness2 profound in expression of understanding1 yet inhuman in degree of wickedness4 ,these were now fixed upon me1 piercing my soul with their hatred1 and rooting me to the spot whereon ,i stood4 ,at last the figure spoke in a rumbling voice that chilled me through with its dull hollowness and latent malevolence4 ,the language in which the discourse was clothed was that debased form of ,latin in use amongst the more learned men of the ,middle ,ages1 and made familiar to me by my prolonged researches into the works of the old alchemists and demonologists4 ,the apparition spoke of the curse which had hovered over my house1 told me of my coming end1 dwelt on the wrong perpetrated by my ancestor against old ,michel ,mauvais1 and gloated over the revenge of ,charles ,le ,sorcier4 ,he told me how the young ,charles had escaped into the night1 returning in after years to kill ,godfrey the heir with an arrow just as he approached the age which had been his father's at his assassination2 how he had secretly returned to the estate and established himself1 unknown1 in the even then deserted subterranean chamber whose doorway now framed the hideous narrator2 how he had seized ,robert1 son of ,godfrey1 in a field1 forced poison down his throat and left him to die at the age of thirty-two1 thus maintaining the foul provisions of his vengeful curse4 ,at this point ,i was left to imagine the solution of the greatest mystery of all1 how the curse had been fulfilled since that time when ,charles ,le ,sorcier must in the course of nature have died1 for the man digressed into an account of the deep alchemical studies of the two wizards1 father and son1 speaking most particularly of the researches of ,charles ,le ,sorcier concerning the elixir which should grant to him who partook of it eternal life and youth4 ,his enthusiasm had seemed for the moment to remove from his terrible eyes the hatred that had at first so haunted them1 but suddenly the fiendish glare returned1 and with a shocking sound like the hissing of a serpent1 the stranger raised a glass phial with the evident intent of ending my life as had ,charles ,le ,sorcier1 six hundred years before1 ended that of my ancestor4 ,prompted by some preserving instinct of self-defense1 ,i broke through the spell that had hitherto held me immovable1 and flung my now dying torch at the creature who menaced my existence4 ,i heard the phial break harmlessly against the stones of the passage as the tunic of the strange man caught fire and lit the horrid scene with a ghastly radiance4 ,the shriek of fright and impotent malice emitted by the would-be assassin proved too much for my already shaken nerves1 and ,i fell prone upon the slimy floor in a total faint4 ,when at last my senses returned1 all was frightfully dark1 and my mind remembering what had occurred1 shrank from the idea of beholding more2 yet curiosity overmastered all4 ,who1 ,i asked myself1 was this man of evil1 and how came he within the castle walls8 ,why should he seek to avenge the death of poor ,michel ,mauvais1 and how had the curse been carried on through all the long centuries since the time of ,charles ,le ,sorcier8 ,the dread of years was lifted off my shoulders1 for ,i knew that he whom ,i had felled was the source of all my danger from the curse2 and now that ,i was free1 ,i burned with the desire to learn more of the sinister thing which had haunted my line for centuries1 and made of my own youth one long-continued nightmare4 ,determined upon further exploration1 ,i felt in my pockets for flint and steel1 and lit the unused torch which ,i had with me4 ,first of all1 the new light revealed the distorted and blackened form of the mysterious stranger4 ,the hideous eyes were now closed4 ,disliking the sight1 ,i turned away and entered the chamber beyond the ,gothic door4 ,here ,i found what seemed much like an alchemist's laboratory4 ,in one corner was an immense pile of a shining yellow metal that sparkled gorgeously in the light of the torch4 ,it may have been gold1 but ,i did not pause to examine it1 for ,i was strangely affected by that which ,i had undergone4 ,at the farther end of the apartment was an opening leading out into one of the many wild ravines of the dark hillside forest4 ,filled with wonder1 yet now realizing how the man had obtained access to the chateau1 ,i proceeded to return4 ,i had intended to pass by the remains of the stranger with averted face1 but as ,i approached the body1 ,i seemed to hear emanating from it a faint sound1 as though life were not yet wholly extinct4 ,aghast1 ,i turned to examine the charred and shrivelled figure on the floor4 ,then all at once the horrible eyes1 blacker even than the seared face in which they were set1 opened wide with an expression which ,i was unable to interpret4 ,the cracked lips tried to frame words which ,i could not well understand4 ,once ,i caught the name of ,charles ,le ,sorcier1 and again ,i fancied that the words years and curse issued from the twisted mouth4 ,still ,i was at a loss to gather the purport of his disconnected speech4 ,at my evident ignorance of his meaning1 the pitchy eyes once more flashed malevolently at me1 until1 helpless as ,i saw my opponent to be1 ,i trembled as ,i watched him4 ,suddenly the wretch1 animated with his last burst of strength1 raised his hideous head from the damp and sunken pavement4 ,then1 as ,i remained1 paralyzed with fear1 he found his voice and in his dying breath screamed forth those words which have ever afterward haunted my days and my nights4 ,fool1 he shrieked1 can you not guess my secret8 ,have you no brain whereby you may recognize the will which has through six long centuries fulfilled the dreadful curse upon your house8 ,have ,i not told you of the great elixir of eternal life8 ,know you not how the secret of ,alchemy was solved8 ,i tell you1 it is ,i6 ,i6 ,i6 that have lived for six hundred years to maintain my revenge1 ,,for ,i ,,am ,,charles ,,le ,,sorcier6 ,h4 ,p4 ,,lovecraft4 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,march #aiag ,,department ,,of ,,public ,,criticism ,the ,conservative for ,october opens with ,miss ,olive ,g4 ,owen's tuneful lines on ,the ,mocking ,bird4 ,of the quality of ,miss ,owen's poetry it is scarce necessary to speak2 be it sufficient to say that the present piece ranks among her best4 ,in the intense fervour of the sentiment1 and the felicitous choice of the imagery1 the touch of the born poet is alike shown4 ,through an almost inexcusable editorial mistake of our own1 the first word of this poem is erroneously rendered4 ,line #a should read3 ,where ,southern moonlight softly falls4 ,old ,england and the ,hyphen is an attempt of the present critic to demonstrate why relations between the ,united ,states and ,mother ,england must necessarily be closer than those between the ,states and any of the really foreign powers4 ,so patent and so inevitable is the essential unity of the ,anglo-,saxon world that such an essay as this ought really to be superfluous2 but its practical justification is found in the silly clamour of those ,anglophobes who are unfortunately permitted to reside within our borders4 ,insomnia1 by ,winifred ,virginia ,jordan1 is a remarkable piece of verse whose dark turns of fancy are almost worthy of a ,poe4 ,the grotesque tropes1 the cleverly distorted images1 the bizarre atmosphere1 and ingeniously sinister repetitions all unite to produce one of the season's most notable poems4 ,each of the stanzas is vibrant with the hideous1 racking turmoil of the insomnious mind4 ,prussianism1 by ,william ,thomas ,harrington1 is a concise and lucid essay on a timely subject1 reviewing ably the cause and responsibility of the present war4 ,it is especially valuable at this season of incoherent peace discussion1 for it explodes very effectively that vague1 brainless neutrality which prompts certain pro-,german pacifists to cry for peace before the normal and final settlement of ,europe's troubles shall have been attained by the permanent annihilation of the ,prussian military machine4 ,twilight1 by ,chester ,pierce ,munroe1 is a beautiful bit of poetic fancy and stately phraseology4 ,mr4 ,munroe1 a ,rhode ,islander transplanted to the mountains of ,north ,carolina1 is acquiring all the grace and delicacy of the native ,southern bard1 while retaining that happy conservatism of expression which distinguishes his work from that of most contemporary poets4 ,callously modern indeed must be he who would wish ,mr4 ,munroe's quaintly euphonious lines transmuted into the irritatingly abrupt and barren phraseology of the day4 ,the ,bond ,invincible1 by ,david ,h4 ,whittier1 is a short story of great power and skilful construction1 suggesting ,poe's ,ligeia in its central theme4 ,the plot is developed with much dexterity1 and the climax comes so forcibly and unexpectedly upon the reader1 that one cannot but admire ,mr4 ,whittier's mastery of technique4 ,certain overnice critics may possibly object to the tale1 as containing incidents which no one survives to relate2 but when we reflect that ,poe has similarly written a story without survivors1 7,the ,masque of the ,red ,death7 we can afford to applaud without reservation4 ,the complete absence of slang and of doubtful grammar recommends this tale as a model to other amateur fiction-writers4 ,respite is a lachrymose lament in five stanzas by the present critic4 ,the metre is regular1 which is perhaps some excuse for its creation and publication4 ,by the ,waters of the ,brook1 by ,rev4 ,eugene ,b4 ,kuntz1 ,d4 ,d41 is one of the noblest amateur poems of the year4 ,while the casual reader may find in the long heptameter lines a want of sing-song facility2 the true lover of the ,nine pauses in admiration at the deep flowing nobility of the rhyme4 ,the quick rippling of the brook is duplicated within each line1 rather than from line to line4 ,the imagery and phraseology are of the sort which only ,dr4 ,kuntz can fashion1 and are rich in that exalted pantheism of fancy which comes to him who knows ,nature in her wilder and more rugged moods and aspects4 ,the ,pool1 by ,winifred ,virginia ,jordan1 contains an elusive hint of the terrible and the supernatural which gives it high rank as poetry4 ,mrs4 ,jordan has two distinct1 yet related1 styles in verse4 ,one of these mirrors all the joy and buoyant happiness of life1 whilst the other reflects that undertone of grimness which is sometimes felt through the exterior of things4 ,the kinship betwixt these styles lies in their essentially fanciful character1 as distinguished from the tiresomely commonplace realism of the average modern rhymester4 ,another bit of sinister psychology in verse is ,the ,unknown1 by ,elizabeth ,berkeley4 ,mrs4 ,berkeley's style is less restrained than that of ,mrs4 ,jordan1 and presents a picture of stark1 meaningless horror1 the like of which is not often seen in the amateur press4 ,it is difficult to pass upon the actual merit of so peculiar a production1 but we will venture the opinion that the use of italics1 or heavy-faced type1 is not desirable4 ,the author should be able to bring out all needed emphasis by words1 not printer's devices4 ,the issue concludes with ,inspiration1 a poem by ,lewis ,theobald1 ,jun4 ,the form and rhythm of this piece are quite satisfactory1 but the insipidity of the sentiment leaves much to be desired4 ,the whole poem savours too much of the current magazine style4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,coyote for ,october is made notable by ,editor ,harrington's thoughtful and well compiled article on ,worldwide ,prohibition1 wherein an extremely important step in the world's progress is truthfully chronicled4 ,that legislation against alcohol is spreading rapidly throughout civilization1 is something which not even the densest champions of personal liberty can deny4 ,the utter emptiness of all arguments in behalf of strong drink is made doubly apparent by the swift prohibitory enactments of the ,european nations when confronted by the emergencies of war1 and by the abolition of liquor in a large number of ,american states for purely practical reasons4 ,all these things point to a general recognition of liquor as a foe to governmental and industrial welfare4 ,mr4 ,harrington's style in this essay is clear and in most respects commendable2 though certain passages might gain force and dignity through a less colloquial manner4 ,in particular1 we must protest against the repeated use of the vulgarism booze1 a word probably brought into public favour by the new school of gutter evangelism1 whose chief exponent is the ,reverend ,william ,sunday4 ,the verb to booze1 boose1 or bouse1 meaning to drink immoderately1 and the adjective boozy1 boosy1 or bousy1 meaning drunken1 are by no means new to our language1 ,dryden having written the form bousy in some of his verses2 but booze as a noun signifying liquor is certainly too vulgar a word for constant employment in any formal literary composition4 ,another essay of ,mr4 ,harrington's is ,the ,divine ,book1 a plea for the restoration of the ,bible as a source of popular reading and arbiter of moral conduct4 ,whatever may be the opinion of the searching critic regarding the place of the ,scriptures in the world of fact1 it is undeniably true that a closer study of the revered volume1 and a stricter adherence to its best precepts1 would do much toward mending the faults of a loose age4 ,we have yet to find a more efficacious means of imparting virtue and contentment of heart to the masses of mankind4 ,pioneers of ,new ,england1 an article by ,alice ,m4 ,hamlet1 gives much interesting information concerning the sturdy settlers of ,new ,hampshire and ,vermont4 ,in the unyielding struggles of these unsung heroes against the sting of hardship and the asperity of primeval ,nature1 we may discern more than a trace of that divine fire of conquest which has made the ,anglo-,saxon the empire builder of all the ages4 ,in ,mr4 ,harrington's editorial column there is much discussion of a proposed ,international ,amateur ,press ,association1 but we fail to perceive why such an innovation is needed1 now that the ,united has opened itself unreservedly to residents of all the countries of the globe4 99 99 99 99 99 ,merry ,minutes for ,november is a clever publication of semi-professional character1 edited by ,miss ,margaret ,trafford of ,london1 and containing a pleasant variety of prose1 verses1 and puzzles4 ,king of the ,nursery ,realm1 by ,margaret ,mahon1 is a smooth and musical piece of juvenile verse which excels in correctness of form rather than in novelty of thought4 ,bards and ,minstrels1 and ,the ,augustan ,age1 by ,beryl ,mappin1 is the second of a series of articles on ,english literature and its classical foundations4 ,the erudition and enthusiasm displayed in this essay speak well for the future of the authoress1 though certain faults of style and construction demand correction4 ,careful grammatical study would eliminate from ,miss ,mappin's style such solecisms as the use of like for as1 whilst greater attention to the precepts of rhetoric would prevent the construction of such awkward sentences as the following3 ,the same if one is reading an interesting book1 can one not see all that is happening there as clearly with one's inner eyes as if it was all taking place before one1 and viewed with one's outer ones8 ,this passage is not only wanting in coherence and correctness of syntax1 but is exceedingly clumsy through redundancy of statement1 and repetition of the word one4 ,this word1 though essential to colloquial diction1 becomes very tiresome when used to excess2 and should be avoided in many cases through judicious transpositions of the text4 ,the following is a revised version of the sentence quoted above3 ,thus1 in reading an interesting book1 can one not see with the inner eyes all that is happening there1 as clearly as if it were taking place in reality before the outer eyes8 ,other parts of the essay require similar revision4 ,concerning the development of the whole1 we must needs question the unity of the topics4 ,whilst the connecting thread is rather evident after a second or third perusal1 the cursory reader is apt to become puzzled over the skips from the ,graeco-,roman world to the early ,saxon kingdoms1 and thence to the dawn of our language amongst the ,anglo-,normans4 ,what ,miss ,mappin evidently wishes to bring out1 is that the sources of ,english literature are twofold2 being on the one hand the polished classics of antiquity1 inspired by ,greece1 amplified and diffused by ,rome1 preserved by ,france1 and brought to ,england by the ,normans2 and on the other hand the crude but virile products of our ,saxon ancestors1 brought from the uncivilized forests of the continent or written after the settlement in ,britain4 ,from this union of ,graeco-,roman classicism with native ,anglo-,saxon vitality springs the unquestioned supremacy of ,english literature4 ,assiduous devotion to the mastery of rhetoric1 and the habit of constructing logical synopses before writing the text of articles would enable ,miss ,mappin to utilise her knowledge of literary history in a manner truly worthy of its depth4 ,trinidad and its ,people1 by ,f4 ,e4 ,m4 ,hercules1 exhibits a somewhat maturer style1 and forms a very interesting piece of geographical description4 ,the ,pursuit of the ,innocent1 is a serial story by ,miss ,trafford1 and though only a small part of it is printed in the current issue1 we judge that it derives its general atmosphere from the popular thrillers of the day4 ,the dialogue is not wholly awkward1 but there is a noticeable want of proportion in the development of the narrative4 ,miss ,trafford would probably profit by a more faithful study of the standard novelists1 and a more complete avoidance of the type of fiction found in modern weekly periodicals such as ,answers or ,tit-,bits4 ,those who feel impelled to introduce stirring adventure into their tales1 can do so without sacrifice of excitement and interest by following really classic writers like ,poe and ,stevenson2 or semi-standard authors like ,sir ,a4 ,conan ,doyle4 ,the puzzles propounded by ,miss ,hillman are quite interesting1 though matter of this sort is scarcely to be included within the domain of pure literature4 ,we guess airship as the answer to the first one1 but have not space to record our speculations concerning the second4 ,merry ,minutes closes with the following poem by ,master ,randolph ,trafford1 a very young author3 ,once upon a time1 there was a little boy1 ,and1 if you please1 he went to school2 ,that little boy1 he always would annoy1 ,and found at school a very nasty rule4 ,without undue flattery to ,master ,trafford1 we may conclusively state that we deem his poem a great deal better than most of the vers libre effusions which so many of his elders are perpetrating nowadays6 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,scot for ,july is devoted completely to the work of the feminine amateurs of the ,united ,states1 and is announced by its editor as an ,american ',petticoat' ,number2 a title which might possibly bear replacement by something rather less colloquial4 ,over the ,edge of the ,world1 a poem by ,olive ,g4 ,owen1 is correct in construction and appropriate in sentiment1 deriving much force from the continued repetition of the first line4 ,in ,morven's ,mead1 by ,winifred ,v4 ,jordan1 is one of a series of fanciful poems all bearing the same title4 ,the present verses show all the charm and delicacy which characterise the whole4 ,patience--,a ,woman's ,virtue1 is one of ,mrs4 ,eloise ,n4 ,griffith's thoughtful moral essays1 and is as commendable for its precepts as for its pure style4 ,his ,flapper1 by ,edna von der ,heide1 is a clever piece of trochaic verse in ,cockney dialect1 which seems1 so far as an ,american critic can judge1 to possess a very vivid touch of local colour4 ,an ,eye for an ,eye1 by the same authoress1 seems vaguely familiar1 having possibly been published in the amateur press before4 ,if so1 it is well worthy of republication4 ,women and ,snakes1 a sketch by ,eleanor ,j4 ,barnhart1 is not a misogynistical attempt at comparison1 but a theory regarding the particular fear with which the former are popularly supposed to regard the latter4 ,whilst ,miss ,barnhart writes with the bravery of the true scientist1 we are constrained to remark that a certain dislike of snakes1 mice1 and insects is a very real thing2 not only amongst the fair1 but equally amongst those sterner masculine souls who would stoutly deny it if questioned4 ,it is an atavistical fear1 surviving from primitive ages when the venomous qualities of reptiles1 insects1 and the like1 made their quick avoidance necessary to uninstructed man4 ,be ,tolerant1 by ,winifred ,v4 ,jordan1 is a didactic poem of the sort formerly published in ,the ,symphony4 ,while it does not possess in fullest measure the grace and facility observed in ,mrs4 ,jordan's more characteristic work2 it is nevertheless correct and melodious1 easily equalling most poetry of its kind4 ,mr4 ,mc,coll's editorial column1 the only masculine feature of the issue1 contains a very noble tribute to the two soldier cousins of ,miss von der ,heide1 who have laid down their lives for the cause of ,england and the right4 ,from such men springs the glory of ,britannia4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,scot for ,august opens with ,winifred ,v4 ,jordan's tuneful lines1 ,if ,you but ,smile1 whose inspiration and construction are alike of no mean order4 ,hoary ,kent1 by ,benjamin ,winskill1 is an exquisite sketch of a region where the past still lives4 ,in an age of turmoil and unrest1 it is a comfort to think that in one spot1 at least1 the destroying claws of ,time have left no scars4 ,there lie the scenes dear to every son and grandson of ,britain2 there are bodied forth the eternal and unchanging traditions that place above the rest of the world ,this precious stone set in the silver sea-- ,this blessed plot1 this earth1 this realm1 this ,england4 ,meditation of a ,scottish ,queen on ,imprisonment1 a poem by ,margaret ,trafford1 contains noble passages1 but is marred by defective technique4 ,passing over the use of the expletives do and doth as legitimate archaisms in this case1 we must call attention to some awkward phraseology1 and to the roughness of certain lines1 which have either too few or too many syllables4 ,the very first line of the poem requires contraction1 which might be accomplished by substituting hapless for unhappy4 ,line #h would read better if thus amended3 ,i would that death might come and me release4 ,the final line of the first stanza lacks a syllable1 which might be supplied by replacing vile with hateful4 ,the second stanza will pass as it is1 but the entire remainder of the poem requires alteration1 since but two of the lines are of normal decasyllabic length4 ,the following is rough revision1 though we have not attempted to build the poetry anew3 ,oh6 could ,i breathe again dear ,scotland's air2 ,behold once more her stately mountains high1 ,thence view the wide expanse of azure sky1 ,instead of these perpetual walls so bare6 ,could ,i but see the grouse upon the moor1 ,or pluck again the beauteous heather bell6 ,freedom ,i know not in this dismal cell1 ,as ,i my anguish from my heart outpour4 ,my ,scotland6 know'st thou thy poor ,queen's distress1 ,and canst thou hear my wailing and my woe8 ,may the soft wind that o'er thy hills doth blow ,waft thee these thoughts1 that ,i cannot suppress6 ,six ,cylinder ,happiness1 a brief essay by ,william ,j4 ,dowdell1 presents in ingeniously pleasing style a precept not entirely new amongst philosophers4 ,mr4 ,dowdell's skill with the pen is very considerable1 particularly when he ventures outside the domain of slang4 ,we should like to suggest a slightly less colloquial title for this piece1 such as ,real ,happiness4 ,for ,right and ,liberty1 a poem by ,matthew ,hilson1 is commendable in sentiment and clever in construction1 but lacks perfection in several details of phraseology4 ,in the third line of the third stanza the word ruinous must be replaced by a true dissyllable1 preferably ruin'd4 ,for ,their ,country1 a short story by ,margaret ,trafford1 is vivid in plot and truly heroic in moral1 but somewhat deficient in technique1 particularly at the beginning4 ,miss ,trafford should use care in moulding long sentences1 and should avoid the employment of abbreviations like etc4 in the midst of narrative text4 ,that ,sunny ,smile1 by ,john ,russell1 is a cleverly optimistic bit of verse whose rhythm is very facile1 but which would be improved by the addition of two syllables to the third and sixth lines of each stanza4 ,the rhyme of round you and found true is incorrect1 since the second syllables of double rhymes must be identical4 ,the ,evil ,one1 by ,narcissus ,blanchfield1 is announced as ,a ,prose-poem1 after ,oscar ,wilde--a long way after4 ,as an allegory it is true to the facts of the case2 though one cannot but feel that there is room for a freer play of the poetic imagination in so great a subject4 99 99 99 99 99 ,toledo ,amateur for ,october is a literary publication which reflects much credit upon its young editor1 ,mr4 ,wesley ,hilon ,porter1 and upon the several contributors4 ,twilight1 a correct and graceful poem by ,miss von der ,heide opens the issue4 ,a ,sabbath1 by ,mary ,margaret ,sisson1 is a sketch of great merit1 though not wholly novel in subject4 ,the hypocrisy of many self-satisfied pillars of the church is only too well known both in life and in literature4 ,at the very close of the piece1 the word epithet is used in a slightly incorrect sense1 meaning motto4 ,epithet1 as its ,greek derivation shows1 signifies an adjective or descriptive expression4 ,the ,workers of the ,world1 by ,dora ,m4 ,hepner1 is another sociological sketch of no small merit1 pleasantly distinguished by the absence of slang4 ,not ,all1 by ,olive ,g4 ,owen1 is a poem of much fervour1 albeit having a somewhat too free use of italics4 ,the words and rhythm of a poet should be able to convey his images without the more artificial devices of typographical variation4 ,another questionable point is the manner of using archaic pronouns and verb forms4 ,miss ,owen seems to use both ancient and modern conjugations of the verb indifferently with such subjects as thou4 ,a ,day at ,our ,summer ,home1 by ,emma ,marie ,voigt1 is a descriptive sketch of considerable promise1 and ,my ,first ,amateur ,convention1 by ,mrs4 ,addie ,l4 ,porter1 is a well written chronicle of events4 ,the ,wild ,rose1 by ,marguerite ,allen1 is a poem of no little grace1 though beset with many of the usual crudities of youthful work4 ,in the first place1 the quatrains should have their rhymes regularly recurring2 either in both first and third1 and second and fourth lines2 or only in second and fourth4 ,a rhyme occurring only in first and third lines gives an unmusical cast1 since it causes the stanza to end unrhymed4 ,secondly1 the words fence and scent do not form a legitimate rhyme4 ,the easy correctness of the metre is an encouraging sign1 and indicates a poetic talent which ,miss ,allen would do well to cultivate4 ,mr4 ,porter's article on amateur journalism is interesting and quite just1 though we hope that the ,united has not quite so little to offer the devotee of so-called high-class literature as the author believes4 ,if we are to retain our cultivated members1 or our younger members after they acquire cultivation1 we must necessarily cater to the better grade of taste2 though of course without neglecting the succeeding generation of novices4 ,the editorial column of this issue is bright and fluent1 concluding one of the best amateur journals of the season4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur for ,september contains something only too seldom found in the amateur press2 a really meritorious short story4 ,the ,shadow on the ,trail1 by ,eleanor ,j4 ,barnhart1 possesses every element of good fiction2 a substantial and really interesting plot1 a logical development from beginning to conclusion1 an adequate amount of suspense1 a climax which does not disappoint1 and a praiseworthy degree of local colour4 ,besides all of which it is fluent in language and correct in syntax4 ,the rest of the literary department in this issue is devoted to verse4 ,to a ,friend1 by ,alice ,m4 ,hamlet1 is particularly pleasing through the hint of old-school technique which its well ordered phrases convey4 ,the one weak point is the employment of thy1 a singular expression1 in connexion with several objects2 namely1 paper1 pen1 and ready hand4 ,your should have been used4 ,the metre is excellent throughout1 and the whole piece displays a gratifying skill on its author's part4 ,the ,path ,along the ,sea1 by ,rev4 ,eugene ,b4 ,kuntz1 is a flawless and beautiful bit of sentimental poetry1 cast in fluent and felicitous heptameter4 ,dad1 by ,horace ,fowler ,goodwin1 is decidedly the best of this writer's pieces yet to appear in the amateur press4 ,the defects are mostly technical1 including the bad rhyme of engaged and dismayed1 and the overweighted seventh line of the final stanza4 ,the latter might be rectified by substituting blest1 or some other monosyllable1 for lucky4 ,li'l ,baby ,mine1 by ,w4 ,frank ,booker1 is a quaint and captivating darky lullaby1 whose accuracy of dialect and atmosphere comes from that first-hand knowledge of the negroes which only a ,southern writer can possess4 ,mr4 ,booker is one of our most promising bards1 and will be doubly notable when his style shall have received its final polish4 ,when ,i ,gaze on ,thee1 by ,kathleen ,foster ,smith1 is an amatory poem of much grace and fluency4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur for ,october furnishes us with a species of composition not frequently encountered in amateurdom2 an official report which is also a literary classic4 ,pres4 ,campbell's message is really an essay on contemporary amateur journalism1 and contains a multitude of well stated truths which every member of the fraternity would do well to peruse4 ,the ,wanderer's ,return1 by ,andrew ,francis ,lockhart1 is a beautiful piece of anapaestic verse whose flow is as pleasing as its sentiment4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,woodbee for ,october is edited by ,mrs4 ,ida ,c4 ,haughton1 and though not of large size1 does credit both to her and to the ,columbus ,club4 ,to the ,woodbees1 a witty parody of ,poe's ,annabel ,lee1 exhibits ,miss ,irene ,metzger as the possessor of no little skill in numbers2 and incidentally suggests that other young bards might well improve their styles by judicious exercises of this sort4 ,much of the spirit of metre may be absorbed through copying the works of the standard poets4 ,louise's ,letter1 a short story by ,norma ,sanger1 contains some of the defects of early composition1 notably an undue hastening of the action immediately after the letter quoted in the text4 ,the plot involves a rather unusual coincidence1 yet is probably no more overstrained than that of the average piece of light fiction4 ,the ,ruling ,passion1 by ,edna ,m4 ,haughton1 is a story of phenomenal power and interest1 forming a psychological study worthy of more than one perusal4 ,all the requirements of good fiction1 both inspirational and technical1 are complied with to the satisfaction of even the most exacting critic4 ,miss ,haughton's work is of a very high grade1 and would be welcomed in larger quantities by the amateur world4 ,miss ,harwood's interesting ,news ,notes and ,mrs4 ,haughton's thoughtful editorial conclude an issue whose every feature deserves commendation4 ,h4 ,p4 ,,lovecraft1 ,chairman4 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,may #aiag ,,department ,,of ,,public ,,criticism ,the ,conservative for ,january deserved distinction for its opening poem1 ,the ,vagrant1 which proceeds from the thrice-gifted pen of ,mrs4 ,w4 ,v4 ,jordan4 ,the piece is one well worthy of close attention1 since it contains to a marked degree those elements of charm which render its author so prominent among amateur bards4 ,bold and discriminating choice of words and phrases1 apt and unique images and personifications1 and a carefully sustained atmosphere of delicate unreality1 all unite to impart a characteristic beauty to the lines4 ,this beauty1 searchingly analysed1 reveals itself as something more sylvan and spontaneous than studied and bookish2 indeed1 all of ,mrs4 ,jordan's verse is born rather than built4 ,the ,unbreakable ,link1 a prose sketch by ,arthur ,w4 ,ashby1 is smooth and graphic in its delineation of a dream or vision of the past4 ,the ancient heritage of ,old ,england and its hoary edifices is here vividly set forth4 ,mr4 ,ashby's work1 always notable for its command and intelligent interpretation of detail1 is welcome wherever encountered4 ,when ,new-,year ,comes1 a poem by ,rev4 ,eugene ,b4 ,kuntz1 exhibits its brilliant author in a most felicitous though decidedly novel vein4 ,turning from his usual ,alexandrines and heptameters1 and laying aside his characteristically stately and sonorous vocabulary1 ,dr4 ,kuntz has produced a gem of brevity and simplicity in octosyllabic couplets4 ,the ease and naturalness of the language are so great that the reader feels no other words or constructions could have been used with equal effect4 ,the remainder of ,the ,conservative1 being the work of the present critic1 deserves no particular mention4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,coyote for ,january bears an attractive cover design illustrating the gentle beast after which the publication is named4 ,the opening piece1 an alleged poem by the present critic1 contains an humiliating error for which none but the author is responsible4 ,the impossible word supremest in line #af1 should read sublimest4 ,the author is likewise responsible for the omission of the following couplet after line #bf3 ,around his greatness pour disheart'ning woes1 ,but still he tow'rs above his conquering foes4 ,the rest of the magazine is devoted to prose of practical nature1 containing suggestions by ,editor ,harrington and ,rev4 ,graeme ,davis for the resuscitation of one of the dormant press associations4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,coyote for ,april1 home-printed and reduced to the conventional #eg page1 opens with ,mrs4 ,jordan's pleasant lines on ,the ,duty4 ,while the general sentiment of this piece is by no means novel1 the powerful and distinctive touch of the authoress is revealed by such highly original passages as the following3 ,and black-wing'd1 clucking shadows ,brought out their broods of fears4 ,a poet of rather different type is displayed in ,the ,five-,minute ,school1 by ,lovell ,leland ,massie4 ,mr4 ,massie is said to have an unlimited supply of poems on hand which he desires to publish1 but it is evident that some preliminary alterations would not be undesirable4 ,in the first place1 the metre requires correction2 though it is remarkably good for beginner's work4 ,particularly weak lines are the second in stanza four1 and the second in stanza six4 ,the phraseology is stiff but by no means hopeless1 and proclaims nothing more serious than the need of greater poetic familiarity on the author's part4 ,the rhymes are good with two exceptions2 past and class1 and jewel and school4 ,mr4 ,massie1 however1 is not the first bard to reduce jew-el to jool6 ,the ,coyote1 by ,obert ,o4 ,bakken1 is a worthy and interesting composition upon a well known animal4 ,a ,soul1 by ,olive ,g4 ,owen1 is reprinted from the professional press1 and amply merits the honour4 ,the poem is of unexceptionable technique and adequate sentiment4 ,miss ,owen's brilliant1 fruitful1 and long-continued poetical career has few parallels in the amateur world4 ,the ,amateur ,christian1 a brief prose essay by ,benjamin ,winskill1 presents more than one valuable truth2 though we wish the word par1 near the close1 might be expanded to proper fulness4 ,we presume that it is intended to stand for paragraph4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,crazyquilt for ,december is a highly entertaining illustrated publication whose exact classification is a matter of some difficulty4 ,we might perhaps best describe it as a bubbling over of youthful spirits1 with here and there a touch of unobtrusive seriousness4 ,the editor1 ,mr4 ,melvin ,ryder1 is to be commended upon his enterprise2 which consists in approximately equal parts of prose1 verse1 and whimsical vers libre4 ,it is the last named product which most absorbs our attention1 since the given specimens afford a very brilliant satire on the absurd medium in which they are set4 ,the choicest selections are due to the fertile pen of ,mr4 ,william ,s4 ,wabnitz1 assisted by that not unknown classic called ,mother ,goose1 whose ideas accord well with the thought of the new poetry4 ,a ,futuresk ,romance1 by ,mr4 ,wabnitz alone1 is of exceeding cleverness4 ,among the genuine poems1 we may give particular commendation to ,bluebirds are ,flying ,over1 by ,mrs4 ,dora ,hepner ,moitoret2 ,longin' and ,yearnin'1 ,spring1 ,verses1 and ,dreaming1 by ,j4 ,h4 ,gavin2 and ,stars ,after ,rain1 by ,william ,s4 ,wabnitz4 ,mr4 ,gavin's ,dreaming is a hauntingly pretty piece1 though marred by an imperfect line 7the twelfth7 and by an incorrect accentuation of the word romance4 ,this word should be accented on the final syllable4 ,odd ,patches and ,even is the title of the editorial column1 which contains many words of wisdom 7though not too grave7 by ,mr4 ,ryder4 ,we hope to behold future issues of ,the ,crazyquilt4 99 99 99 99 99 ,dowdell's ,bearcat for ,october1 partly compiled and financed by the ,united's official board in lieu of the missing ,official ,quarterly1 comes to us unbound and without a cover2 yet contains1 aside from the inexcusable editorials1 a rich array of meritorious material4 ,mr4 ,dowdell's comment on radical eccentrics and malcontents is apt and clever1 showing how bright this young writer can be when he avoids bad taste and personalities4 ,a ,little ,lovely ,lyric1 by ,mrs4 ,dora ,h4 ,moitoret1 is one of the choicest of this author's poems1 having a spirit and cadence of rare quality4 ,in ,the ,real ,amateur ,spirit1 ,pres4 ,campbell presents in vigorous prose many important truths and principles of amateur journalism4 ,the concluding sentence forms a definition of our animating impulse which deserves repeated publication as a motto and inspiration4 ,an ,american ,to ,mother ,england1 by the present critic1 is an expression of cultural and ancestral ties which have now1 through the fortunes of war1 grown doubly strong4 ,the word ,saxon1 in the last line1 should begin with a capital4 ,dream ,life is a vivid piece of prose mysticism by our versatile and gifted ,vice-,president1 ,mr4 ,ira ,a4 ,cole4 ,defying precise grouping either as a sketch or a story1 this enigmatical bit of fancy deserves highest praise for its fluent diction1 rich imagination1 potent atmosphere1 and graphic colouring4 ,mr4 ,cole has a bright future in prose as well as in verse for in both of these media he is a genuine and spontaneous poet4 ,united ,impressions1 by ,mrs4 ,e4 ,l4 ,whitehead1 is clear1 interesting1 and well-written1 as is also the sketch by ,mary ,m4 ,sisson entitled ,passion versus ,calm4 ,the ,elm ,tree1 by ,james ,tobey ,pyke1 is a poem of remarkable sweetness and nobility1 through whose lofty sentiment shines the true splendour of the inspired bard4 ,there is a master touch in the passage referring to ----a sweet heaven ,of singing birds and whispering leaves4 ,mrs4 ,winifred ,virginia ,jordan1 without one of whose delightful verses no amateur publication can really compete1 contributes a sparkling succession of amatory anapaests entitled ,dear4 ,the middle stanza rises to great lyric heights1 and should prove especially captivating to such discriminating critics of lyricism as our colleague ,mr4 ,kleiner4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,enthusiast for ,february is a hectographed publication issued by our latest young recruit1 ,mr4 ,james ,mather ,mosely of ,westfield1 ,mass4 ,mr4 ,mosely is a youth of sterling ability and great promise1 whose work is already worthy of notice and encouragement4 ,the editor's leading article1 ,the ,secret ,inspiration of a ,man ,who ,made ,good1 shows unusual fluency and literary assurance1 though we might wish for a more dignified title4 ,the expression to make good is pure slang1 and should be supplanted by one of the many legitimate ,english words and phrases which convey the same meaning4 ,mr4 ,mosely's editorials are likewise open to criticism on the ground of colloquialism1 though the natural exuberance of youth excuses much4 ,the ,birds1 by ,harold ,gordon ,hawkins1 is a truly excellent specimen of juvenile verse1 which contains much promise for the author's efforts4 ,increased familiarity with standard literary models will remove all evidences of stiffness now perceptible4 ,how ,men ,go ,wrong1 a conventional moral homily by ,edgar ,holmes ,plummer1 shows a slight want of original ideas and a tendency to commonplaces2 though having much merit in construction4 ,another subject might display ,mr4 ,plummer's talent to better advantage4 ,the use of the word habitat for inhabitant or denizen is incorrect1 for its true meaning is a natural locality or place of habitation4 ,blueberry ,time1 by ,ruth ,foster1 is obviously a schoolgirl composition1 albeit a pleasing one4 ,f4 ,r4 ,starr's cartoon scarcely comes within the province of a literary critic1 but is doubtless an excellent example of elementary art4 ,we question1 however1 the place of popular cartoons in serious papers2 the funny picture habit is essentially a plebeian one1 and alien to journalism of the highest grade4 ,all things considered1 ,the ,enthusiast is a creditable exponent of junior letters1 which deserves the encouragement and support of the ,united4 99 99 99 99 99 ,excelsior for ,march is in many respects the most notable of the season's amateur magazines edited by our brilliant ,laureate ,recorder1 ,miss ,verna ,mc,geoch1 it contains a surprisingly ample and impressive collection of prose and verse by our best writers2 including the delectable lyricist ,perrin ,holmes ,lowrey1 whose work has hitherto been unrepresented in the press of the ,united4 ,the issue opens with ,mr4 ,jonathan ,e4 ,hoag's stately ,ode to ,old ,ocean1 whose appropriate imagery and smooth couplets are exceedingly pleasant to the mind and ear alike4 ,mr4 ,hoag's unique charm is no less apparent in the longer reminiscent piece entitled ,the ,old ,farm ,home1 which describes the author's boyhood scenes at ,valley ,falls1 ,new ,york1 where he was born more than eighty-six years ago4 ,this piece has attracted much favorable notice in the professional world1 having been reprinted in ,the ,troy ,times4 ,perrin ,holmes ,lowrey contributes a cycle of three poems touching on the beauties of the month of ,april2 one of which1 ,april in ,killarney1 will this summer be set to music by ,leopold ,godowsky4 ,the style of ,mr4 ,lowrey possesses an attractive individuality and delicacy which is already bringing him celebrity in the larger literary sphere4 ,what could be more thoroughly enchanting than such a stanza as the following8 ,oh1 it's ,april in ,killarney1 ,early ,april in ,killarney1 ,where the ,irish lanes are merry ,and the lyric breezes blow2 ,and the scented snows of cherry ,drift across the fields of ,kerry-- ,oh1 it's ,april in ,killarney ,and she loves the ,april so4 ,treasure ,trove1 by ,henry ,cleveland ,wood1 is a pleasant and urbane bit of light verse2 while ,percival ,lowell1 by ,howard ,phillips ,lovecraft1 is an abominably dull elegiac piece of heavy verse4 ,edwin ,gibson's ,sonnet to ,acyion deserves keen attention as the work of a capable and rapidly developing young bard4 ,real versus ,ideal is a bright metrical divertissement by ,john ,russell1 which suffers through the omission of the opening line by the printer4 ,this line is3 ,for sale--a cottage by the sea4 ,we recommend the final line to the attention of those careless bards who pronounce real as reel1 and ideal as ideel4 ,the correct quantities1 as there given1 will serve as examples4 ,verse of deeper quality is furnished by amateurdom's foremost expressionist1 ,anne ,tillery ,renshaw1 two of whose poems appear4 ,the ,singing ,sea contains an error of technique1 hope and note being placed in attempted rhyme2 but the structure is in general very regular1 considering the author's radical theories4 ,of the merit of the sentiment it is unnecessary to speak4 ,a ,wish is cast in less fluent metre1 but is so replete with aptness1 grandeur and refinement of ideas1 that the sternest critic must needs view its form with lenient glance4 ,the prose contents of ,excelsior are worthy company for the verse4 ,paul ,j4 ,campbell is represented by a very brief though characteristic essay entitled ,the ,price of ,freedom1 wherein appears the sound reasoning and courageous philosophy for which ,mr4 ,campbell has always been distinguished4 ,another notable essay or review is ,english ,history1 by ,henry ,clapham ,mc,gavack4 ,mr4 ,mc,gavack here ably employs his keen analysis and lucid style in dissecting ,prof4 ,meyer's absurdly biased but diabolically clever pro-,german ,history of ,england4 ,the ,association1 by ,david ,h4 ,whittier1 teems with good advice concerning the proper management of the ,united4 ,mr4 ,whittier's style is smooth and dignified1 exhibiting a sober maturity unusual for a young author4 ,tonio's ,salvation1 a short story by ,edna von der ,heide1 is the only bit of fiction in the magazine4 ,this brief glimpse of the cosmopolitan child life of a modern city is marked equally by naturalness of plot and facility of technic1 forming a piece quite professional in quality and atmosphere4 ,excelsior has done much to sustain the best traditions of the ,united1 and we hope its future appearance will be frequent and regular4 ,the editorial column reveals the genius and exquisite taste of its gifted publisher4 99 99 99 99 99 ,merry ,minutes for ,december-,january is an interesting number of an interesting publication1 opening with some extremely clever cartoons by the ,united's soldier-member1 ,george ,william ,stokes4 ,merry ,minutes1 a poem in trochaic measure by ,olive ,g4 ,owen1 is distinguished by the touch of beauty characteristic of all its author's work2 but has a singular sort of rhyming in the first and third lines of the stanzas4 ,the cadence seems to call for double rhymes1 yet only the final syllables agree4 ,the last word of the first stanza is unfortunately shorn by the printer of its final s4 ,the ,dancing ,tiger is an excellent short story by ,raymond ,blathwayt1 which might1 however1 be improved in style by a slightly closer attention to punctuation and structure of sentences4 ,home1 by ,margaret ,mahon1 is a poem in that rather popular modern measure which seems to waver betwixt the iambus and anapaest4 ,the imagery is pleasing1 and the sentiment1 though not novel1 is acceptable4 ,the ,choice1 a serial story by ,beryl ,mappin1 exhibits the same immaturities of style which mark the didactic articles of this author2 yet so active is the imagination shown in some of the passages1 that we believe ,miss ,mappin requires only time and harder study in order to become a very meritorious writer4 ,the syntactical structure of this story is1 on the average1 smoother than that of ,miss ,mappin's essays2 indeed1 there is reason to believe that fiction is the better suited to her pen4 ,absence1 by ,winifred ,virginia ,jordan1 is a brief poem of faultless harmony whose quaintly sparkling imagery gives to an old theme a new lustre4 ,education in ,trinidad is another of ,f4 ,e4 ,hercules' terse and informing descriptive sketches4 ,alley1 by ,mrs4 ,jordan1 is a light pulsing lyric of almost ,elizabethan quality1 one of whose rhymes is of a type which has caused much discussion in the ,united's critical circles4 ,the native pronunciation of ,new ,england makes of scarf and laugh an absolutely perfect rhyme2 this perfection depending upon the curtailed phonetic value of the letter r2 which in a place such as this is silent1 save as it modifies the quality of the preceding vowel4 ,in the ,london of ,walker's day the same condition existed4 ,but the tongue and ear of the ,american ,west have become accustomed to a certain roll which causes scarf to be enunciated as scarrf1 thus throwing it out of rhyme with words of similar sound which lack the r4 ,the ,westerner would have to write scahf1 in order to express to his own mind the ,new-,england sound of scarf4 ,hitherto1 the present critic has called no notice to rhymes of this type2 and has1 indeed1 frequently employed them himself2 but recognition of etymological principles involved will hereafter impel him to abandon and discourage the practice1 which was not followed by the older classicists4 ,to the ,new-,england author this renunciation means relinquishment of many rhymes which are to his ear perfect1 yet in the interests of tradition and universality it seems desirable that the sacrifice be made4 ,why ,mourn ,thy ,soldier ,dead1 is a poem of brave sorrow by ,olive ,g4 ,owen4 ,the fervour of the lines is deep1 and the sentiments are of great nobility4 ,structurally the piece is flawless4 ,chaucer1 the ,father of ,english ,poetry1 is the third of ,miss ,mappin's series of articles on literary history4 ,an unfortunate misprint relegates to the bottom of the footnote a line which should immediately follow the specimen verse4 ,the style is decidedly clearer and better than that of the preceding instalment of the series4 ,when ,you ,went1 by ,mrs4 ,jordan1 is an engagingly pathetic poem2 with just that touch of the unseen which lends so particular a charm to ,jordanian verse4 ,miss ,trafford's appealing lines on ,a ,girl to ,her ,dead ,lover form a vividly pathetic glimpse into low life4 ,the poetic form is quite satisfactory4 ,as a whole1 ,merry ,minutes constitutes a rather remarkable enterprise1 sustaining through troubled times the spark of activity which will kindle anew the fires of ,british amateur journalism after the victorious close of the war4 ,may ,america1 in her new crisis1 do as well6 99 99 99 99 99 ,merry ,minutes for ,february opens with ,margaret ,mahon's poem ,god's ,solace1 a smooth and restful bit of versification4 ,spencer and the ,beginning of the ,elizabethan ,era is the current article of ,beryl ,mappin's series on ,english ,literature1 and contains some very promising passages1 especially the almost poetic introduction4 ,miss ,mappin has an unusual fund of knowledge1 and a pleasing gift of expression2 but these advantages are as yet not fully systematised or marshalled to best effect4 ,miss ,trafford's serial1 ,the ,pursuit of the ,innocent1 concludes in this number4 ,this story bears many of the signs of juvenile workmanship1 the present instalment being so hurried in action that it almost attains the brevity of a synopsis4 ,careful and analytical perusal of standard fiction would assist greatly in maturing and perfecting the author's style4 ,religion and ,superstition is the current article in ,f4 ,e4 ,m4 ,hercules' interesting series on ,trinidad2 and exhibits all the polish1 lucidity and conciseness of its predecessors4 ,his ,photo1 by ,master ,randolph ,trafford1 is a very promising poem by a youthful bard4 ,every rhyme is correct1 which is more than can be claimed for a great deal of the poesy perpetrated by older and more pretentious versifiers on this side of the ,atlantic4 ,the present instalment of ,the ,choice1 by ,beryl ,mappin1 is marked by considerable fluency and animation1 though possessed of certain limitations previously mentioned4 99 99 99 99 99 ,merry ,minutes for ,march commences with the present critic's dull lines ,on ,receiving a ,picture of the ,marshes at ,ipswich4 ,passing to more meritorious matter1 we encounter ,miss ,mappin's latest literary article1 ,shakespeare1 which interests even whilst it reveals deficiencies of prose technique4 ,jimmy's ,little ,girl1 by ,joseph ,parks1 is a vivid transcript of military life by a military author4 ,while the tale is not one of vast originality1 it nevertheless recommends itself through simplicity and verisimilitude4 ,miss ,mappin's serial ,the ,choice1 concludes in this issue4 ,it is very praiseworthy for its many colourful passages1 but mildly censurable for its melodramatic atmosphere and rhetorical lapses4 ,the opening sentence of this instalment contains instances of both of these faults3 ,a terrible foreboding gripped ,christabel's heart in bands of steel1 as if for a moment to cleave her tongue to the roof of her mouth4 ,this is the last number of the publication to appear under the present name4 ,beginning with the ,april issue it will be known as ,the ,little ,budget2 and will contain1 on the average1 a rather higher grade of reading matter than heretofore4 ,but in forming a judgment of any kind1 it is well to recognize that the magazine's appeal is frankly popular4 99 99 99 99 99 ,pep for ,february is the first number of a somewhat extraordinary enterprise conducted by ,george ,w4 ,macauley with the laudable object of waking up a sleeping amateurdom4 ,the editor very justly takes the press associations to task for their manifold sins1 particularly the dubious circumstances surrounding a recent convention1 in which it is needless to say the ,united had no part4 ,mr4 ,macauley's literary attainments are very considerable1 but as yet unperfected4 ,possessed of rare charm in descriptive prose1 he needs to exercise a greater nicety of construction in order to develop fully the riches which are his4 ,gifted with a large1 facile1 and ingenious vocabulary1 he is not sufficiently precise and discriminating in his employment of words according to their finer shades of meaning4 ,this carelessness makes faults of his very virtues2 for his vigour of expression tends to take the form of outre and inadmissible rhetoric1 whilst his talent for word-painting tends to degenerate into word-coining4 ,it would be quite possible for an acute critic to compile a dictionary of peculiarly ,macaulian words and phrases1 to which the current ,pep might contribute such terms as probverb 7proverb874 ,spelling and punctuation also should claim more of ,mr4 ,macauley's time and attention2 for he might easily avoid such slips as believeing1 it's 7for its71 thots1 and the like4 ,in short1 ,mr4 ,macauley is at present a gifted writer and brilliant editor labouring under the disadvantages of haste1 carelessness1 and perhaps a dash of radicalism4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,phoenician for ,spring is the first number of an enthusiastically conducted semi-professional venture of juvenile nature1 whose connexion with the ,united hinges on the associate editorship of our clever recruit1 ,mr4 ,james ,mather ,mosely4 ,like ,merry ,minutes1 this publication is of the popular rather than conservative sort2 being obviously designed primarily to please1 secondarily to instruct4 ,we deplore the use of commonplace and sensational topics1 colloquial expressions1 and malformed spelling2 but make due concessions to the youth of the editorial staff and the nascent state of the periodical4 ,so promising are the young publishers that time cannot fail to refine and mature their efforts4 ,an ,hour with a ,lunatic1 by ,harry ,b4 ,sadik1 is a very short and very thrilling tale of the dime novel variety4 ,mr4 ,sadik has a commendable sense of the dramatic1 which would serve him well should he choose a less sensational field of endeavour4 ,our ,soldiers1 a ,canadian mother's war song by ,mrs4 ,minnie ,e4 ,taylor1 exhibits merit1 though having many signs of imperfect technic4 ,in line #b of the first stanza bid should be replaced by bade4 ,the final rhyme of the poem1 that of gain and name1 is false and inadmissible4 ,metrically there is much roughness1 which careful study and diligent reading of good verse can in time correct4 ,candy and ,health1 and ,if ,you ,were ,down and ,out1 by ,james ,mather ,mosely1 are two typical newspaper interviews with representative men4 ,mr4 ,mosely shows much aptitude as a reporter1 having an almost professional ease and fluency4 ,this is not literature1 but it is good journalism4 ,the ,dinner ,never ,paid ,for1 by ,viola ,jameson1 is a piece of characteristic light fiction2 commendably innocuous1 and not at all overburdened with philosophical complexity4 ,the ,secret of ,success1 by ,edith ,l4 ,clark1 is a promising bit of didactic prose4 ,the ,end of the ,road1 by ,pearl ,k4 ,merritt1 is a brief essay of substantial worth4 ,the ,toll of the ,sea1 a poem by ,harold ,gordon ,hawkins1 shows considerable merit despite irregularities4 ,memories1 by ,arthur ,goodenough1 well sustains the high poetical reputation of its author1 though it is cruelly marred by the illogical and censurable simplified spelling which the young editors see fit to employ4 ,one line affords a silent but striking instance of the utter senselessness and confusion of the new orthographical fad4 ,this line reads3 ,of human thot might well be wrought4 ,now in the first place1 thot does not express the true pronunciation of thought4 ,the word1 thus written1 tends to acquire the vocal quality of shot or blot1 as distinguished from taught or brought4 ,secondly1 in this place it is out of accord with wrought1 which is correctly spelled4 ,if ,messrs4 ,plummer and ,mosely would be logical1 let them write wrought as wrot--or perhaps plain rot would be still more correct and phonetic1 besides furnishing a laconic punning commentary on simple spelling in general4 ,the ,phoenician's editorial column is conducted with laudable seriousness1 the item of ,the ,power of ,books being well worthy of perusal4 ,what could best be spared from the magazine are the vague jokes and cartoons1 purposeless fillers of miscellaneous nature1 and columns of idle gossip about things in general4 ,some of the moving picture items are greatly suggestive of what a newspaper man would dub press agent stuff4 ,the magazine represents a degree of purpose and energy quite rare amongst the anaemic youth of today1 and should receive corresponding encouragement from the members of the ,united4 ,those who are inclined to censure its professional aspect would do well to remember the much-vaunted beginnings of amateur journalism1 when the most highly respected sheets were of this selfsame variety4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur for ,november is heavily burdened with a sombre and sinister short story from our own pen1 entitled ,the ,alchemist4 ,this is our long unpublished credential to the ,united1 and constitutes the first and only piece of fiction we have ever laid before a critical and discerning public wherefore we must needs beg all the charitable indulgence the ,association can extend to an humble though ambitious tyro4 ,a more interesting feature of the magazine is the biography of ,mr4 ,fritter1 written by our brilliant ,official ,editor1 ,andrew ,francis ,lockhart4 ,mr4 ,lockhart's quaint and friendly prose style is here displayed at its best1 giving a vivid and sympathetic portrayal of his prominent subject4 ,beyond the ,law1 by ,mary ,faye ,durr1 is a light short story of excellent idea and construction1 whose only censurable point is the use of simplified spelling4 ,we believe that some procedure of quite drastic nature should be taken against the spread of this empty innovation before our settled orthography shall have become completely disorganized4 ,even in the ,united we can do our bit4 ,our editors should band together in an effort to exclude the new forms from their publications1 and our manuscript managers should see that every piece passing through their hands is duly purged of these radical distortions4 ,at the same time1 a series of articles explaining and analysing the spelling problem should be given wide publicity4 ,the poetry in this issue is of encouraging quality4 ,george ,m4 ,whiteside1 in ,dream of the ,ideal1 gives indications of real genius2 at the same time displaying a little of the technical infelicity which has marked his earlier verse4 ,mr4 ,whiteside's greatest weakness is in the domain of rhyme1 a noticeable error in the present poem being the attempted rhyming of hours with bars and stars4 ,i ,know a ,garden1 by ,agnes ,richmond ,arnold1 is a tuneful and beautiful lyric of a somewhat ,elizabethan type4 ,the metre1 as the lines are rendered1 appears to be quite unusual2 but scansion reveals the fact that it is none other than the octosyllabic couplet1 disguised by the printer's art4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur for ,december begins with ,a ,girl's ,ambition1 a poem by ,margaret ,trafford4 ,the general idea of the piece is both ingenious and appropriate1 but the language and technical development leave considerable to be desired4 ,in the first place1 the rhyming plan is unfortunate2 the opening and concluding couplets of each stanza being unrhymed4 ,in the second place1 the metre is irregular2 departing very widely in places from the iambic heptameter which appears to be the dominant measure4 ,miss ,trafford should cultivate an ear for rhythm1 at the same time counting very carefully the syllables in each line she composes4 ,a third point requiring mention is the occasional awkwardness of expression1 a juvenile fault which will doubtless amend itself in time4 ,just now we will call attention to only one defect--the exceedingly forced abbreviation dresses'd for dresses would4 ,to ,my ,physician1 by ,m4 ,estella ,shufelt1 is a smooth1 graceful1 and serious poem whose only possible fault is the infrequency of rhyme4 ,this is not a technical defect1 since the plan of construction is well maintained throughout2 but we believe a poem of this type requires more than one rhyme to each stanza of eight lines4 ,the ,old ,inn1 a stirring short story by ,gertrude ,l4 ,merkle1 is a very promising piece of work1 albeit somewhat conventional and melodramatic4 ,the alliterative romance of ,harry ,henders and ,hazel ,hansen has a genuinely mid-,victorian flavour4 ,dead ,men ,tell ,no ,tales1 a short story by ,ida ,cochran ,haughton1 is a ghastly and gruesome anecdote of the untenanted clay2 related by a village dressmaker4 ,the author reveals much comprehension of rural psychology in her handling of the theme2 an incident which might easily shake the reason of a sensitive and imaginative person1 merely unnerves the two quaint and prim maiden ladies4 ,poe would have made of this tale a thing to gasp and tremble at2 ,mrs4 ,haughton1 with the same material1 constructs genuine though grim comedy6 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur for ,january contains ,editor ,lockhart's captivatingly graceful retrospect of the older amateur journalism1 concluding with a just and eloquent appeal for the revival of our ancient enthusiasm4 ,who ,pays1 by ,helene ,h4 ,cole1 is a brief and tragic story of considerable sociological significance4 ,we deplore the use of the false verbal form alright2 for while the expression all right may well occur in conversation of the character uttering it1 the two words should be written out in full4 ,to a ,babe1 by ,olive ,g4 ,owen1 embodies in impeccable verse a highly clever and pleasing array of poetical conceits2 and deserves to be ranked amongst the choicest of recent amateur offerings4 ,girls are ,like ,gold1 by ,paul ,j4 ,campbell1 is a striking and witty adaptation of ,thomas ,hood's celebrated lines on ,gold6 ,gold6 ,gold6 ,gold6 ,bright and yellow1 hard and cold4 ,mr4 ,campbell exhibits both ingenuity and metrical ability in this facile jeu d'esprit4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur for ,march contains ,love's ,scarlet ,roses1 an exquisite piece of lyric verse by ,mary ,henrietta ,lehr of ,california4 ,miss ,lehr1 a scholar and poetic genius of high order1 is a prominent amateur of a few years ago1 lately returned to activity after a period of endeavour in other fields4 ,her verse is uniformly distinguished by depth of inspiration1 delicacy of sentiment1 and grace of structure2 occupying a place amongst the rarest products of amateurdom4 ,another poem of remarkable merit in this issue is ,the ,gods' ,return1 by ,olive ,g4 ,owen4 ,inspired by a recent article from the pen of ,richard ,le ,gallienne1 these well-wrought lines interpret one of the subtlest yet most potent of the varied moods created in the human breast by the momentous occurrences of the age4 ,looking over the file of ,,the ,,united ,,amateur for the present administrative year1 one may discover a diverse and meritorious array of poetry and prose1 which amply proves the contention of ,pres4 ,campbell that a literary official organ is not only feasible but eminently desirable4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,woodbee for ,january introduces to amateurdom a new bard1 ,mr4 ,j4 ,morris ,widdows1 ,hoosier exponent of rural simplicity4 ,mr4 ,widdows has enjoyed considerable success in the professional world as a poet1 song-writer1 and musical composer2 hence it is no untried or faltering quill which he brings within our midst4 ,stringtown on the ,pike1 which adorns the first page of the magazine1 is a very pleasing bit of dialect verse whose accent and cadences suggest the work of the late ,james ,whitcomb ,riley4 ,the metre is gratifyingly correct1 and the rusticisms exceedingly colourful2 though the average reader might find it somewhat difficult to associate the name ,miko with ,yankee countryside4 ,such a praenomen carries with it suggestions of a rich brogue rather than a nasal drawl4 ,personal ,liberty1 a brilliant short essay by ,leo ,fritter1 ably and sensibly explodes one of the characteristically specious arguments of the liquor advocates4 ,mr4 ,fritter's legal training aids him in presenting a clear1 polished1 and logical arraignment of anti-prohibition hypocrisy4 ,just a ,little ,love ,tale1 by ,elizabeth ,m4 ,ballou1 is a smoothly constructed bit of very light fiction4 ,mrs4 ,haughton's editorial1 ,a ,review of ,reviews1 is concise and sensible2 giving a merited rebuke to those who seek to create unrest and dissatisfaction in amateur journalism4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,woodbee for ,april is an ample and attractive number1 opening with ,dora ,h4 ,moitoret's excellent poem in the heroic couplet1 ,the ,april ,maiden4 ,the metre of this piece follows the fashion of the nineteenth rather than of the eighteenth century1 having very few end-stopt lines or sense-limiting couplets4 ,the final rhyme of caprice and these is somewhat imperfect1 the effect being that of an attempted rhyme of s and z4 ,her ,fateful ,day1 a short story by ,maude ,dolby1 is pleasing and ingenious despite certain improbabilities4 ,ashes of ,roses1 by ,frieda ,m4 ,sanger1 belongs to that abnormal and lamentable type of pseudo-literature known as vers libre1 and is the first serious specimen of its kind ever inflicted upon the ,united4 ,we are sincerely sorry that one so gifted as ,miss ,sanger should descend to this hybrid1 makeshift medium1 when she could so well express her thoughts either in legitimate prose or legitimate verse4 ,free ,verse has neither the flow of real verse nor the dignity of real prose4 ,it tends to develop obnoxious eccentricities of expression1 and is closely associated with bizarre and radical vagaries of thought4 ,it is in nine cases out of ten a mere refuge of the obtuse1 hurried1 indolent1 ignorant1 or negligent bard who cannot or will not take the time and pains to compose genuine poetry or even passable verse4 ,it has absolutely no justification for existence1 and should be shunned by every real aspirant to literary excellence1 no matter how many glittering inducements it seems to hold out4 ,true1 a person of very little knowledge or ability can make himself appear extremely cultured1 aesthetic1 and aristocratic by juggling a few empty words in the current fashion2 scribbling several lines of unequal length1 each beginning with a capital letter4 ,it is an admirably easy way to acquire a literary reputation without much effort4 ,as the late ,w4 ,s4 ,gilbert once wrote of a kindred fad3 ,the meaning doesn't matter ,if it's only idle chatter ,of a transcendental kind4 ,but we believe that the members of the ,united are more earnest and solid in their ambition1 hence we advise ,miss ,sanger to turn her undoubted talent into more substantial channels4 ,that she possesses genuine poetic genius is amply evident1 even from the specimen of vers libre before us4 ,the labour of real versification will be more arduous1 but the fruits will prove richer in proportion4 ,it is better to glean a little gold than much fools' gold4 ,miss ,sanger's nephew1 ,mr4 ,norman ,sanger1 is more conservative in his tastes1 and is creditably represented by his lines on ,the ,ol' ,fishin' ,hole4 ,this piece contains many of the rhythmical defects common to juvenile composition1 but is pervaded by a naturalness and pastoral simplicity which promise well for its young author4 ,wider reading and closer rhetorical study will supply all that ,mr4 ,sanger now lacks4 ,at present we should advise him to seek metrical regularity by taking some one well defined line as a model1 and moulding all the others to it by counting the syllables and intoning the accents in each4 ,in the case of the present poem1 the very first line will serve as a perfect guide2 its conformity to the iambic heptameter plan being absolute4 ,the alternating stresses of the fourteen syllables should be noted and copied3 ,the days are get-tin' balm-y now1 and first-est thing you know4 ,two defects of rhyme are to be noted4 ,by and lullaby cannot properly be rhymed1 since the rhyming syllables are identical1 instead of merely similar4 ,rapcher and laughter do not rhyme at all4 ,miss ,haughton's essay ,is a ,lie ,ever ,justifiable8 forms a prominent feature of the magazine1 and presents some very ingenious though dogmatic reasoning4 ,mrs4 ,haughton's editorial1 ,united ,we ,stand1 is an exceedingly timely appeal for genuine amateur activity1 and should be of much value in stimulating a renaissance of the ,association4 ,the passage reading ,who has been the latest victim of ,cupid8 ,whom of ,hymen8 arouses a query as to the grammatical status of whom4 ,we fear this is what ,franklin ,p4 ,adams of the ,new ,york ,tribune playfully calls a ,cyrilization4 ,it is1 as all readers of ,the ,conning ,tower can testify1 a remarkably common error2 and one into which many of the leading authors of the age frequently fall4 ,the jingle ,a ,soldier's ,delight1 by ,george ,william ,stokes1 concludes the current issue in tuneful manner4 ,amidst the present dearth of amateur magazines it is ever a delight to behold ,the ,woodbee2 meritorious in contents and regular in issuance4 ,the debt of the ,united to the ,columbus ,club is indeed a heavy one4 ,h4 ,p4 ,,lovecraft1 ,chairman4 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,official ,,organ ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,press ,,association ,,volume ,,xvi ,,georgetown1 ,,ill41 ,,july1 #aiag ,,number #i ,,ode ,,for ,,july ,,fourth1 #aiag ,as ,columbia's brave scions1 in anger array'd1 ,once defy'd a proud monarch and built a new nation2 ',gainst their brothers of ,britain unsheath'd the sharp blade ,that hath ne'er met defeat nor endur'd desecration2 ,so must we in this hour ,show our valour and pow'r1 ,and dispel the black perils that over us low'r3 ,whilst the sons of ,britannia1 no longer our foes1 ,will rejoice in our triumphs and strengthen our blows6 ,see the banners of ,liberty float in the breeze ,that plays light o'er the regions our fathers defended2 ,hear the voice of the million resound o'er the leas1 ,as the deeds of the past are proclaim'd and commended2 ,and in splendour on high ,where our flags proudly fly1 ,see the folds we tore down flung again to the sky3 ,for the ,emblem of ,england1 in kinship unfurl'd1 ,shall divide with ,old ,glory the praise of the world6 ,bury'd now are the hatreds of subject and ,king1 ,and the strife that once sunder'd an ,empire hath vanish'd4 ,with the fame of the ,saxon the heavens shall ring ,as the vultures of darkness are baffled and banish'd3 ,and the broad ,british sea1 ,of her enemies free1 ,shall in tribute bow gladly1 ,columbia1 to thee3 ,for the friends of the ,right1 in the field side by side1 ,form a fabric of ,freedom no hand can divide6 ,h4 ,p4 ,,lovecraft4 ,,department ,,of ,,public ,,criticism ,the ,conservative for ,july opens with ,ira ,a4 ,cole's delightful and melodious lines ,in ,vita ,elysium 7,heaven in ,life71 which present a strong arraignment of those conventional theologians who deem all things beautiful reserved for a vague existence after death4 ,while the orthodox reader may deem the flight of the imagination too free1 the rational and appreciative litterateur will delight in the vigour of imagination and delicacy of fancy displayed4 ,the metrical structure is beyond reproach in taste and fluency1 the regular and spirited heroic couplets affording a refreshing contrast to the harsh and languid measures of the day4 ,mr4 ,cole's poetical future is bright indeed1 for he possesses an innate conception of fitness and poetic values which too few of his contemporaries can boast4 ,we wish to emphasize to those readers who are familiar with ,the ,conservative's editorial policy1 that the lines appear practically without revision2 every bold conception and stroke of genius being ,mr4 ,cole's own4 ,two couplets in particular delight the ear and the imagination1 proving the author's claim to distinction as a poet of the purest classical type3 ,go6 ,go6 vain man1 to those unbounded fanes ,where ,god's one proven priest--fair ,nature--reigns4 ,uplifted1 glad1 thy spirit then shall know ,that life is light1 and heaven's here below6 ,the ,genesis of the ,revolutionary ,war1 by ,henry ,clapham ,mc,gavack1 is one of those searchingly keen bits of iconoclastic analysis which have made ,mr4 ,mc,gavack so famous as an essayist since his advent to the ,united4 ,our author here explodes conclusively a large body of bombastic legend which false textbooks have inflicted upon successive generations of innocent ,american youth4 ,we are shown beyond a doubt that the ,revolution of #aggf was no such one-sided affair as the petty political historians would have us believe1 and that our ,mother ,country indeed had a strong case before the bar of ,international justice4 ,it is an article which makes us doubly proud of our racial and cultural affiliations4 ,sweet ,frailty1 a poem by ,mary ,henrietta ,lehr1 contains all those elements of charm1 delicacy1 and ingenuity which mark its author as one of amateurdom's most cultivated and gifted members4 ,of the editorial column modesty forbids us to speak1 but we hope the amateur public may be duly charitable with our shortcomings as therein displayed4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,inspiration for ,april is a ,tribute ,number1 dedicated to the amateur journalists of ,great ,britain and ,canada who have devoted their lives and fortunes to the cause of civilisation and the ,empire4 ,with so wonderfully inspiring a subject1 it is small wonder that the magazine lives gloriously up to its name4 ,miss von der ,heide shows extreme skill and sympathy in the editorship of the publication1 and in the verses which she contributes2 proving herself worthy indeed of the high place she has occupied in amateurdom for so many years4 ,the ,lion's ,brood1 by ,henry ,clapham ,mc,gavack1 exhibits the versatility of this brilliant writer2 for though he is by preference a concise essayist1 he here rises to great heights in the domain of rhetorical panegyric4 ,his stirring encomium is ingeniously continued by ,mr4 ,william ,t4 ,harrington1 who adds many merited words of praise for our kindred across the seas4 ,the present critic's lines are as full of heartfelt love of ,england as they are wanting in merit2 while the lines of ,olive ,g4 ,owen possess both deep fervour and conspicuous merit4 ,mrs4 ,griffith's tribute1 ,he ,conquers who ,endures1 breathes out the true spirit of the ,american nation today1 anticipating the official action of a cautious and slow-moving government4 ,the ,open ,letters of ,messrs4 ,macauley1 ,stokes and ,martin1 speak the brave spirit of the age1 and make us the more sharply regretful of our own rejection for military service4 ,treasure1 by ,miss von der ,heide1 is an appealing bit of sentiment1 whose interest is timely indeed4 ,viewed as a whole1 ,the ,inspiration takes first rank amongst the amateur papers published since ,march4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,little ,budget for ,may opens with ,paul ,j4 ,campbell's meritorious poem entitled ,signals4 ,mr4 ,campbell1 always facile in metre1 exhibits increasing power in the realm of poetical imagination1 and is entitled to a substantial place on the slopes of ,parnassus4 ,a misprint in the present version of ,signals gives look when looked should appear4 ,the ,adventures of ',dido' ,plum1 by ,joseph ,parks1 is a pleasing story of military life by one who is himself a soldier4 ,mr4 ,parks' brief sketches form a pleasing feature of the contemporary amateur press1 being distinguished by a naturalness which intensifies their interest as literal transcripts of the army atmosphere4 ,road ,song1 a tuneful lyric by ,eleanor ,j4 ,barnhart1 marks the first appearance of that brilliant author as a poet4 ,her inexperience in this art1 however1 is not at all to be suspected from this fervent and finished composition2 which might well do credit to some of our veteran bards4 ,impulse1 by ,norah ,sloane ,stanley1 is described as ,a ,parisian ,fragment1 and exhibits much ingenuity in spirit and atmosphere4 ,keep a ,cheerful ,countenance1 by ,eugene ,b4 ,kuntz1 is a poem of great merit despite the doubtful rhyme of way and quality in the last stanza4 ,miss ,mappin1 in her article on ,milton1 displays her ample knowledge of literary history1 and even more than her customary fluency4 ,the ,contented ,robin1 a poem by ,margaret ,mahon1 is apt1 pleasing and harmonious2 whilst ,miss ,trafford's brief jingle is quaint and clever4 ,spring1 by ,randolph ,trafford 7aetat #aj7 is full of the exuberant vigour of youth1 and speaks well for the future of this bright young bard4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,little ,budget for ,june gains distinction from ,henry ,clapham ,mc,gavack's brilliant essay on ,american ,anglophobia1 entitled ,blood is not ,thicker ,than ,water4 ,this acute analysis of anti-,british sentiment among certain classes in the ,states reveals a lamentable result of bigotry and historical ignorance2 which may1 we hope1 be cured by the new bonds of alliance betwixt the ,old and the ,new ,englands4 ,as ,mr4 ,mc,gavack well demonstrates1 most of our ,anglophobia is manufactured by the alleged historians who poison the minds of the young through mendacious textbooks4 ,this species of false teaching1 an evil potently fostered by the ,fenians and ,sinn ,feiners who lurk serpent-like in our midst1 is one which cannot too soon be eradicated2 for the cultural identity and moral unity of the ,states and the ,empire make such sources of unintelligent prejudice increasingly nauseous and detrimental4 ,we may add that the textbook treatment of our ,war between the ,states is almost equally unfair1 the ,northern cause being ridiculously exalted above the brave and incredibly high-minded attitude of the ,confederacy4 ,another delightful prose contribution is ,back to ,blighty1 by ,joseph ,parks1 a vivid vignette of one phase of military life4 ,trinidad and its ,forests1 by ,f4 ,e4 ,m4 ,hercules1 is marked by its author's customary ease of expression and felicity of diction2 presenting many facts of general interest4 ,the poetry in this issue includes work from the pens of ,j4 ,e4 ,hoag1 ,h4 ,p4 ,lovecraft1 ,rev4 ,eugene ,b4 ,kuntz1 ,beryl ,mappin1 and the ,editor4 ,dr4 ,kuntz's lines to the memory of ,phillips ,gamwell are animated with a nobility which well befits their subject1 though the rhyme of day and melody is not strictly correct4 ,few amateur poets are able to achieve the sonorous dignity which ,dr4 ,kuntz imparts to his flowing ,alexandrines1 or to select with equal appropriateness the vivid and musical words that so irresistibly delight the ear and impress the imagination4 ,miss ,mappin's metrical effort1 entitled ,only a ,thought1 betrays some of the crudities of youth2 including the attempted rhyme of alone and home4 ,the metre1 phraseology1 and plan of rhyming demand extensive revision1 the following being a possible amended version of the piece3 ,as sad and alone in a distant land ,i sat by the dismal shore1 ,my chin laid pensively in my hand1 ,and my dreams all of home once more2 ,i watch'd and mus'd o'er the sunless sea1 ,and study'd the cruel foam2 ,for the waves bore an exile's woe to me1 ,from my kindred forc'd to roam4 ,but lo6 floating light upon the wind ,and murm'ing o'er ocean crest1 ,come the thoughts of those ,i left behind1 ,bringing comfort and love and rest4 ,only a word--aye1 only a thought6 ,each speeds like a heav'n-sent dart2 ,who can measure the gladness and aid they've brought-- ,these thoughts--to the breaking heart8 ,the first line of the original1 ,far away in a distant land1 is lamentably pleonastic2 whilst the identity or intended identity of the second and fourth rhymes is undesirable4 ,in a verse of this type1 it is not well to repeat a rhyme immediately4 ,in the second stanza the first and third lines and the fifth and seventh are unrhymed1 a variation from the original design which is not sanctioned by custom4 ,once a poet decides on his metre and plan of rhyme1 he should maintain them unchanged throughout the poem4 ,in the foregoing revised version1 all these defects have been remedied4 ,miss ,trafford's poem1 ,after a ,dream1 shows much promise both technically and in the thought4 ,the final line of the first stanza1 ,and the joy it contains is much1 is very weak2 and should be changed to read3 ,and of joy it contains so much4 ,in writing the definite article1 ,miss ,trafford mistakenly uses the contracted form th' when full syllabic value is to be given4 ,this contraction is employed only when the article is metrically placed as a proclitic before another word1 and is thereby shorn of its separate pronunciation as follows3 ,th' ambitious bard a nobler theme essays4 ,the illustrated bit of humor by ,george ,william ,stokes deserves mention as presenting one of the cleverest drawings to appear lately in the amateur press4 ,it is difficult to decide in which domain ,mr4 ,stokes shines the more brightly1 literature or pictorial art4 ,his heading for ,the ,little ,budget is a masterpiece of its kind4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,pippin for ,may brings once more to our notice amateurdom's foremost high-school club1 the ,appleton aggregation1 whose existence is due to ,mr4 ,maurice ,w4 ,moe's untiring efforts4 ,doings of the ,pippins1 by ,joseph ,harriman1 is a terse and informing chronicle of recent activity4 ,once ,upon a ,time1 by ,florence ,a4 ,miller1 is a bit of humorous verse whose metre might be improved by the use of greater care4 ,some ,cloth61 by ,john ,ingold1 is an exceedingly clever piece of wit2 which1 though avowedly ,irish1 bears the characteristic hall-mark of native ,american humor4 ,the delightful exaggerations recall some of the brightest spots in ,american light literature4 ,speed1 by ,matilda ,harriman1 is an interesting sketch recalling ,poe's ,mellonta ,tauta1 in its imaginative flights4 ,from ,over the ,threshold1 by ,ruth ,ryan1 shows much promise in the realm of fiction4 ,once an ,amateur1 ,always an ,amateur is one of those rare bits of prose with which our distinguished ,critical member1 ,mr4 ,moe1 favours us4 ,we are proud of the unshaken amateur allegiance of so brilliant a personality1 and trust that some day he may realise his dream of an attic or basement printshop4 ,the ,press ,club1 by ,ruth ,schumaker1 is a pleasing sketch1 as is also ,miss ,kelly's ,our ,club and the ,united4 ,we trust that the ,appleton ,club may safely weather the hard times of which ,miss ,kelly complains4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur for ,may contains a captivating and graceful sketch by ,w4 ,edwin ,gibson1 entitled ,beauty4 ,mr4 ,gibson is one of our younger members who bids fair to become prominent in the coming amateur generation4 ,of the month's poetry1 we may mention with particular commendation ,miss von der ,heide's ,worship1 though through some error1 possibly typographical1 the final line of the second stanza seems to lack two syllables4 ,when ,dreams ,come ,true1 by ,kathleen ,foster ,smith1 is likewise of more than common merit1 though the word hear in the second line of the second stanza is probably a misprint for heard4 ,smile1 by ,o4 ,m4 ,blood1 is ingenious though scarcely novel4 ,its chief defects are inequalities in the lines1 which care should be able to correct4 ,the first line contains two superfluous syllables1 while the fourth line contains one too many4 ,the ninth line of the final section contains two syllables too many1 as do the tenth and eleventh lines as well4 ,the rhyme of appear and disappear is incorrect1 since syllables in rhyme should be merely similar--not the same4 ,mr4 ,blood requires much practice in poetry1 but undoubtedly possesses the germ of success4 ,to the ,u4 ,a4 ,p4 ,a41 by ,matthew ,hilson1 is acceptable in construction and delightful in sentiment1 laying strata on the new ,anglo-,american unity--the one redeeming feature of the present international crisis4 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur closes with a quotation from ,euripides1 which we will not attempt to review here1 since the author has been receiving critical attention from far abler men for many centuries6 ,h4 ,p4 ,,lovecraft1 ,chairman4 ,,news ,,notes ,maurice ,w4 ,moe1 ,chief of our ,department of ,private ,criticism1 is trying a novel experiment this summer for the sake of his health4 ,he has undertaken a labourer's work on one of the new buildings of ,lawrence ,college1 lifting planks1 shovelling mud1 and wheeling bags of cement like a seasoned workingman4 ,while painful at first1 the regimen is proving actually beneficial1 and ,mr4 ,moe is proud of the physical prowess he is beginning to exhibit4 ,one of our amateur poetasters recently perpetrated the following four lines on the unusual occurrence of a learned instructor working manually upon a college building3 ,to ,m4 ,w4 ,m4 ,behold the labourer1 who builds the walls ,that soon shall shine as ,learning's sacred halls2 ,a man so apt at ev'ry art and trade1 ,he well might govern what his hands have made6 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,official ,,organ ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,press ,,association ,,volume ,,xvii ,,athol1 ,,mass41 ,,november1 #aiag ,,number #b ,a ,reminiscence of ,dr4 ,samuel ,johnson ,humphry ,littlewit1 ,esq4 ,the ,privilege of ,reminiscence1 however rambling or tiresome1 is one generally allow'd to the very aged2 indeed1 'tis frequently by means of such ,recollections that the obscure occurrences of ,history1 and the lesser ,anecdotes of the ,great1 are transmitted to ,posterity4 ,tho' many of my readers have at times observ'd and remark'd a ,sort of antique ,flow in my ,stile of ,writing1 it hath pleased me to pass amongst the ,members of this ,generation as a young ,man1 giving out the ,fiction that ,i was born in #ahij1 in ,america4 ,i am now1 however1 resolv'd to unburthen myself of a secret which ,i have hitherto kept thro' ,dread of ,incredulity2 and to impart to the ,publick a true knowledge of my long years1 in order to gratifie their taste for authentick ,information of an ,age with whose famous ,personages ,i was on familiar ,terms4 ,be it then known that ,i was born on the family ,estate in ,devonshire1 of the #ajth day of ,august1 #afij1 7or in the new ,gregorian ,stile of ,reckoning1 the #bjth of ,august7 being therefore now in my #bbhth year4 ,coming early to ,london1 ,i saw as a ,child many of the celebrated ,men of ,king ,william's ,reign1 including the lamented ,mr4 ,dryden1 who sat much at the ,tables of ,will's ,coffee-,house4 ,with ,mr4 ,addison and ,dr4 ,swift ,i later became very well acquainted1 and was an even more familiar ,friend to ,mr4 ,pope1 whom ,i knew and respected till the ,day of his ,death4 ,but since it is of my more recent ,associate1 the late ,dr4 ,johnson1 that ,i am at this time desir'd to write2 ,i will pass over my ,youth for the present4 ,i had first ,knowledge of the ,doctor in ,may of the year #agch1 tho' ,i did not at that ,time meet him4 ,mr4 ,pope had just compleated his ,epilogue to his ,satires1 7the ,piece beginning3 ,not twice a ,twelvemonth you appear in ,print47 and had arrang'd for its ,publication4 ,on the very ,day it appear'd1 there was also publish'd a ,satire in ,imitation of ,juvenal1 entituled ,london1 by the then unknown ,johnson2 and this so struck the ,town1 that many ,gentlemen of ,taste declared1 it was the ,work of a greater ,poet than ,mr4 ,pope4 ,notwithstanding what some ,detractors have said of ,mr4 ,pope's petty ,jealousy1 he gave the ,verses of his new ,rival no small ,praise2 and having learnt thro' ,mr4 ,richardson who the ,poet was1 told me1 that ,mr4 ,johnson wou'd soon be deterre4 ,i had no personal ,acquaintances with the ,doctor till #agfc1 when ,i was presented to him at the ,mitre ,tavern by ,mr4 ,james ,boswell1 a young ,scotchman of excellent ,family and great ,learning1 but small ,wit1 whose metrical ,effusions ,i had sometimes revis'd4 ,dr4 ,johnson1 as ,i beheld him1 was a full1 pursy ,man1 very ill drest1 and of slovenly ,aspect4 ,i recall him to have worn a bushy ,bob-,wig1 untyed and without ,powder1 and much too small for his ,head4 ,his ,cloaths were of rusty brown1 much wrinkled1 and with more than one ,button missing4 ,his ,face1 too full to be handsom1 was likewise marred by the ,effects of some scrofulous ,disorder2 and his ,head was continually rolling about in a sort of convulsive way4 ,of this ,infirmity1 indeed1 ,i had known before2 having heard of it from ,mr4 ,pope1 who took the ,trouble to make particular ,inquiries4 ,being nearly seventy-three1 full nineteen ,years older than ,dr4 ,johnson1 7,i say ,doctor1 tho' his ,degree came not till two ,years afterward7 ,i naturally expected him to have some ,regard for my ,age2 and was therefore not in that ,fear of him1 which others confess'd4 ,on my asking him what he thought of my favourable ,notice of his ,dictionary in ,the ,londoner1 my periodical ,paper1 he said3 ,sir1 ,i possess no ,recollection of having perus'd your ,paper1 and have not a great ,interest in the ,opinions of the less thoughtful ,part of ,mankind4 ,being more than a little piqued at the ,incivility of one whose ,celebrity made me solicitous of his ,approbation1 ,i ventur'd to retaliate in kind1 and told him1 ,i was surpris'd that a ,man of ,sense shou'd judge the ,thoughtfulness of one whose ,productions he admitted never having read4 ,why1 ,sir1 reply'd ,johnson1 ,i do not require to become familiar with a ,man's ,writings in order to estimate the ,superficiality of his ,attainments1 when he plainly shews it by his ,eagerness to mention his own ,productions in the first ,question he puts to me4 ,having thus become ,friends1 we convers'd on many ,matters4 ,when1 to agree with him1 ,i said ,i was distrustful of the ,authenticity of ,ossian's ,poems1 ,mr4 ,johnson said3 ,that1 ,sir1 does not do your ,understanding particular ,credit2 for what all the ,town is sensible of1 is no great ,discovery for a ,grub-,street ,critick to make4 ,you might as well say1 you have a strong ,suspicion that ,milton wrote ',paradise ,lost6' ,i thereafter saw ,johnson very frequently1 most often at ,meetings of ,,the ,,literary ,,club1 which was founded the next ,year by the ,doctor1 together with ,mr4 ,burke1 the parliamentary ,orator1 ,mr4 ,beauclerk1 a ,gentleman of ,fashion1 ,mr4 ,langton1 a pious ,man and ,captain of ,militia1 ,sir ,j4 ,reynolds1 the widely known ,painter1 ,dr4 ,goldsmith1 the ,prose and poetick ,writer1 ,dr4 ,nugent1 father-in-law to ,mr4 ,burke1 ,sir ,john ,hawkins1 ,mr4 ,anthony ,chamier1 and my self4 ,we assembled generally at seven o'clock of an ,evening1 once a ,week1 at the ,turk's-,head1 in ,gerrard-,street1 ,soho1 till that ,tavern was sold and made into a private ,dwelling2 after which ,event we mov'd our ,gatherings successively to ,prince's in ,sackville-,street1 ,le ,tellier's in ,dover-,street1 and ,parsloe's and the ,thatched ,house in ,st4 ,james's-,street4 ,in these ,meetings we preserv'd a remarkable ,degree of ,amity and ,tranquillity1 which contrasts very favourably with some of the ,dissensions and ,disruptions ,i observe in the literary and amateur ,press ,associations of today4 ,this ,tranquillity was the more remarkable1 because we had amongst us ,gentlemen of very opposed ,opinions4 ,dr4 ,johnson and ,i1 as well as many others1 were high ,tories2 whilst ,mr4 ,burke was a ,whig1 and against the ,american ,war1 many of his ,speeches on that ,subject having been widely publish'd4 ,the least congenial ,member was one of the ,founders1 ,sir ,john ,hawkins1 who hath since written many misrepresentations of our ,society4 ,sir ,john1 an eccentrick ,fellow1 once declin'd to pay his part of the ,reckoning for ,supper1 because 'twas his ,custom at ,home to eat no ,supper4 ,later he insulted ,mr4 ,burke in so intolerable a ,manner1 that we all took ,pains to shew our ,disapproval2 after which ,incident he came no more to our ,meetings4 ,however1 he never openly fell out with the ,doctor1 and was the ,executor of his ,will2 tho' ,mr4 ,boswell and others have ,reason to question the genuineness of his ,attachment4 ,other and later ,members of the ,,club were ,mr4 ,david ,garrick1 the ,actor and early ,friend of ,dr4 ,johnson1 ,messieurs ,tho4 and ,jos4 ,warton1 ,dr4 ,adam ,smith1 ,dr4 ,percy1 ,author of the ,reliques1 ,mr4 ,edw4 ,gibbon1 the ,historian1 ,dr4 ,burney1 the ,musician1 ,mr4 ,malone1 the ,critick1 and ,mr4 ,boswell4 ,mr4 ,garrick obtain'd ,admittance only with ,difficulty2 for the ,doctor1 notwithstanding his great ,friendship1 was for ever affecting to decry the ,stage and all ,things connected with it4 ,johnson1 indeed1 had a most singular ,habit of speaking for ,davy when others were against him1 and of arguing against him1 when others were for him4 ,i have no ,doubt but that he sincerely lov'd ,mr4 ,garrick1 for he never alluded to him as he did to ,foote1 who was a very coarse ,fellow despite his comick ,genius4 ,mr4 ,gibbon was none too well lik'd1 for he had an odious sneering ,way which offended even those of us who most admir'd his historical ,productions4 ,mr4 ,goldsmith1 a little ,man very vain of his ,dress and very deficient in ,brilliancy of ,conversation1 was my particular ,favourite2 since ,i was equally unable to shine in the ,discourse4 ,he was vastly jealous of ,dr4 ,johnson1 tho' none the less liking and respecting him4 ,i remember that once a ,foreigner1 a ,german1 ,i think1 was in our ,company2 and that whilst ,goldsmith was speaking1 he observ'd the ,doctor preparing to utter something4 ,unconsciously looking upon ,goldsmith as a meer ,encumbrance when compar'd to the greater ,man1 the ,foreigner bluntly interrupted him and incurr'd his lasting ,hostility by crying1 ,hush1 ,toctor ,shonson iss going to speak6 ,in this luminous ,company ,i was tolerated more because of my ,years than for my ,wit or ,learning2 being no ,match at all for the rest4 ,my ,friendship for the celebrated ,monsieur ,voltaire was ever a ,cause of ,annoyance to the ,doctor2 who was deeply orthodox1 and who us'd to say of the ,french ,philosopher3 ,vir est acerrimi ,ingenii et paucarum ,literarum4 ,mr4 ,boswell1 a little teazing ,fellow whom ,i had known for some ,time previously1 us'd to make ,sport of my aukward ,manners and old-fashion'd ,wig and ,cloaths4 ,once coming in a little the worse for ,wine 7to which he was addicted7 he endeavour'd to lampoon me by means of an ,impromptu in verse1 writ on the ,surface of the ,table2 but lacking the ,aid he usually had in his ,composition1 he made a bad grammatical ,blunder4 ,i told him1 he shou'd not try to pasquinade the ,source of his ,poesy4 ,at another ,time ,bozzy 7as we us'd to call him7 complain'd of my ,harshness toward new ,writers in the ,articles ,i prepar'd for ,the ,monthly ,review4 ,he said1 ,i push'd every ,aspirant off the ,slopes of ,parnassus4 ,sir1 ,i reply'd1 you are mistaken4 ,they who lose their ,hold do so from their own ,want of ,strength2 but desiring to conceal their ,weakness1 they attribute the absence of ,success to the first ,critick that mentions them4 ,i am glad to recall that ,dr4 ,johnson upheld me in this ,matter4 ,dr4 ,johnson was second to no ,man in the ,pains he took to revise the bad ,verses of others2 indeed1 'tis said that in the book of poor blind old ,mrs4 ,williams1 there are scarce two lines which are not the ,doctor's4 ,at one ,time ,johnson recited to me some lines by a ,servant to the ,duke of ,leeds1 which had so amus'd him1 that he had got them by ,heart4 ,they are on the ,duke's ,wedding1 and so much resemble in ,quality the ,work of other and more recent poetick ,dunces1 that ,i cannot forbear copying them3 ,when the ,duke of ,leeds shall marry'd be ,to a fine young ,lady of high ,quality ,how happy will that ,gentlewoman be ,in his ,grace of ,leeds' good ,company4 ,i ask'd the ,doctor1 if he had ever try'd making ,sense of this ,piece2 and upon his saying he had not1 ,i amus'd myself with the following ,amendment of it3 ,when ,gallant ,,leeds auspiciously shall wed ,the virtuous ,fair1 of antient ,lineage bred1 ,how must the ,maid rejoice with conscious ,pride ,to win so great an ,husband to her ,side6 ,on shewing this to ,dr4 ,johnson1 he said1 ,sir1 you have straightened out the ,feet1 but you have put neither ,wit nor ,poetry into the ,lines4 ,it wou'd afford me ,gratification to tell more of my ,experiences with ,dr4 ,johnson and his circle of ,wits2 but ,i am an old ,man1 and easily fatigued4 ,i seem to ramble along without much ,logick or ,continuity when ,i endeavour to recall the ,past2 and fear ,i light upon but few ,incidents which others have not before discuss'd4 ,shou'd my present ,recollections meet with ,favour1 ,i might later set down some further ,anecdotes of old ,times of which ,i am the only ,survivor4 ,i recall many ,things of ,sam ,johnson and his ,club1 having kept up my ,membership in the ,latter long after the ,doctor's ,death1 at which ,i sincerely mourn'd4 ,i remember how ,john ,burgoyne1 ,esq41 the ,general1 whose ,dramatick and ,poetical ,works were printed after his ,death1 was blackballed by three ,votes2 probably because of his unfortunate ,defeat in the ,american ,war1 at ,saratoga4 ,poor ,john6 ,his ,son fared better1 ,i think1 and was made a ,baronet4 ,but ,i am very tired4 ,i am old1 very old2 it is ,time for my ,afternoon ,nap4 ,,department of ,,public ,,criticism ,the ,dabbler1 for ,september1 in the entire unexpectedness and splendor of its appearance1 must be counted as one of the most effective of recent rebukes to the pessimists4 ,there have been several such rebukes1 and those who had already prepared themselves for another barren year in amateur journalism are beginning to realize that even history cannot be relied upon to repeat itself indefinitely4 ,the ,dabbler is issued by ,h4 ,l4 ,lindquist of ,chicago1 and contains #af pages1 exclusive of the covers4 ,the initial letters and a few incidental adornments are printed in green1 and the title-page1 with its harmonious arrangement of type and decoration1 is a delight to the eye4 ,the typography1 throughout1 is almost flawless1 and the contents1 in general1 are worthy of the care with which they have been presented to the reader4 ,paul ,j4 ,campbell1 in his article1 ,what ,does ,amateur ,journalism ,mean to ,you8 once again defines the peculiar benefits and pleasures to be derived from our hobby1 and warns away all those who come to it because of an idle curiosity1 or a vain desire for self-glorification1 or any motive other than a true impulse toward mental development and literary culture4 ,a ,critical ,review1 by ,frank ,c4 ,reighter1 is devoted to the ,july ,brooklynite1 and subjects that publication to a well-nigh exhaustive analysis and criticism4 ,the article is both interesting and instructive and reveals ,mr4 ,reighter as an acute and capable critic4 ,the verses with which he concludes his remarks are particularly clever and melodious1 and furnish an excellent example of light verse when it is written by one possessing a natural aptitude for that form of expression4 ,jennie ,m4 ,kendall1 in her fragment1 ,the ,one ,thing ,needful1 makes a modern business woman give her opinion of idle wives1 which she does in forceful1 although not always accurate1 ,english4 ,u4 ,a4 ,p4 ,a4 ,convention ,echoes1 by ,litta ,voelchert2 ,the ,old-,timer's ,comeback1 by ,l4 ,j4 ,cohen2 and ,the ,only ,hope of ,a4 ,j41 by ,w4 ,e4 ,mellinger1 consist of reminiscence1 assurance and advice1 from three well-known amateur journalists4 ,the articles were obviously written somewhat hastily but are1 nevertheless1 very interesting and suggestive4 ,h4 ,l4 ,lindquist1 in ,at ,it ,again1 tells how he severed his connection with amateur journalism six years ago--being occupied with several professional ventures--only to find that the old passion would not die and finally compelled him to return to his early love4 ,those who have seen the result of ,mr4 ,lindquist's acquiescence in his ,fate will gain some idea of what his activity must have meant in other days4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,dabbler1 for ,october1 follows hard upon its predecessor and1 in all essentials1 is of equal merit4 ,hiking in the ,rocky ,mountain ,national ,park1 by ,louis ,h4 ,kerber1 ,jr41 is a well-written account of a tour through some of ,america's most wonderful scenery1 and reflects great credit on ,mr4 ,kerber's powers of observation4 ,day-,dreams1 by ,frank ,c4 ,reighter1 is a didactic poem and so labors under an initial handicap in attempting to hold the attention of the reader4 ,the technique of the poet1 however1 is deserving of praise1 and if a fault must be pointed out1 it is in the forced pronunciation of the word idea in the last line1 which seems too cheap a device to appear in poetry1 even when1 as in the present case1 it is used intentionally4 ,dominion ,day in ,winnipeg1 by ,w4 ,b4 ,stoddard1 is an account of a patriotic celebration in ,canada and was evidently witnessed by the writer on his recent--and somewhat protracted--travels4 ,ecstasy1 a poem1 by ,eleanor ,j4 ,barnhart1 begins rather promisingly but we do not proceed very far before detecting various crudities of craftsmanship4 ,lines like the following3 ,the changing fire splendor of sky opals1 rare1 and ,like sea gulls swift soaring in tireless sky flight1 and1 once again1 ,till star gleams bright glittering high in mid-sky1 contain the germ of true poetry1 but when we read them we are aware not only of a harsh and difficult combination of consonants but also of an entire absence of metrical swing and grace4 ,in fact1 we get an impression from the above lines that an excessive number of important words have been crowded hap-hazard upon a metrical pattern which was not intended to hold so many1 and it is not surprising that the fabric should show signs of being subjected to a severe strain4 ,but care and practise may yet awaken that poet's instinct within ,miss ,barnhart which will enable her to detect and reject1 instantly1 all such blemishes in what should be the rounded beauty of her song4 ,thomas ,curtis ,clark is indeed a poet of ,ring and ,swing1 as an editorial note to his poems declares him to be4 ,the ,dawn of ,liberty and ,america's ,men must be read in their entirety to be appreciated1 but a quotation from the latter poem may not be amiss4 ,we are ,america's men1 ,brave1 dauntless and true2 ,we are ,america's men1 ,ready to dare and do2 ,ready to wield the sword with might1 ,ready the tyrant's brow to smite-- ,and ready to sheath the sword--for ,right6 ,we are ,america's ,men4 ,the unsigned story entitled1 ,the ,man ,out of ,work1 is very brief1 but apparently not the effort of a tyro4 ,it would probably hold the attention even if it were much longer and we are almost inclined to regret its extreme abruptness4 ,nevertheless1 it is complete as it stands and an artistic whole4 ,still ,at ,it1 by ,mr4 ,lindquist1 gives us interesting information regarding the editor and also some sound advice as to finding congenial employment4 ,mr4 ,lindquist seems to be a philosopher whose practise will bear comparison with his theory4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,olympian for ,october1 awakens much of the old-time thrill with which amateurs were wont to receive the once frequent issues of that justly known and esteemed publication4 ,the present number is not so ambitious in some respects as many of its predecessors1 but it must be said that within a somewhat smaller scope it accomplishes quite as much as a more pretentious issue could hope to do4 ,nor is the latest ,olympian at all in need of any apologies for shortcomings in the way of size1 appearance1 or general literary quality4 ,indeed1 publications that consist of #ab pages and cover are always certain of a hearty welcome1 while the present production of ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,cole has qualifications in addition to those just mentioned that recommend it warmly to all readers4 ,the poem1 ,motherhood1 by ,ethelwyn ,dithridge is a truly noble and inspired effort4 ,amateur journalism is fortunate to number a poet of ,miss ,dithridge's attainments in its ranks4 ,in ,retrospect and ,prospect1 ,edward ,h4 ,cole sums up the three years of amateur history which have just passed and comes to the conclusion that the best hope for amateur journalism in these days of stress and strain 444 is in the peaceful co-operation of the surviving associations in a campaign of expansion of a practicable nature4 ,here and ,now1 by ,helene ,hoffman ,cole1 consists of suggestions for the practical co-operation proposed by ,mr4 ,cole1 and should be a stimulus to increased activity in some positive form among present-day amateurs4 ,the ,reviewers' ,club is quite as authoritative and sound in its criticisms as in the past and must always be considered one of the most delightful and instructive features of ,the ,olympian4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,national ,amateur ,press ,association could hardly inaugurate a year of promised activity more auspiciously than it has by the sterling issue of its president's ,sprite4 ,it is just about everything that one could ask for in amateur journalism4 ,the modest grey of the cover1 the excellence of the paper stock1 the flawlessness of the typography1 the exquisite taste with which the component parts are blended--all these strike the eye at the first glance4 ,when one comes to read the contents1 he finds each contribution well worth the setting4 ,for a leading article we have something that is well nigh unique in literature1 either amateur or professional1 an attempted reconstruction of a scene supposedly excised from ,king ,lear4 ,this is so unusual1 in fact1 that it might well be called a stunt1 but certainly it is a successful stunt4 ,in the not overly long scene presented1 which pictures the ruthless hanging of ,cordelia and the ,fool before the eyes of the aged ,lear1 we can discern no quality that is not strictly ,shakespearian4 ,the language has been purged of every trace of modernism and flows with that semi-solemn1 archaic1 ,elizabethan cadence that almost makes it hard to believe that it was written in this century4 ,but all this might be done without achieving the supreme ,shakespearian touch4 ,the triumph of the scene is that the character delineation is carried on with such a mastery of its intricacies that this scene might be interpolated in a new edition of the play and fool the higher critics of the future4 ,the author1 ,samuel ,loveman1 is an amateur of former days who celebrates his return to the hobby with this feat so characteristic of his peculiar genius4 ,the ,united has its ,lovecraft1 a belated ,georgian who says he is nowhere so much at home today as he would be in the coffee-houses of ,pope or ,johnson4 ,the ,national once more after a lapse of years has its ,loveman1 a belated ,elizabethan who could have walked into the ,mermaid ,tavern and proved a congenial soul to ,kit ,marlowe and friend ,will4 ,the ,united welcomes him back4 ,harry ,martin1 the editor1 follows with an essay on the elements of the classic ,greek tragedy to be found in ,king ,lear1 which in depth1 tone1 and general literary quality are strongly reminiscent of the best work that appears in the ,atlantic ,monthly4 ,as an essay it is perfect in form1 its thesis is stated clearly and developed with forceful logic1 and the wealth of material brought to bear upon the subject displays a knowledge of ,shakespeare and the classic drama worthy of ,truman ,spencer1 of beloved amateur memory4 ,the editorial section is only to be criticized in that ,mr4 ,martin has cut us off with so few of his readable ,views ,martinique1 but we shall live in hopes of another excellent ,sprite with a longer editorial department4 ,george ,cribbs' ,history is just a little poem used for a filler1 but this must not be taken in derogation1 for it is filler chosen with the good taste that characterizes the choice of all the other contributions4 ,in spite of its simplicity and its brevity1 it plays with the deft touch of mastery on that chord of pathos that always vibrates to the thought of ,time's ceaseless and inevitable surge4 ,from every point of view the whole journal is a symphony of excellence4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,yerma1 for ,october1 is edited by ,john ,h4 ,d4 ,smith of ,orondo1 ,washington1 and1 aside from the fact that it is an attractive and well-printed publication1 may be considered as being rather in the nature of a promise of future achievement4 ,the dedicatory verses ,to the ,yerma1 by ,alice ,m4 ,hamlet are fairly good so far as rhyme and metre are concerned4 ,they run smoothly and are really graceful in sentiment4 ,they contain one or two grammatical inversions1 however1 such as ,i would a little jingle write1 and ,i'd love to be a poet great1 which have no more right to appear in verse than in prose4 ,then1 too1 they betray an occasional inelegance of expression like the following3 ,i find that ,i am stuck4 ,but ,miss ,hamlet should by all means persist in her versifying1 since there can be no doubt that she owns an instinctive grasp of the basic laws of rhyme and rhythm4 ,if she will read and study the lighter efforts to be found in any standard anthology of poetry and then1 with such models ever before her1 strive sincerely to overcome her present defects by unremitting practise1 ,miss ,hamlet may yet become a truly clever and accomplished versifier4 ,the ,reform ,spirit--,its ,mission1 by ,p4 ,a4 ,spain1 ,m4 ,d41 is an exceedingly able and thought provoking essay4 ,it is to be hoped that in future issues ,mr4 ,smith will give us an inkling of his own ideas on various subjects4 ,the chief defect in ,the ,yerma is the entire absence of editorial comment4 ,,reports ,,of ,,officers ,,president',s ,,message ,fellow-,amateurs3-- ,the fourth month of the ,united's official year opens with the organization still nearer completion2 ,mrs4 ,helene ,hoffman ,cole1 former ,president and thoroughly active and capable amateur1 having accepted appointment as ,supervisor of ,amendments4 ,the ,fourth ,vice-,presidency has been accepted by ,alfred ,galpin1 ,jr41 #ggi ,kimball ,st41 ,appleton1 ,wisconsin4 ,the ,official ,editor is to be commended for the excellence of the ,september ,united ,amateur1 as is also the printer1 ,mr4 ,w4 ,paul ,cook4 ,the ,association will be gratified to hear that ,mr4 ,cook has accepted the position of ,official ,publisher for the year2 but the members must remember that only by their liberality in replenishing the ,official ,organ ,fund1 can regular issuance be ensured4 ,the #aiaf-aiag ,year-,book of the ,association1 having been completed by the ,committee1 is now undergoing critical inspection and condensation by the expert judgment of ,messrs4 ,paul ,j4 ,campbell and ,edward ,f4 ,daas4 ,here again we appeal to the generosity of the members1 especially the veteran members1 to make possible the publication in full of this epitome of amateur history4 ,unless the ,year-,book ,fund is materially swelled1 the volume cannot possibly be printed in its unabridged form of sixty-three closely typed manuscript pages4 ,the amateur press is now showing signs of a gradual recovery from the late period of minimum activity4 ,mr4 ,martin's remarkable production1 ,the ,sprite1 ,mr4 ,lindquist's two numbers of ,the ,dabbler1 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,cole's welcome ,olympian1 ,mr4 ,cook's wonderfully ample ,vagrant1 and ,mr4 ,john ,h4 ,d4 ,smith's small but enterprising ,yerma1 all attest the reality of this awakening4 ,within the next few months many more papers are to be expected2 including an excellent one from ,miss ,lehr1 a scholarly ,piper from ,mr4 ,kleiner1 a brilliant first venture1 ,the ,arcadian1 from ,mrs4 ,jordan1 and both a ,vagrant and a ,monadnock from ,mr4 ,cook4 ,mr4 ,cook makes a truly philanthropic offer to print small papers at reasonable rates1 and it is to be hoped that a large number of members will avail themselves of it1 communicating with ,mr4 ,cook regarding particulars4 ,his address is #dea ,main ,st41 ,athol1 ,mass4 ,recruiting proceeds steadily if not with meteoric rapidity1 some excellent material having been obtained since the beginning of the year's campaign4 ,the most serious defect in our system is the lack of a general welcome shown the new members1 particularly as regards the distribution of papers4 ,one of our most important recruits of last ,july1 now a responsible officer1 declares he has seen but a fraction of the papers issued since his entrance2 a fact indicating a censurable but easily remediable condition4 ,let us impress it upon ourselves1 that if we would do our full share toward maintaining the ,association and its literary life1 we must see that all our respective publications reach every member new or old4 ,a considerable part of our yearly losses in membership are undoubtedly due to the indifferent reception which so many gifted newcomers receive4 ,the general signs of the times are bright and encouraging4 ,a renascent amateur press1 a closer co-operation between members1 an influx of interested recruits1 and an improved state of relations with our contemporaries1 are but a few of the good omens which promise to make the coming year a pleasing and profitable one4 ,h4 ,p4 ,,lovecraft1 ,president4 ,october #bh1 #aiag4 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,january #aiah ,,reports ,,of ,,officers ,,president',s ,,message ,fellow-,amateurs3-- ,the dawn of the new year discovers the ,united in what may1 considering the general condition of the times1 be called a very enviable position4 ,with a full complement of officers1 and with the recruiting machinery fairly under way1 our course seems clear and our voyage propitious4 ,the ,november ,official ,organ deserves praise of the highest sort2 and will remain as a lasting monument to the editorial ability of ,miss ,mc,geoch and the mechanical good taste of ,mr4 ,cook4 ,it has set a standard beneath which it should not fall1 but to maintain which a well-supplied ,official ,organ ,fund is absolutely necessary4 ,if each member of the ,association would send a dollar1 or even less1 to ,custodian ,mc,geoch1 this ,fund might be certain of continuance at a level which would ensure a large and regularly published ,,united ,,amateur4 ,the publication of lists of new and prospective members should arouse every amateur to recruiting activity1 and cause each newcomer to receive a goodly number of letters1 papers1 and postcards4 ,it would be well if the line of demarcation between ,recruiting ,committees and the general amateur public were not so sharply drawn2 for whilst it is the duty of the official recruiter to approach these new names1 any other members confer no less a favour on the ,united by doing so unofficially4 ,we must remedy the condition which permits able writers to join and pass out of the ,association almost without a realization of the fact of their membership4 ,how few of these gifted amateurs who entered in #aiae-aiaf are now with us6 ,publishing activity is strikingly exemplified by the appearance of ,spindrift1 a regularly issued monthly from the able pen of ,sub-,lieut4 ,ernest ,lionel ,mc,keag of the ,royal ,navy4 ,when a busy naval officer in active service can edit so excellent a magazine as this1 no civilian should complain that the present war has made amateur journalism an impossibility6 ,the number of papers expected in the near future has been increased by a plan of the ,second ,vice-,president to unite the members of the ,recruiting ,committee in a co-operative editorial venture4 ,it is to be hoped that this enterprise may succeed as well as similar papers conducted during former administrations4 ,of great interest to the literary element will be ,mr4 ,cook's contemplated volume of laureate poetry1 containing the winning pieces of all our competitions from the establishment of ,laureateships to the present time4 ,the ,association extends its heartiest congratulations1 individually and collectively1 to ex-,pres4 ,campbell and ,treasurer ,barnhart1 who were most auspiciously joined in wedlock on ,thanksgiving ,day4 ,its heartfelt sympathy is transmitted to relatives of the late ,rev4 ,w4 ,s4 ,harrison1 whose death on ,december #c;d left a vacancy in the ranks of stately and spiritual poets which cannot be filled4 ,a final word of commendation should be given to those more than generous teachers1 professors1 and scholars who are making ,the ,reading ,table so pleasing and successful a feature of the ,united's literary life4 ,the idea1 originated by ,miss ,mc,geoch1 has been ably developed by ,messrs4 ,moe and ,lowrey1 and is likely to redeem many of the promises of real progress which have pervaded the ,association during the past few years4 ,h4 ,p4 ,,lovecraft1 ,president4 ,january #b1 #aiah4 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,march #aiah ,,reports ,,of ,,officers ,,president',s ,,message ,fellow-,amateurs3-- ,as the second half of the official year progresses1 we behold the ,united in excellent condition1 though not marked by as great a degree of activity as might be desired4 ,the official organ faithfully maintains its phenomenally high standard1 the ,january issue indeed eclipsing all precedents2 but a larger number of other papers must be published1 if we are to make the present term as memorable quantitatively as it is qualitatively4 ,an excellent example is set by ,mrs4 ,jordan1 whose newly established ,eurus comes so opportunely4 ,may this publication prove permanent1 and of frequent appearance6 ,besides this1 we are indebted to ,miss ,trafford1 ,lieut4 ,mc,keag1 and ,mr4 ,martin for a ,little ,budget1 ,spindrift1 and ,sprite1 respectively4 ,several other papers are reported in press1 including what promises to be a very remarkable ,vagrant4 ,in order to increase the publishing activity of the ,association1 the administration will endeavour to arrange for the publication of one or more co-operative papers4 ,any ,united member able to contribute #a4ej or more to such an enterprise should communicate with the undersigned1 who will attend to the details of issuance if a sufficient number of contributing editors can be obtained4 #a4ej will pay for one page1 #gaj1 and each contributor is at liberty to take as many pages as he desires at that rate4 ,contributors may utilise their space according to their own wishes1 and all will be equally credited with editorship4 ,this plan1 successfully practiced four years ago1 should enable many hitherto silent members to appear in the editorial field to great advantage1 in a journal whose contents and appearance will alike be creditable4 ,the comparative scarcity of entries makes imperative a second warning regarding the new conditions in the ,laureateship department4 ,ten persons must compete in any class before an award in that particular division can be granted1 and at present no class contains an adequate variety of entries4 ,again it is urged that the members lose no time in submitting their printed literary productions to ,mr4 ,hoag for entry4 ,a careful study of the four proposed constitutional amendments is necessary to ensure intelligent voting next ,july4 ,the undersigned1 as their author1 naturally favours their passage2 but the one providing for an abolition of the officers' activity requirements should not be adopted without ample opportunity for debate and interchange of views4 ,the congratulations of the ,association are extended to ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,edward ,h4 ,cole upon the advent of a son1 ,edward ,sherman ,cole1 on ,february #ad4 ,with equal sincerity the ,united felicitates ,ex-,president ,leo ,fritter1 on his marriage to ,miss ,frances ,p4 ,hepner1 ,march #f4 ,the ,united's #bbnd annual convention will be held on ,july #bbnd1 #bc;d and #bdth1 at the ,dells of the ,wisconsin ,river4 ,under the direction of ,mr4 ,daas this event cannot fail to be of interest and pleasure to all delegates1 and every member who finds attendance possible is urged to be present4 ,to commend the official board for its generous1 harmonious1 and industrious co-operation this year1 seems but a reiteration of needless panegyric2 yet it would not be just to conclude this message without some such expression of grateful appreciation4 ,the enthusiastic and unswerving loyalty of all our leaders has been a constant shield against the adversity of these gloomy times1 and has been wonderfully successful in maintaining the ,united at a high cultural level4 ,h4 ,p4 ,,lovecraft1 ,president4 ,march #h1 #aiah4 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,may #aiah ,sunset ,howard ,phillips ,lovecraft ,the cloudless day is richer at its close2 ,a golden glory settles on the lea2 ,soft stealing shadows hint of cool repose ,to mellowing landscape1 and to calming sea4 ,and in that nobler1 gentler1 lovelier light1 ,the soul to sweeter1 loftier bliss inclines2 ,freed from the noonday glare1 the favour'd sight ,increasing grace in earth and sky divines4 ,but ere the purest radiance crowns the green1 ,or fairest lustre fills th' expectant grove1 ,the twilight thickens1 and the fleeting scene ,leaves but a hallow'd memory of love6 ,,department of ,,public ,,criticism ,eurus for ,february serves a double purpose2 to introduce to the ,united in an editorial capacity the gifted poetess1 ,mrs4 ,w4 ,v4 ,jordan1 and to commemorate the #hgth natal anniversary of amateurdom's best beloved bard1 ,jonathan ,e4 ,hoag4 ,the dedication to ,mr4 ,hoag is both worthy and well merited4 ,there are few whose qualities could evoke so sincere an encomium1 and few encomiasts who could render so felicitous an expression of esteem4 ,the entire production sustains the best traditions of ,mrs4 ,jordan's work1 and forms the most creditable individual paper to appear in the ,united since the dawn of the new year4 ,the issue opens with ,mr4 ,hoag's stately and beautiful poem1 ,to the ,falls of ,dionondawa1 which describes in an exquisite way the supposed history of a delightful cascade in ,greenwich1 ,new ,york4 ,the lines1 which are cast in the heroic couplet1 have all the pleasing pomp and fire of the ,augustan age of ,english verse2 and form a refreshing contrast to the harsh or languid measures characteristic of the present day4 ,mr4 ,hoag brings down to our time the urbane arts of a better literary period4 ,an ,appreciation1 by ,verna ,mc,geoch1 is a prose-poetical tribute to ,mr4 ,hoag1 whose literary merit is of such a quality that we must needs lament the infrequency with which the author contributes to the amateur press4 ,of this piece a reader of broad culture lately said3 ,i have never read a production of this kind1 more finely phrased1 more comprehensive1 more effective1 and withal1 so terse1 and throughout1 in such excellent taste4 ,eurus has good reason for self-congratulation on carrying this remarkable bit of composition4 ,chores1 by ,winifred ,virginia ,jordan1 displays this versatile writer in a very singular vein2 that of sombre1 repellent1 rustic tragedy4 ,it has all the compelling power which marks ,mrs4 ,jordan's darker productions1 and is conveyed in an arresting1 staccato measure which emphasizes the homely horror of the theme4 ,the phraseology1 with its large proportion of rural and archaic words and constructions1 adds vastly to the general effect and atmosphere4 ,we believe that ,mrs4 ,jordan analyses the ,new-,england rustic mind more keenly and accurately than any other amateur writer2 interpreting rural moods and sentiments1 be they bright or dark1 with unvarnished simplicity and absolute verisimilitude1 notwithstanding the fact that most of her verse is of a much more polished and classical character4 ,in ,chores we are brought vividly face to face with the bleakest aspect of rusticity2 the dull1 commonplace couple1 dwelling so far from the rest of mankind that they have become almost primitive in thought and feelings1 losing all the complex refinements and humanities of social existence4 ,the poem intensifies that feeling of hidden terror and tragedy which sometimes strikes us on beholding a lonely farmer1 enigmatical of face and sparing of words1 or on spying1 through the twilight1 some grey1 unpainted1 ramshackle1 cottage1 perched upon a wind-swept hill or propped up against the jutting boulders of some deserted slope1 miles from the town and remote from the nearest neighbour4 ,young ,clare1 by ,edith ,miniter1 is a narrative poem of that power and polish which might be expected of its celebrated author4 ,the only considerable objection which could possibly be brought against it is a technical one1 applying to the fourth line of the opening stanza3 ,to work a cabaret show4 ,here we must needs wonder at the use of work as a transitive verb when the intransitive sense is so clearly demanded1 and at the evident accentuation of cabaret4 ,we believe that the correct pronunciation of cabaret is trisyllabic1 with the accent on the final syllable1 thus3 cab-a-ray4 ,we will not be quite so dogmatic about artiste in line #b of the last stanza1 though we think the best usage would demand the accent on the final syllable4 ,gentle ,gusts1 the quaintly named editorial section1 contains much matter of merit1 clothed in a pleasantly smooth style4 ,the classical name of the publication is here ingeniously explained1 and its dedication formally made4 ,the tribute to ,mr4 ,hoag is as well rendered as it is merited4 ,the editorial note on amateur criticism is sound and kindly2 the author voicing her protests in a manner which disarms them of malice1 and putting us in a receptive attitude4 ,personally1 the present critic is in complete agreement with the remarks on poetical elision and inversions2 but we are confident that those of our board who hold different views1 will accept the dicta in the friendly spirit intended4 ,someone--,somewhere1 by ,jennie ,e4 ,t4 ,dowe1 is a delightful lyric by an authoress too well known in amateurdom to need an introduction4 ,mrs4 ,dowe writes with the polish of long experience and genuine culture1 displaying an enviable poetic genius4 ,eurus closes with some commendatory lines to ,mr4 ,hoag from the pen of ,h4 ,p4 ,lovecraft4 ,they are in heroics1 and redolent of the spirit of two centuries ago4 ,we discern no striking violations of good taste or metre1 nor do we find any remarkable poetic power or elevation of thought4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,little ,budget for ,february and ,march is a double number1 whose size and quality are alike encouraging4 ,the issue opens with an ornate and felicitous ,nature-poem by ,rev4 ,eugene ,b4 ,kuntz1 entitled ,above the ,clouds1 in which the author for once breaks away from his favourite ,alexandrines and heptameters1 presenting us with an ideally beautiful specimen of the heroic quatrain4 ,despite the strong reasons which impel ,dr4 ,kuntz to adhere to long measures1 we believe he should compose more in pentameter4 ,that his chosen metres have peculiar advantages1 none will deny2 but it seems plain that the standard shorter line has other advantages which amply outweigh them4 ,it was not by chance that the line of five iambuses became the dominant metre of our language4 ,in the present poem we discern a grace and flow far greater than any which could pervade an ,alexandrine piece2 a condition well shown by parallel perusal of this and one of the same author's more characteristic efforts4 ,as a creator of graphic1 lofty1 and majestic images1 ,dr4 ,kuntz has no peer in amateurdom4 ,his sense of colour and of music weaves a rich and gorgeous element into the fabric of his work1 and his sensitive literary faculty gives birth to happy combinations of words and phrases which not only please the imagination with their aptness1 but delight the ear with their intrinsic euphony4 ,the ,drama as a ,medium of ,education1 by ,lieut4 ,ernest ,l4 ,mc,keag1 is a short but terse essay on a neglected factor in liberal culture4 ,it is true that our ordinary curricula lay all too little stress on dramatic art2 and that as a result1 this branch of sthetic expression is grossly and consistently undervalued4 ,the low estimate of the dramatic profession entertained by ,dr4 ,johnson is a sad illustration of the one-sided state of mind prevailing even amongst scholars1 concerning an art which is certainly not inferior to painting and sculpture1 and probably much superior to music1 in the sthetic and intellectual scale4 ,the ,wizard of the ,north1 an essay on ,sir ,walter ,scott1 is the current instalment of ,miss ,mappin's ,modern ,literature ,series4 ,it is marred by a seeming hiatus1 discernible not so much in the flow of words as in the flow of the narrative1 which leads us to believe that a considerable portion has been left out1 either through accident1 or through an attempt at abridgment4 ,my ,books1 by ,alfred ,h4 ,pearce is a sonnet of apt idea and perfect construction4 ,on ,self-,sacrifice1 by ,w4 ,townsend ,ericson1 is one of the ,essays of a ,dreamer which are regularly appearing in the ,budget4 ,the effort is marked by much sincerity and idealism1 though in grammar and practicability it is less distinguished4 ,we might mention the erroneous use of whom for who 7a not uncommon defect amongst amateur writers71 the faulty use of the word usurping where depriving is meant1 and the split infinitive to at least make2 all three of which mistakes occur on page #ach4 ,mr4 ,ericson should drill himself more thoroughly in the principles of syntax4 ,other essays of this series are included in the present issue4 ,on ,contentment gives an illustration which we fear will injure ,mr4 ,ericson's contention more than it will aid it4 ,it is the reductio ad absurdum of the typical ,pollyanna school of philosophy4 ,down an' ,out1 by ,ernest ,l4 ,mc,keag1 is a very clever ballad of the rough and ready school2 picturesque in atmosphere1 but somewhat defective in technique4 ,lieut4 ,mc,keag should pay a trifle more attention to his rhymes2 which are not1 however1 worse than many of the rhymes in ,hudibras and other comic pieces4 ,why ,roses are ,white1 a children's story1 by ,margaret ,mahon1 is marked by much grace and ingenuity2 the central idea being quite original so far as we know4 ,further contributions to the children's department are made by ,miss ,birkmyre1 whose woodland sketches will be appreciated by older readers as well4 ,selfish ,ambition1 a poem1 by ,nell ,hilliard1 is as correct and fluent in metre as we might expect from the author1 though the expletive does in the final line of the first stanza is not to be commended4 ,the sentiment is not precisely novel1 but is well presented4 ,the ,flying ,dutchman1 a ,romance of the ,sea1 by ,joseph ,parks1 is more replete with nautical verisimilitude than with literary force4 ,as compared with many of ,mr4 ,parks' other tales1 its plot is distinctly weak and lacking in symmetry4 ,we must1 however1 praise the generally salty atmosphere4 ,the picture of seafaring life is vivid and realistic4 ,the current ,budget concludes with a summary of the year just closed1 displaying a record of achievement of which the editress may well be proud4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,silver ,clarion for ,march is the publication of ,john ,milton ,samples1 of ,macon1 ,ga41 a new member of the ,united4 ,in tone the paper is quite serious and strongly inclined toward the religious2 but so able are the majority of the contributions1 that it lacks nothing in interest4 ,singing on the ,way1 a poem by ,james ,larkin ,pearson1 opens the issue in attractive fashion4 ,the lines are tuneful and felicitous1 the triple rhymes giving an especially pleasing effect2 though we must criticise the line ,will certainly provide for us as being a trifle prosaic4 ,we should recommend plenteously provide1 or something of that nature1 as more poetic4 ,mr4 ,pearson is a poet of ability and experience1 with a volume of published verse to his credit1 whose work never falls below a high standard of merit4 ,just ,icicles1 by ,sarah ,story ,duffee1 is a sort of fairy tale with a juvenile exterior2 which contains1 however1 more than a slight hint of the vanity of human wishes and fruitlessness of human endeavour4 ,whilst it exhibits no little cleverness in construction1 we must own that it possesses certain looseness1 insipidity1 and almost rambling quality1 which detract from its merit as a piece of literature4 ,mrs4 ,duffee would profit from a closer study of classical models1 and a slighter attention to the more ordinary folk tales4 ,the ,blessings of ,thorns1 by ,sallie ,m4 ,adams1 is a religious poem of considerable excellence1 containing a pious and worthy sentiment well expressed4 ,the chief defects are technical4 ,in the first stanza1 line #c lacks a syllable1 whilst line #d has one too many4 ,also1 the day-way rhyme is repeated too closely4 ,to have but one rhyming sound through two rhymes is a fault hard to excuse4 ,all the defects above enumerated might be removed with ease1 as the following revised version of the opening lines illustrates3 ,when we thank our ,heav'nly ,father ,for the boons each day bestow'd2 ,for the flowers that are scatter'd ,o'er the roughness of the road4 ,in the third stanza we find the day-way rhyme again repeated1 also a superfluity of syllables in the sixth line4 ,the latter might be cut down by the omission of the second the4 ,springtime in ,dixieland1 by ,john ,milton ,samples1 is a tuneful pastoral which justifies the author's right to his first two names4 ,but one or two defects mar the general delightful effect4 ,the phrase zephyr breeze1 in the opening stanza1 strikes us as a trifle pleonastic2 since a zephyr is itself a breeze2 not a quality of a breeze4 ,the syntax of the latter part of this stanza is somewhat obscure1 but might be cleared up if the seventh line were thus amended3 ,and save when cloud-ships cross their track4 ,the sixth and seventh lines of the last stanza each have a syllable too many1 and in line #f the word raise is used incorrectly2 rise being the word needed4 ,this1 of course1 would necessitate a change of rhyme4 ,one ,face is ,passing1 by ,mamie ,knight ,samples1 is a timely and excellent sketch concerning soldiers4 ,co-ee1 a poem by ,harry ,e4 ,rieseberg1 contains much genuine pathos1 and is generally smooth and commendable in technique4 ,the ,likeness of the ,deity1 by ,arthur ,h4 ,goodenough1 is one of the characteristically excellent products of its author1 who holds the proud rank of ,literatus in the ,united4 ,the amount and quality of ,mr4 ,goodenough's work is very unusual2 few other amateurs producing so much verse of the first order4 ,as a religious poet1 he stands alone2 resembling the celebrated ,dr4 ,watts4 ,he invests every theme he touches with an atmosphere truly and richly poetic4 ,astral ,nights1 by ,john ,milton ,samples1 is a genuinely poetic piece of prose arranged in lines resembling those of verse4 ,we believe that the loftiness and excellence of this composition would justify its metamorphosis into real verse4 ,also by ,editor ,samples is the prose sketch entitled ,the ,present ,war3 ,a ,blessing in ,disguise4 ,from the title1 one would expect ,mr4 ,samples' point of view to be akin to that of the esteemed ,gen4 von ,bernhardi2 but such is not the case1 since ,mr4 ,samples means to say that he considers the conflict a just ,divine ,punishment for a sinful world--a punishment which will bring about a sinless and exemplary future4 ,we wish it were so4 ,lord1 ,keep ,my ,spirit ,sweet1 by ,mr4 ,samples1 is a religious lyric of substantial charm and grace4 ,the ,editorials in this issue consist mainly of critical notes on previous numbers1 and in general show a gratifying soundness of opinion4 99 99 99 99 99 ,spindrift for ,january opens with ,mater ,dolorosa1 a poem1 by ,vere ,m4 ,murphy1 whose sentiment and technique are alike deserving of praise4 ,the ,spirit of ,january1 a sketch by ,jean ,birkmyre1 runs into the ,february issue1 and is quite acceptable from every point of view1 though not distinguished by that highly imaginative colouring which we find in many of ,miss ,birkmyre's similar pieces4 ,the ,mystery of ,murdor ,grange this month falls into the hands of ,editor ,mc,keag1 who furnishes one of the best chapters we have so far perused2 possibly the very best4 ,it is exasperating to be cut off abruptly in the midst of the exciting narrative1 with the admonition to wait for page #dg6 99 99 99 99 99 ,spindrift for ,february has as its leading feature an essay on ,heredity or ,environment1 by the ,editor4 ,in this brief article many truths are stated1 though we fear ,lieut4 ,mc,keag slightly underestimates the force of heredity4 ,we might remind him of the ,darwin family1 beginning with the poet and physician1 ,erasmus ,darwin4 ,the grandson of this celebrated man was the immortal ,charles ,darwin1 whilst the sons of ,charles have all occupied places of eminence in the world of intellect4 ,to the ,enlisted men of the ,united ,states1 by ,edna ,hyde1 is an ode of admirable spirit and faultless construction4 ,a ,fragment1 by ,s4 ,l4 7whose identity is now known to us67 shows much poetical ability1 though the metre would move much more smoothly if judiciously touched up here and there4 ,the description of the crescent moon sinking in the morning1 is astronomically erroneous4 ,the ,estates of ,authors1 by ,albert ,e4 ,bramwell1 is a brief but informative article4 ,as the late ,dr4 ,johnson said of the ,ordinary of ,newgate's account1 it contains strong facts4 99 99 99 99 99 ,spindrift for ,march very appropriately commences with a poem on that blustering month1 from the pen of ,annie ,pearce4 ,apparently the piece is a juvenile effort1 since despite a commendably poetic atmosphere there are some striking errors of construction4 ,in the third line of the first stanza there is a very awkward use of the impersonal pronoun one4 ,this pronoun has no place in good poetry1 and should always be avoided by means of some equivalent arrangement4 ,in the second stanza it appears that the authoress1 through the exigencies of versification1 has fallen into the paradox of calling the fair green shoots roots6 ,perhaps we are mistaken1 but our confusion is evidence of the lack of perspicuity in this passage4 ,a rather more obvious error is the evidently transitive use of the verb abound in the last line of this stanza4 ,be it known1 that abound is strictly an intransitive verb6 ,the ,soul of ,newcastle1 an historical article by ,john ,m',quillen1 begins in this number2 and describes the ,roman period4 ,we regret the misprint whereby the name ,aelii becomes ,aelu4 ,the presence of a ,hunnish umlaut over the u adds insult to injury6 ,mr4 ,m',quillen writes in an attractive style1 and we shall look forward to the remainder of the present article4 ,heart ,thirst1 by ,vere ,m4 ,murphy1 is a very meritorious lyric1 containing an ingenious conceit worthy of a more classical age4 99 99 99 99 99 ,as the literary contributions to the ,,united ,,amateur for ,january are mainly in the form of verse1 ,i shall devote most of my attention to them4 ,poetry1 like the poor1 we have always with us2 but the critic is moved to remark1 as he casts back in his mind over the last twenty years of amateur publishing activity1 that on the whole the tone of amateur poetry is distinctly higher than it used to be4 ,banal verse we still have in larger amounts than we should2 but the amateur journals of a decade or two ago had reams of it4 ,on the other hand1 they contained not a few poems with more than a passing spark of the divine fire4 ,the promising fact is that in the poetry of today's journals we get much more frequent glimpses of this true inspiration4 ,in passing1 the critic cannot forbear calling attention to ,mr4 ,kleiner's ,ruth in the ,february ,brooklynite1 which attains the highest levels of lyric expression1 although only the simplest of figure and diction are employed4 ,it is not often that one runs across a poem so simple and yet so pregnant with sincere emotion4 ,the first poem in the ,,united ,,amateur arouses mixed feelings4 ,give ,aid1 by ,julia ,r4 ,johnson1 presents a thought that cannot be too often or too strongly stressed in this gloomy old world4 ,mrs4 ,johnson1 furthermore1 has carved out her own poetic medium1 alternating two tetrameter lines with a single heptameter1 a most unusual combination4 ,it is always a promising sign to find a new poet experimenting with unhackneyed verse forms1 although the experiments may not always be happy ones4 ,but a word about the thought of this poem4 ,it is one of those recipe poems1 so-called because it can be produced in almost unlimited quantities by any writer clever enough to follow the formula4 ,some day the critic is going to take enough time off to write a book of poetic recipes1 and already he has his subject so well blocked out that he is sure his book will contain the fundamental ingredients of a great majority of the amateur poems now appearing4 ,the poem under consideration belongs to the glad recipe1 an off-shoot of the ,pollyanna school of fiction1 and true to type it contains its quota of glad ingredients such as cheer1 merry song1 troubles1 and sorrows1 the last two1 of course1 for the sake of contrast4 ,astrophobos1 by ,ward ,phillips1 is another recipe poem2 although his recipe is so much more intricate that it is not to be recommended for the ,freshman4 ,the critic would denominate a poem composed according to this recipe1 a ulalumish poem1 as it has so many earmarks of ,poe4 ,true to type1 it is ulaluminated with gorgeous reds and crimsons1 vistas of stupendous distances1 coined phrases1 unusual words1 and general touches of either mysticism or purposeless obscurity4 ,such a poem is a feast for epicures who delight in intellectual caviar1 but is not half so satisfying to the average poetic taste as ,mr4 ,kleiner's ,ruth4 ,theodore ,gottlieb's ,contentment is a clever and readable working out in verse of ,mr4 ,ruskin's theme in his ,king's ,treasures2 namely1 the satisfying companionship of great books4 ,mr4 ,gottlieb shows commendable control of the felicitous phrase1 while the literary allusions with which his lines bristle mark a catholicity of taste entirely beyond the ordinary4 ,metrical versions of the ,psalms are not at all new2 they are used1 in fact1 in ,scotch ,presbyterian churches in place of regular hymns4 ,the poetic paraphrase of the first ,psalm by ,wilson ,tylor is well done1 and only in a few such phrases as winds that blow and perish and shall not be blest1 does he get dangerously near redundancy for the sake of rhyme and metre4 ,a ,thought1 by ,dorothy ,downs1 is a pretty little thought indeed1 and prettily expressed1 although the term holiness divine is strained when applied to a rose1 and we will be surprised is frankly ungrammatical as a simple future in the first person4 ,the sine qua non of all poetry is absolutely correct grammar and freedom from redundancy4 ,the bit of verse heading the ,war ,items written by ,f4 ,g4 ,morris1 is quite adequate except for the lack of a rhyme in the last line1 where the form of the stanza leads the reader to expect a rhyme for part4 ,matthew ,hilson's rhymed greeting to the ,united from across the water1 is on the whole1 graceful and well done1 and the ,united acknowledges its receipt with thanks4 ,one other piece of work in this number deserves especial mention4 ,alfred ,galpin's ,mystery introduces to the association a thinker more gifted for his years than probably any other recruit within recent years4 ,this judgment is not based alone on the short article under consideration1 but even this little piece of thought1 if carefully analysed1 is enough to stamp him as one who thinks with extreme facility in the deepest of abstractions1 and who for expression of that thought commands a vocabulary of remarkable range4 ,mr4 ,galpin is going far in this world1 and we hope that he will sojourn long enough with us so that we can feel that whatever glory he may attain will cast some of its rays upon the ,association4 ,the editorial remarks in this issue of the ,,united ,,amateur are worthy of close perusal on account of their graceful literary quality4 ,seldom has the critic seen the subject of the ,new ,year so felicitously treated as in this brief study by ,miss ,mc,geoch4 ,the author's mastery of appropriate words1 phrases1 and images1 and her intuitive perception of the most delicate elements of literary harmony1 combine to make the reader wish she were more frequently before the ,association as a writer1 as well as in an editorial capacity4 ,,reports ,,of ,,officers ,,president',s ,,message ,fellow-,amateurs3-- ,according to indications1 the last few weeks of the ,united's administrative year will exceed their predecessors in general activity and work accomplished4 ,the college recruiting campaign1 delayed through an unavoidable combination of circumstances1 is now taking definite form2 and may be expected to show some actual results even before the close of the present term1 though its greatest fruits must necessarily be reaped by the next administration4 ,general recruiting is on the increase1 and a more satisfactory number of renewals and reinstatements is noted4 ,one of the greatest obstacles to be combated during this unsettled era1 is the mistaken notion that amateur journalism is a non-essential and a luxury1 unworthy of attention or support amidst the national stress4 ,the prevalence of this opinion is difficult to account for1 since its logic is so feeble4 ,it is universally recognised that in times like these1 some form of relaxation is absolutely indispensable if the poise and sanity of the people are to be preserved4 ,amusements of a lighter sort are patronised with increased frequency1 and have risen to the dignity of essentials in the maintenance of the national morale4 ,if1 then1 the flimsiest of pleasures be accorded the respect and favour of the public1 what may we not say for amateur journalism1 whose function is not only to entertain and relieve the mind1 but to uplift and instruct as well8 ,mr4 ,edward ,h4 ,cole has ably treated this matter in his recent ,bema1 and no one who thoughtfully reviews the situation can dispute the force and verity of his conclusions4 ,as ,mr4 ,cole points out in a later communication1 war-time amateur effort must of course be less elaborate than in pre-war days2 but amateurdom itself is now worthy of double encouragement1 rather than discouragement1 since by its soothing and steadying influence it becomes a source of calm and strength1 and therefore an active factor in the winning of the war4 ,let us on this side of the ,atlantic view the rejuvenescence of ,british amateurdom after four years of warfare1 as exhibited in the formation of the prosperous ,amateur ,press ,club by ,messrs4 ,winskill and ,parks4 ,the moral is not hard to deduce4 ,of the new publications of the season it is hard to speak without using superlatives1 since ,mr4 ,cook's epoch-making ,june ,vagrant is among their number4 ,this veritable book of #adh pages and cover constitutes the greatest achievement of contemporary amateurdom1 and may legitimately be considered as one of the outstanding features in the recent history of the institution4 ,it is the one product of our day which will bear actual comparison with the publications of the departed ,halcyon period4 ,a ,july ,vagrant1 of equal quality though lesser size1 may be expected in the near future4 ,a newcomer to our list of journals is ,the ,silver ,clarion1 issued by ,mr4 ,john ,milton ,samples of ,macon1 ,ga41 a promising poet1 essayist1 and editor1 who has just entered the ,association4 ,the ,clarion1 whose contents are distinguished for their wholesome tone and pleasing literary quality1 is a regularly issued monthly1 and forms a substantial addition to the literature of the ,united4 ,another welcome paper is ,the ,roamer1 published by ,mr4 ,louis ,h4 ,kerber1 ,jr41 of ,chicago4 ,this journal1 devoted exclusively to travel articles1 will occupy a unique place in the ,united4 ,among the papers to be expected before the close of the official year are a ,dabbler from ,mr4 ,lindquist and a ,yerma from ,mr4 ,j4 ,h4 ,d4 ,smith1 now a soldier in the service of his country at ,camp ,laurel1 ,md4 ,responses to the proposal for a co-operative paper have been slow in coming in4 ,let the members once more reflect upon the advantages of the plan1 and unite in an effort to increase the literary output of the ,association4 ,the annual convention1 to be held on the #bbnd1 #bc;d and #bdth of next ,july at the ,dells of the ,wisconsin ,river1 may well be expected to stimulate interest to an unusually high pitch4 ,a large attendance is urged1 and since ,mr4 ,daas is in charge of arrangements1 the gathering will undoubtedly prove a bright spot in the year's programme4 ,h4 ,p4 ,,lovecraft1 ,president4 ,may #f1 #aiah4 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,june #aiah ,astrophobos ,ward ,phillips ,in the midnight heavens burning ,through ethereal deeps afar1 ,once ,i watch'd with restless yearning ,an alluring1 aureate star2 ,ev'ry eve aloft returning1 ,gleaming nigh the ,arctic car4 ,mystic waves of beauty blended ,with the gorgeous golden rays2 ,phantasies of bliss descended ,in a myrrh'd ,elysian haze2 ,and in lyre-born chords extended ,harmonies of ,lydian lays4 ,there 7thought ,i7 lie scenes of pleasure1 ,where the free and blessed dwell1 ,and each moment bears a treasure1 ,freighted with the lotus-spell1 ,and there floats a liquid measure ,from the lute of ,israfel4 ,there 7,i told myself7 were shining ,worlds of happiness unknown1 ,peace and ,innocence entwining ,by the ,crowned ,virtue's throne2 ,men of light1 their thoughts refining ,purer1 fairer1 than our own4 ,thus ,i mus'd1 when o'er the vision ,crept a red delirious change2 ,hope dissolving to derision1 ,beauty to distortion strange2 ,hymnic chords in weird collision1 ,spectral sights in endless range4 ,crimson burn'd the star of sadness ,as behind the beams ,i peer'd2 ,all was woe that seem'd but gladness ,ere my gaze with truth was sear'd2 ,cacodaemons1 mir'd with madness1 ,through the fever'd flick'ring leer'd4 ,now ,i know the fiendish fable ,that the golden glitter bore2 ,now ,i shun the spangled sable ,that ,i watch'd and lov'd before2 ,but the horror1 set and stable1 ,haunts my soul forevermore4 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,july #aiah ,at the ,root ,h4 ,p4 ,lovecraft 7,editor ,laureate7 ,to those who look beneath the surface1 the present universal war drives home more than one anthropological truth in striking fashion2 and of these verities none is more profound than that relating to the essential immutability of mankind and its instincts4 ,four years ago a large part of the civilised world laboured under certain biological fallacies which may1 in a sense1 be held responsible for the extent and duration of the present conflict4 ,these fallacies1 which were the foundation of pacifism and other pernicious forms of social and political radicalism1 dealt with the capability of man to evolve mentally beyond his former state of subservience to primitive instinct and pugnacity1 and to conduct his affairs and international or inter-racial relations on a basis of reason and good-will4 ,that belief in such capability is unscientific and childishly naive1 is beside the question4 ,the fact remains1 that the most civilised part of the world1 including our own ,anglo-,saxondom1 did entertain enough of these notions to relax military vigilance1 lay stress on points of honour1 place trust in treaties1 and permit a powerful and unscrupulous nation to indulge unchecked and unsuspected in nearly fifty years of preparation for world-wide robbery and slaughter4 ,we are reaping the result of our simplicity4 ,the past is over4 ,our former follies we can but regret1 and expiate as best we may by a crusade to the death against the ,trans-,rhenane monster which we allowed to grow and flourish beneath our very eyes4 ,but the future holds more of responsibility1 and we must prepare to guard against any renascence of the benevolent delusions that four years of blood have barely been able to dispel4 ,in a word1 we must learn to discard forever the sentimental standpoint1 and to view our species through the cold eyes of science alone4 ,we must recognise the essential underlying savagery in the animal called man1 and return to older and sounder principles of national life and defence4 ,we must realise that man's nature will remain the same so long as he remains man2 that civilisation is but a slight coverlet beneath which the dominant beast sleeps lightly and ever ready to awake4 ,to preserve civilisation1 we must deal scientifically with the brute element1 using only genuine biological principles4 ,in considering ourselves1 we think too much of ethics and sociology--too little of plain natural history4 ,we should perceive that man's period of historical existence1 a period so short that his physical constitution has not been altered in the slightest degree1 is insufficient to allow of any considerable mental change4 ,the instincts that governed the ,egyptians and the ,assyrians of old1 govern us as well2 and as the ancients thought1 grasped1 struggled1 and deceived1 so shall we moderns continue to think1 grasp1 struggle1 and deceive in our inmost hearts4 ,change is only superficial and apparent4 ,man's respect for the imponderables varies according to his mental constitution and environment4 ,through certain modes of thought and training it can be elevated tremendously1 yet there is always a limit4 ,the man or nation of high culture may acknowledge to great lengths the restraints imposed by conventions and honour1 but beyond a certain point primitive will or desire cannot be curbed4 ,denied anything ardently desired1 the individual or state will argue and parley just so long--then1 if the impelling motive be sufficiently great1 will cast aside every rule and break down every acquired inhibition1 plunging viciously after the object wished2 all the more fantastically savage because of previous repression4 ,the sole ultimate factor in human decisions is physical force4 ,this we must learn1 however repugnant the idea may seem1 if we are to protect ourselves and our institutions4 ,reliance on anything else is fallacious and ruinous4 ,dangerous beyond description are the voices sometimes heard today1 decrying the continuance of armament after the close of the present hostilities4 ,the specific application of the scientific truth regarding man's native instincts will be found in the adoption of a post-bellum international programme4 ,obviously1 we must take into account the primordial substructure and arrange for the upholding of culture by methods which will stand the acid test of stress and conflicting ambitions4 ,in disillusioned diplomacy1 ample armament1 and universal military training alone will be found the solution of the world's difficulties4 ,it will not be a perfect solution1 because humanity is not perfect4 ,it will not abolish war1 because war is the expression of a natural human tendency4 ,but it will at least produce an approximate stability of social and political conditions1 and prevent the menace of the entire world by the greed of any one of its constituent parts4 ,,reports ,,of ,,officers ,,president',s ,,message ,fellow-,amateurs3-- ,the conclusion of an administrative year is naturally a time for retrospection rather than for announcement and planning1 and seldom may we derive more satisfaction from such a backward glance than at the present period4 ,the ,united has just completed a twelvemonth which1 though not notable for numerousness of publications or expansion of the membership list1 will nevertheless be long remembered for the tone and quality of its literature1 and the uniformly smooth maintenance of its executive programme4 ,the virtual extirpation of petty politics1 and the elimination of all considerations save development of literary taste and encouragement of literary talent1 have raised our ,association to a new level of poise1 harmony1 dignity1 and usefulness to the serious aspirant4 ,prime honours must be awarded to our ,official ,editor and ,official ,publisher1 who have given us an official organ unequalled and unapproached in the history of amateur journalism4 ,the somewhat altered nature of contents1 and radically elevated standard of editorship1 mark an era in the progress of the ,association2 since the ,,united ,,amateur is really the nucleus of our activity and a reflection of the best in our current thought and ideals4 ,we have this year helped to shatter the foolish fetichism which restricts the average official organ to a boresome and needless display of facts and figures1 relating to the political mechanism of amateurdom4 ,the organ has been a literary one1 as befits a literary association2 and has been conducted with a sounder sense of relative values than in times when amateurs seemed to place elections and annual banquets above art1 taste1 and rhetoric4 ,the publications of the year have been distinguished for their merit1 general polish1 and scholarly editorship4 ,the percentage of crude matter appearing in print has been reduced to a minimum through the careful and conscientious critical service rendered both by the official bureau and by private individuals4 ,the artistic standard of the ,united has evolved to a point where no aims short of excellence can win unqualified approval4 ,the classics have become our sole models1 and whilst even the most glaring faults of the sincere beginner receive liberal consideration and sympathetically constructive attention1 there is no longer a seat of honour for complacent crudity4 ,genuine aspiration is our criterion of worth4 ,the spirit of this newer amateur journalism is splendidly shown by such magazines of the year as ,eurus1 ,spindrift1 ,the ,vagrant1 and the official organ4 ,just before the close of the present term1 several new publications have appeared1 amongst them a ,vagrant1 a ,conservative1 and ,mr4 ,moloney's splendid first venture1 ,the ,voice ,from the ,mountains4 ,early in the next fiscal year will appear ,the ,united ,co-,operative1 the fruit of this year's planning1 edited by ,mrs4 ,jordan1 ,miss ,lehr1 ,mr4 ,j4 ,clinton ,pryor1 and the undersigned4 ,a revival of manuscript magazines1 inaugurated by the appearance of ,sub-,lieut4 ,mc,keag's ,northumbrian1 is in a measure solving the problems created by the high price of printing4 ,next month the undersigned will put into circulation ,hesperia1 a typewritten magazine designed to foster a closer relationship between ,british and ,american amateurdom4 ,judges of ,award for the ,laureateship contests have been appointed as follows3 ,poetry1 ,mr4 ,nixon ,waterman1 a ,new-,england bard who needs no introduction to the lover of lofty and graceful expression4 ,verse1 ,dr4 ,henry ,t4 ,schnittkind of the ,stratford ,publishing ,co4 ,essay1 ,prof4 ,lewis ,p4 ,shanks of the ,university of ,pennsylvania4 ,study1 ,mr4 ,j4 ,lee ,robinson1 ,editor of the ,cambridge ,tribune4 ,story1 ,mr4 ,william ,r4 ,murphy of the ,philadelphia ,evening ,ledger1 a former ,united man of the highest attainments4 ,editorial1 ,hon4 ,oliver ,wayne ,stewart1 ,associate ,editor of ,the ,national ,enquirer4 ,in doffing the official mantle after a year of executive endeavour1 the undersigned must express regret at his inability to serve in as vigorous a manner as would the ideal ,president4 ,he is acutely conscious of his shortcomings in a position which demands constant care and exertion1 and which imposes a strain that only the robust are perfectly qualified to bear4 ,it would be impossible for him fully to express his gratitude to his faithful and capable colleagues1 to whose unremitting and faultlessly co-ordinated efforts all the successes of the present year must in justice be attributed4 ,valete6 ,h4 ,p4 ,,lovecraft1 ,president4 ,june #bf1 #aiah4 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,official ,,organ ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,press ,,association ,,volume ,,xviii ,,athol1 ,,mass41 ,,november1 #aiah ,,number #b ,,department of ,,literature ,the ,literature of ,rome ,h4 ,p4 ,lovecraft ,the centre of our studies1 the goal of our thoughts1 the point to which all paths lead and the point from which all paths start again1 is to be found in ,rome and her abiding power4--,freeman4 ,few students of mankind1 if truly impartial1 can fail to select as the greatest of human institutions that mighty and enduring civilisation which1 first appearing on the banks of the ,tiber1 spread throughout the known world and became the direct parent of our own4 ,if to ,greece is due the existence of all modern thought1 so to ,rome is due its survival and our possession of it2 for it was the majesty of the ,eternal ,city which1 reducing all ,western ,europe to a single government1 made possible the wide and uniform diffusion of the high culture borrowed from ,greece1 and thereby laid the foundation of ,european enlightenment4 ,to this day the remnants of the ,roman world exhibit a superiority over those parts which never came beneath the sway of the ,imperial ,mother2 a superiority strikingly manifest when we contemplate the savage code and ideals of the ,germans1 aliens to the priceless heritage of ,latin justice1 humanity1 and philosophy4 ,the study of ,roman literature1 then1 needs no plea to recommend it4 ,it is ours by intellectual descent2 our bridge to all antiquity and to those ,grecian stores of art and thought which are the fountain head of existing culture4 ,in considering ,rome and her artistic history1 we are conscious of a subjectivity impossible in the case of ,greece or any other ancient nation4 ,whilst the ,hellenes1 with their strange beauty-worship and defective moral ideals1 are to be admired and pitied at once1 as luminous but remote phantoms2 the ,romans1 with their greater practical sense1 ancient virtue1 and love of law and order1 seem like our own people4 ,it is with personal pride that we read of the valour and conquests of this mighty race1 who used the alphabet we use1 spoke and wrote with but little difference many of the words we speak and write1 and with divine creative power evolved virtually all the forms of law which govern us today4 ,to the ,greek1 art and literature were inextricably involved in daily life and thought2 to the ,roman1 as to us1 they were a separate unit in a many-sided civilisation4 ,undoubtedly this circumstance proves the inferiority of the ,roman culture to the ,greek2 but it is an inferiority shared by our own culture1 and therefore a bond of sympathy4 ,the race whose genius gave rise to the glories of ,rome is1 unhappily1 not now in existence4 ,centuries of devastating wars1 and foreign immigration into ,italy1 left but few real ,latins after the early ,imperial ra4 ,the original ,romans were a blend of closely related dolichocephalic ,mediterranean tribes1 whose racial affinities with the ,greeks could not have been very remote1 plus a slight ,etruscan element of doubtful classification4 ,the latter stock is an object of much mystery to ethnologists1 being at present described by most authorities as of the brachycephalic ,alpine variety4 ,many ,roman customs and habits of thought are traceable to this problematical people4 ,it is a singular circumstance1 that classic ,latin literature is1 save in the case of satire1 almost wholly unrelated to the crude effusions of the primitive ,latins2 being borrowed as to form and subject from the ,greeks1 at a comparatively late date in ,rome's political history4 ,that this borrowing assisted greatly in ,latin cultural advancement1 none may deny2 but it is also true that the new ,hellenised literature exerted a malign influence on the nation's ancient austerity1 introducing lax ,grecian notions which contributed to moral and material decadence4 ,the counter-currents1 however1 were strong2 and the virile ,roman spirit shone nobly through the ,athenian dress in almost every instance1 imparting to the literature a distinctively national cast1 and displaying the peculiar characteristics of the ,italian mind4 ,on the whole1 ,roman life moulded ,roman literature more than the literature moulded the life4 ,the earliest writings of the ,latins are1 save for a fragment or two1 lost to posterity2 though a few of their qualities are known4 ,they were for the most part crude ballads in an odd ,saturnian metre copied from the ,etruscans1 primitive religious chants and dirges1 rough medleys of comic verse forming the prototype of satire1 and awkward ,fescennine dialogues or dramatic farces enacted by the lively peasantry4 ,all doubtless reflected the simple1 happy and virtuous1 if stern1 life of the home-loving agricultural race which was destined later to conquer the world4 ,in ,b4 ,c4 #cfd the medleys or ,satur were enacted upon the ,roman stage1 the words supplemented by the pantomime and dancing of ,etruscan performers who spoke no ,latin4 ,another early form of dramatic art was the fabula ,atellana1 which was adapted from the neighbouring tribe of ,oscans1 and which possessed a simple plot and stock characters4 ,while this early literature embodied ,oscan and ,etruscan as well as ,latin elements1 it was truly ,roman2 for the ,roman was himself formed of just such a mixture4 ,all ,italy contributed to the ,latin stream1 but at no time did any non-,roman dialect rise to the distinction of a real literature4 ,we have here no parallel for the olic1 ,ionic1 and ,doric phases of ,greek literature4 ,classical ,latin literature dates from the beginning of ,rome's free intercourse with ,greece1 a thing brought about by the conquest of the ,hellenic colonies in ,southern ,italy4 ,when ,tarentum fell to the ,romans in ,b4 ,c4 #bgb1 there was brought to ,rome as a captive and slave a young man of great attainments1 by name ,andronicus4 ,his master1 ,m4 ,livius ,salinator1 was quick to perceive his genius1 and soon gave him his liberty1 investing him according to custom with his own nomen of ,livius1 so that the freedman was afterward known as ,livius ,andronicus4 ,the erstwhile slave1 having established a school1 commenced his literary career by translating the ,odyssey into ,latin ,saturnian verse for the use of his pupils4 ,this feat was followed by the translation of a ,greek drama1 which was enacted in ,b4 ,c4 #bdj1 and formed the first genuinely classic piece beheld by the ,roman public4 ,the success of ,livius ,andronicus was very considerable1 and he wrote many more plays1 in which he himself acted1 besides attempting lyric and religious poetry4 ,his work1 of which but #da lines remain in existence1 was pronounced inferior by ,cicero2 yet must ever be accorded respect as the very commencement of a great literature4 ,latin verse continued to depend largely on ,greek models1 but in prose the ,romans were more original1 and the first celebrated prose writer was that stern old ,greek hater1 ,m4 ,porcius ,cato 7#bcd-adi ,b4 ,c471 who prepared orations and wrote on history1 agriculture1 and other subjects4 ,his style was clear1 though by no means perfect1 and it is a source of regret that his historical work1 the ,origines1 is lost4 ,other prose writers1 all orators1 extending from ,cato's time down to the polished period1 are ,llius1 ,scipio1 the ,gracchi1 ,antonius1 ,crassus1 and the celebrated ,q4 ,hortensius1 early opponent of ,cicero4 ,satire1 that one absolutely native product of ,italy1 first found independent expression in ,c4 ,lucilius 7#ahj-ajc ,b4 ,c471 though the great ,roman inclination toward that form of expression had already found an outlet in satirical passages in other sorts of writing4 ,there is perhaps no better weapon for the scourging of vice and folly than this potent literary embodiment of wit and irony1 and certainly no author ever wielded that weapon more nobly than ,lucilius4 ,his ra was characterised by great degeneracy1 due to ,greek influences1 and the manner in which he upheld failing ,virtue won him the unmeasured regard of his contemporaries and successors4 ,horace1 ,persius1 and ,juvenal all owe much to him1 and it is melancholy to reflect that all his work1 save a fragment or two1 is lost to the world4 ,lucilius1 sometimes called ,the ,father of ,satire1 was a man of equestrian rank1 and fought with ,scipio at ,numantia4 ,with the age of ,m4 ,tullius ,cicero 7#ajf-dc ,b4 ,c47--the ,golden ,age--opens the period of highest perfection in ,roman literature4 ,it is hardly necessary to describe ,cicero himself--his luminous talents have made him synonymous with the height of ,attic elegance in wit1 forensic art1 and prose composition4 ,born of equestrian rank1 he was educated with care1 and embarked on his career at the age of twenty-five4 ,his orations against ,l4 ,sergius ,catilina during his consulship broke up one of the most dastardly plots in history1 and gained for him the title of ,father of ,his ,country4 ,philosophy claimed much of his time1 and his delightful treatises ,de ,amicitia and ,de ,senectute will be read as long as friendship endures on earth1 or men grow old4 ,near the end of his life ,cicero1 opposing the usurpations of ,m4 ,antonius1 delivered his masterpieces of oratory1 the ,philippics1 modelled after the similar orations of the ,greek ,demosthenes against ,philip of ,macedonia4 ,his murder1 demanded by the vengeful ,antonius in the proscription of the second triumvirate1 was the direct result of these ,philippics4 ,contemporary with ,cicero was ,m4 ,terentius ,varro1 styled most learned of the ,romans1 though ungraceful in style4 ,of his works1 embracing many diverse subjects1 only one agricultural treatise survives4 ,in this survey we need allot but little space to ,caius ,julius ,csar1 probably the greatest human being so far to appear on this globe4 ,his ,commentaries on the ,gallic and ,civil ,wars are models of pure and perspicuous prose1 and his other work1 voluminous but now lost1 was doubtless of equal merit4 ,at the present time1 passages of ,csar's ,gallic ,war are of especial interest on account of their allusions to battles against those perpetual enemies of civilisation1 the ,germans4 ,how familiar1 for instance1 do we find the following passage from ,book ,six1 describing ,german notions of honour3 ,latrocinia nullam habent infamiam1 qu extra fines cujusque civitatis fiunt1 atque ea juventutis exercend ac desidi minuend causa fieri prdicant6 ,the next generation of authors fall within what has been termed the ,augustan ,age1 the period during which ,octavianus1 having become ,emperor1 encouraged letters to a degree hitherto unknown2 not only personally1 but through his famous minister ,mcenas 7#gc-h ,b4 ,c474 ,the literature of this period is immortal through the genius of ,virgil1 ,horace1 and ,ovid1 and has made the name ,augustan an universal synonyme for classic elegance and urbanity4 ,thus in our own literary history1 ,queen ,anne's reign is known as the ,augustan ,age on account of the brilliant wits and poets then at their zenith4 ,mcenas1 whose name must ever typify the ideal of munificent literary patronage1 was himself a scholar and poet1 as was indeed ,augustus4 ,both1 however1 are overshadowed by the titanic geniuses who gathered around them4 ,succeeding the ,golden ,age1 and extending down to the time of the ,antonines1 is the so-called ,silver ,age of ,latin literature1 in which are included several writers of the highest genius1 despite a general decadence and artificiality of style4 ,in the reign of ,tiberius we note the annalists ,c4 ,velleius ,paterculus and ,valerius ,maximus1 the medical writer1 ,a4 ,cornelius ,celsus1 and the fabulist ,phdrus1 the latter a freedman from ,thrace who imitated his more celebrated predecessor sop4 ,the satirist1 ,a4 ,persius ,flaccus 7#cd-fb ,a4 ,d471 is the first eminent poet to appear after the death of ,ovid4 ,born at ,volaterr of an equestrian family1 carefully reared by his gifted mother1 and educated at ,rome by the ,stoic philosopher ,cornutus1 he became famous not only as a moralist of the greatest power and urbanity1 but as one whose life accorded perfectly with his precepts2 a character of unblemished virtue and delicacy in an age of unprecedented evil4 ,his work1 which attacked only the less repulsive follies of the day1 contains passages of the highest nobility4 ,his early death terminated a career of infinite promise4 ,in the person of ,d4 ,junius ,juvenalis 7#eg-abh ,a4 ,d471 commonly called ,juvenal1 we behold the foremost satirist in literary history4 ,born at ,aquinum of humble but comfortably situated parents1 he came to ,rome as a rhetorician2 though upon discovering his natural bent1 turned to poetical satire4 ,with a fierceness and moral seriousness unprecedented in literature1 ,juvenal attacked the darkest vices of his age2 writing as a relentless enemy rather than as a man of the world like ,horace1 or as a detached spectator like ,persius4 ,the oft repeated accusation that his minute descriptions of vice shew a morbid interest therein1 may fairly be refuted when one considers the almost unthinkable depths to which the republic had fallen4 ,only a tolerant or a secluded observer could avoid attacking openly and bitterly the evil conditions which obtruded themselves on every hand2 and ,juvenal1 a genuine ,roman of the active and virtuous old school1 was neither tolerant nor secluded4 ,juvenal wrote sixteen satires in all1 the most famous of which are the third and tenth1 both imitated in modern times with great success by ,dr4 ,johnson4 ,contemporary with ,juvenal was the ,spaniard1 ,m4 ,valerius ,martialis 7#dc-aag ,a4 ,d471 commonly called ,martial1 master of the classic epigram4 ,unsurpassed in compact1 scintillant wit1 his works present a subjective and familiar picture of that society which ,juvenal so bitterly attacked from without4 ,we come now upon one of the most distressing spectacles of human history4 ,the mighty empire of ,rome2 its morals corrupted through ,eastern influences1 its spirit depressed through despotic government1 and its people reduced to mongrel degeneracy through unrestrained immigration and foreign admixture2 suddenly ceases to be an abode of creative thought1 and sinks into a mental lethargy which dries up the very fountains of art and literature4 ,the ,emperor ,constantinus1 desirous of embellishing his new capital with the most magnificent decorations1 can find no artist capable of fashioning them2 and is obliged to strip ancient ,greece of her choicest sculptures to fulfil his needs4 ,plainly1 the days of ,roman glory are over2 and only a few and mainly mediocre geniuses are to be expected in the years preceding the actual downfall of ,latin civilisation4 ,it is interesting1 in a melancholy way1 to trace the course of ,roman poetry down to its very close1 when it is lost amidst the darkness of the ,middle ,ages4 ,claudius ,rutilius ,namatianus1 who flourished in the #eth century1 was a ,gaul1 and wrote a very fair piece culled the ,itinerarium1 describing a voyage from ,rome to his native province4 ,though inferior to his contemporary1 ,claudian1 in genius1 ,rutilius excels him in purity of diction and refinement of taste4 ,at this period1 pure ,latin was probably confined to the highest circles1 the masses already using that eloquium vulgare which later on formed the several modern ,romance ,languages2 hence ,rutilius must have been in a sense a classical antiquarian4 ,the end draws near4 ,compilers1 grammarians1 critics1 commentators1 and encyclopdists2 summarising the past and quibbling over technical minuti2 are the last survivors of a dying literature from whence inspiration has already fled4 ,macrobius1 a critic and grammarian of celebrity1 flourished in the fourth or fifth century1 and interests us as being one through knowledge of whose works ,samuel ,johnson first attracted notice at ,oxford4 ,priscian1 conceded to be one of the principal grammatical authorities of the ,roman world1 flourished about the year #ejj4 ,isidorus ,hispalensis1 ,bishop of ,seville1 grammarian1 historian and theologian1 was the most celebrated and influential literary character of the crumbling ,roman fabric1 save the philosopher ,boetius and the historian ,cassiodorus1 and was highly esteemed during the ,middle ,ages1 of which1 indeed1 he was as much a part1 as he was a part of expiring classicism4 ,now falls the curtain4 ,roma fuit4 ,at the time of ,isidorus' death in ,a4 ,d4 #fcf1 the beginnings of medivalism were fully under way4 ,authorship had disappeared in the broader sense2 learning1 such as it was1 had retired into the monasteries2 whilst the populace of the erstwhile ,empire1 living side by side with the invading barbarians1 no longer spoke a language justly to be called classical ,latin4 ,with the revival of letters we shall see more ,latin writings1 but they will not be ,roman2 for their authors will have new and strange idioms for their mother-tongues1 and will view life in a somewhat different manner4 ,the link of continuity will have been irreparably broken1 and these revivers will be ,romans only in an artificial and antiquarian sense4 ,he who calls himself ,pomponius ,ltus will be found to have been baptised ,pomponio ,leto4 ,classical antiquity1 with its simple magnificence1 can never return4 ,in glancing back over the literature we have examined1 we are impressed by its distinctiveness1 despite its ,greek form4 ,it is truly characteristic of the ,roman people1 and expresses ,rome's majestic mind in a multitude of ways4 ,law1 order1 justice1 and supremacy2 these things1 ,o ,roman1 shall to you be arts6 ,all through the works of ,latin authors runs this love of fame1 power1 order1 and permanence4 ,art is not a prime phase of life or entirely an intrinsic pleasure1 but a means of personal or national glorification2 the true ,roman poet writes his own epitaph for posterity1 and exults in the lasting celebrity his memory will receive4 ,despite his debt to ,hellas1 he detests the foreign influence1 and can find no term of satirical opprobrium more biting than ,grculus4 ,the sense of rigid virtue1 so deficient in the ,greek1 blossoms forth nobly in the ,roman2 making moral satire the greatest of native growths4 ,naturally1 the ,roman mind is most perfectly expressed in those voluminous works of law1 extending all the way down to the ,byzantine age of ,justinianus1 which have given the modern world its entire foundation of jurisprudence2 but of these1 lack of space forbids us to treat4 ,they are not1 strictly speaking1 a part of literature proper4 ,the influence of the ,latin classics upon modern literature has been tremendous4 ,they are today1 and will ever be1 vital sources of inspiration and guidance4 ,our own most correct age1 that of ,queen ,anne and the first three ,georges1 was saturated with their spirit2 and there is scarce a writer of note who does not visibly reflect their immediate influence4 ,each classic ,english author has1 after a fashion1 his ,latin counterpart4 ,mr4 ,pope was a ,horace2 ,dr4 ,johnson a ,juvenal4 ,the early ,elizabethan tragedy was a reincarnation of ,seneca1 as comedy was of ,plautus4 ,english literature teems with ,latin quotations and allusions to such a degree that no reader can extract full benefit if he have not at least a superficial knowledge of ,roman letters4 ,wherefore it is enjoined upon the reader not to neglect cultivation of this rich field2 a field which offers as much of pure interest and enjoyment of necessary cultural training and wholesome intellectual discipline4 ,to ,alan ,seeger3 ,howard ,phillips ,lovecraft 7,in ,national ,enquirer7 ,,seeger1 whose soul1 with animated lyre ,wak'd the dull dreamer to a manlier fire2 ,whose martial voice1 by martial deeds sustain'd1 ,denounc'd the age when shameful peace remain'd2 ,let thy brave spirit yet among us dwell1 ,and linger where thy form in valour fell3 ,proudly before th' invader's fury mass'd1 ,behold thy country's cohorts1 rous'd at last6 ,it was not for thy mortal eye to see ,columbia arm'd for right and liberty2 ,thine was the finer heart1 that could not stay ,to wait for laggards in the vital fray1 ,and ere the millions felt thy sacred heat1 ,thou hadst thy gift to ,freedom made complete4 ,but while thou sleepest in an honour'd grave ,beneath the ,gallic sod thou bledst to save1 ,may thy soul's vision scan the ravag'd plain1 ,and tell thee that thou didst not fall in vain3 ,here1 as thou pray'dst1 a million men advance1 ,to prove ,columbia one with flaming ,france1 ,and heeding now the long-forgotten debt1 ,pay with their blood the gen'rous ,,lafayette6 ,thy ringing odes to prophecies are turn'd1 ,whilst legions feel the blaze that in thee burn'd4 ,not as a lonely stranger dost thou lie1 ,thy form forsaken 'neath a foreign sky1 ,on ,gallic tongues thy name forever lives1 ,first of the mighty host thy country gives3 ,all that thou dreamt'st in life shall come to be1 ,and proud ,columbia find her voice in thee6 7,alan ,seeger fell in the ,cause of ,civilisation at ,belloy-en-,santerre1 ,july #d1 #aiaf47 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,january #aiai ,,theodore ,,roosevelt #aheh-aiai ,last of the giants1 in whose soul shone clear ,the sacred torch of greatness and of right1 ,a stricken world1 that cannot boast thy peer1 ,mourns o'er thy grave amidst the new-born night4 ,sage1 seer and statesman1 wise in ev'ry art2 ,first to behold1 and first to preach1 the truth2 ,soldier and patriot1 in whose mighty heart ,throbb'd the high valour of eternal youth4 ,foremost of citizens and best of chiefs1 ,within thy mind no weak inaction lay2 ,leal to thy standards1 firm in thy beliefs2 ,as quick to do1 as others are to say4 ,freeman and gentleman1 whose spirit glow'd ,with kindness' and with goodness' warmest fire2 ,to prince and peasant thy broad friendship flow'd1 ,each proud to take1 and eager to admire4 ,within thy book of life each spotless page ,lies open for a world's respecting view2 ,thou stand'st the first and purest of our age1 ,to private1 as to public virtue true4 ,in thee did such transcendent greatness gleam1 ,that none might grudge thee an ,imperial place2 ,yet such thy modesty1 thou need'st must seem ,the leader1 not the monarch1 of thy race4 ,courage and pow'r1 to wit and learning join'd1 ,with energy that sham'd the envious sun2 ,the ablest1 bravest1 noblest of mankind-- ,a ,caesar and ,aurelius mixt in one4 ,at thy stern gaze ,dishonour bow'd its head2 ,oppression slunk ingloriously away2 ,the virtuous follow'd where thy footsteps led1 ,and ,freedom bless'd thy uncorrupted sway4 ,when from the ,east invading ,vandals pour'd1 ,and selfish ignorance restrain'd our hand1 ,thy voice was first to bid us draw the sword ,to guard our liberties and save our land4 ,envy deny'd thee what thy spirit sought1 ,and held thee from the battle-seething plain2 ,yet thy proud blood in filial bodies fought1 ,and poppies blossom o'er thy ,,quentin slain4 ',twas thine to see the triumph of thy cause2 ,thy grateful eyes beheld a world redeem'd2 ,would that thy wisdom might have shap'd the laws ,of the new age1 and led to heights undream'd6 ,yet art thou gone8 ,will not thy presence cling ,like that of all the great who liv'd before8 ,will not new wonders of thy fashioning ,rise from thy words1 as potent as of yore8 ,absent in flesh1 thou with a brighter flame ,shin'st as the beacon of the brave and free2 ,thou art our country's soul--our loftiest aim ,is but to honour and to follow thee6 ,h4 ,p4 ,,lovecraft4 ,january #ac1 #aiai4 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,march #aiai ,a ,note on ,howard ,p4 ,lovecraft's ,verse ,rheinhart ,kleiner ,comment occasioned by the verse of ,mr4 ,howard ,p4 ,lovecraft1 who is a more or less frequent contributor to the amateur press1 has not consisted of unmixed praise4 ,certain critics have regarded his efforts as too obviously imitative of a style that has long been discredited4 ,others have accepted his work with admiration and have even gone so far as to imitate the couplets which he produces with such apparent ease4 ,between these two opinions there is a critical neutral ground1 the holders of which realise how large an element of conscious parody enters into many of ,mr4 ,lovecraft's longer and more serious productions1 and who are capable of appreciating the cleverness and literary charm of these pastoral echoes without being dominated by them to the extent of indiscriminate praise and second-hand imitation4 ,those who would beguile ,mr4 ,lovecraft from his chosen path are probably unaware of the attitude which he consistently maintains toward hostile criticism4 ,mr4 ,lovecraft contends that it gives him pleasure to write as the ,augustans did1 and that those who do not relish his excursions into classic fields need not follow him4 ,he tries to conciliate no one1 and is content to be his own sole reader6 ,what critic1 with these facts before him1 will think it worthwhile to break a lance with the poet8 ,but even ,mr4 ,lovecraft is willing to be original1 at times4 ,he has written verse of a distinctly modern atmosphere1 and where his imagery is not too obtrusively artificial--according to the modern idea--many of his quatrains possess genuine poetic value4 ,many who cannot read his longer and more ambitious productions find ,mr4 ,lovecraft's light or humorous verse decidedly refreshing4 ,as a satirist along familiar lines1 particularly those laid down by ,butler1 ,swift and ,pope1 he is most himself--paradoxical though it seems4 ,in reading his satires one cannot help but feel the zest with which the author has composed them4 ,they are admirable for the way in which they reveal the depth and intensity of ,mr4 ,lovecraft's convictions1 while the wit1 irony1 sarcasm and humour to be found in them serve as an indication of his powers as a controversialist4 ,the almost relentless ferocity of his satires is constantly relieved by an attendant broad humour which has the merit of causing the reader to chuckle more than once in the perusal of some attack levelled against the particular person or policy which may have incurred ,mr4 ,lovecraft's displeasure4 ,,official ,,reports ,,department ,,of ,,public ,,criticism ,the ,coyote for ,october-,january is a ,special ,war ,number1 dedicated to ,cpl4 ,raymond ,wesley ,harrington1 the editor's valiant soldier brother1 and having a general martial atmosphere throughout4 ,among the contents are two bits of verse by the gallant overseas warrior to whom the issue is inscribed1 both of which speak well for the poetic sentiment of their heroic author4 ,lord ,love ,you1 ,lad1 a poem by ,winifred ,v4 ,jordan1 is the opening contribution2 and deserves highest commendation both for its spirit and for its construction4 ,the ,paramount ,issue1 by ,william ,t4 ,harrington1 is a somewhat ambitious attempt to trace the responsibility for the great war to alcoholic liquor and its degenerative effect on mankind4 ,the author even goes so far as to say that had man been represented in his true and noble form1 then war would have been impossible4 ,now although the present critic is and always has been an ardent prohibitionist1 he must protest at this extravagant theory4 ,vast and far-reaching as are the known evil effects of drink1 it is surely transcending fact to accuse it of causing mankind's natural greed1 pride1 and combative instincts1 which lie at the base of all warfare4 ,it may1 however1 be justly suggested that much of the peculiar bestiality of the ,huns is derived from their swinish addiction to beer4 ,technically1 ,mr4 ,harrington's essay is marked by few crudities1 and displays an encouraging fluency4 ,other pieces by ,mr4 ,harrington are ,a ,bit of ,my ,diary1 wherein the author relates his regrettably brief military experience at ,camp ,dodge1 and ,victory1 a stirring editorial4 ,black ,sheep1 by ,edna ,hyde1 is an excellent specimen of blank verse by our gifted laureate4 ,line #ad seems to lack a syllable1 but this deficiency is probably the result of a typographical error4 ,a word of praise is due the general appearance of the magazine4 ,the cover presents a refreshing bit of home-made pictorial art1 whilst the photograph of ,corporal ,harrington makes a most attractive frontispiece4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,pathfinder for ,january is easily the best issue yet put forth by its enterprising young editor4 ,hope1 which adorns the cover1 is a poem of much merit by ,annie ,pearce4 ,the apparent lack of a syllable in line #b of the third stanza is probably due to a printer's error whereby the word us is omitted immediately after the word for4 ,how and ,why ,roses ,are ,white1 by ,margaret ,mahon1 is a fairy legend of much charm and decided originality1 which argues eloquently for its author's imaginative scope and literary ability4 ,happiness in a ,glove is a very facile and pleasing rendering of a bit of ,spanish dialogue4 ,through a mistake1 the authorship is credited to the translator1 ,miss ,ella ,m4 ,miller1 though her own manuscript fully proclaimed the text as a translation4 ,welcome1 #aiai1 is a brief contemplative essay by ,editor ,glause2 in spirit admirable1 but in phraseology showing some of the uncertainty of youthful work4 ,mr4 ,glause might well pay more attention to compact precision in his prose1 using as few and as forceful words as possible to express his meaning4 ,for instance1 his opening words would gain greatly in strength if contracted to the following3 ,now that a new year is beginning4 ,farther down the page we find the word namely in a place which impels us to question its use4 ,its total omission would strengthen the sentence which contains it4 ,another point we must mention is the excessive punctuation1 especially the needless hyphenation of amateurdom and therefore1 and the apostrophe in the possessive pronoun its4 ,the form it's is restricted to the colloquial contraction of it is2 the similarly spelled pronoun is written solidly without an apostrophe4 ,additional notes by ,mr4 ,glause are of equal merit1 and his reply to a recent article on travel is highly sensible and commendable4 ,he is a writer and thinker of much power1 and needs only technical training in order to develop into an essayist of the first rank4 ,as an editor he cannot be praised too highly for his faithfulness in publishing his welcome and attractive quarterly4 99 99 99 99 99 ,pine ,cones for ,february well maintains the high standard set by ,mr4 ,pryor in his opening number4 ,life1 ,death and ,immortality1 by ,jonathan ,e4 ,hoag1 is a brief but appealing piece from the pen of a gifted and venerable bard1 and thoroughly deserves its place of honour on the cover4 ,on the next page occurs a metrical tribute to this sweet singer on his #hhth birthday1 written by ,h4 ,p4 ,lovecraft in the latter's typical heroic strain4 ,the ,helpful ,twins1 a clever child story by ,editor ,pryor1 is the prose treat of the issue4 ,it would1 indeed1 be hard to find more than one or two equally interesting1 human1 and well-developed bits of fiction in any current amateur periodicals4 ,not only are the characters drawn with delightful naturalness1 but there is real humour present2 and the plot moves on to its climax without a single instance of awkwardness or a single intrusive or extraneous episode4 ,in short1 the story is almost a model of its kind2 one which ought to prove a success in a professional as well as an amateur magazine4 ,mr4 ,pryor's humour is more broadly shown in the smile-producing pseudo-anecdotes of ,the ,boy ,washington4 ,the bit of unsigned verse1 ,a ,new ,year ,wish1 is excellent1 though we question the advisability of having an ,alexandrine for the final line4 ,comment ,pryoristic is always interesting1 and that in the current ,pine ,cones forms no exception to the rule4 ,the appearance of this vigorously alive and intelligently edited publication is proving a great and gratifying factor in amateurdom's post-bellum renaissance4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,recruiter for ,january marks the advent to amateurdom of a new paper1 which easily takes its place among the very best of recent editorial enterprises4 ,edited by ,misses ,mary ,faye ,durr and ,l4 ,evelyn ,schump in the interest of the ,united recruits whom they are securing1 its thoroughly meritorious quality speaks well for the new members thus added to our circle4 ,the issue opens auspiciously with a lyric poem of distinguished excellence by ,helen ,mc,farland1 entitled ,a ,casualty4 ,in depth of sentiment1 fervour of expression1 and correctness of construction1 these melodious lines leave little to be desired2 and seem to indicate that the ,united has acquired one more poet of the first rank4 ,billy1 a character sketch by ,l4 ,evelyn ,schump1 introduces to the ,association a light essayist of unusual power and grace1 whose work is vividly natural through keen insight1 apt and fluent expression1 and mastery of homely and familiar detail4 ,the present sketch is captivatingly lifelike and thoroughly well-written1 arousing a response from every lover of children4 ,winter1 a brief poem by ,hettie ,murdock1 celebrates in a pleasant way an unpleasant season4 ,the lines are notable for correctness1 spontaneity and vitality1 though not in the least ambitious in scope4 ,martha ,charlotte ,macatee's ,song of ,nature reveals its #ab-year-old creator as a genuine ,galpiness 7if we may coin a word which only amateurs and ,appletonians will understand74 ,mistress ,macatee has succeeded in infusing more than a modicum of really poetic atmosphere and imagery into her short lyric1 and may be relied upon to produce important work in the coming years of greater maturity4 ,the chief defect of her present piece is the absence of rhyme1 which should always occur in a short stanzaic poem4 ,rhyming is not at all difficult after a little practice1 and we trust that the young writer will employ it in later verses4 ,tarrytown1 by ,florence ,fitzgerald1 is a reminiscent poem of phenomenal strength1 marred only by a pair of false rhymes in the opening stanza4 ,assonance must never be mistaken for true rhyme1 and combinations like boats-float or them-brim should be avoided4 ,the imagery of this piece is especially appealing1 and testifies to its author's fertility of fancy4 ,shades of ,adam1 by ,mary ,faye ,durr1 is an interesting and humorously written account of the social side of our #aiah convention4 ,miss ,durr is exceptionally gifted in the field of apt1 quiet1 and laconic wit1 and in this informal chronicle neglects no opportunity for dryly amusing comment on persons and events4 ,spring1 by ,l4 ,evelyn ,schump1 is a refreshingly original poem in blank verse1 on a somewhat familiar subject4 ,for inspiration and technique alike1 the piece merits enthusiastic commendation2 though we may vindicate our reputation as a fault-finding critic by asking why alternate lines are indented despite the non-existence of alternate rhymes4 ,the ,recruiter's editorial column is brief and businesslike1 introducing the magazine as a whole1 and its contributors individually4 ,amateurdom is deeply indebted to the publishers of this delightful newcomer1 and it is to be hoped that they may continue their efforts2 both toward seeking recruits as high in quality as those here represented1 and toward issuing their admirable journal as frequently as is feasible4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,silver ,clarion for ,january comes well up to the usual standard1 containing a number of pieces of considerable power4 ,in ,the ,temple of the ,holy ,ghost1 ,mr4 ,arthur ,goodenough achieves his accustomed success as a religious poet1 presenting a variety of apt images1 and clothing them in facile metre4 ,the only defect is a lack of uniformity in rhyming plan4 ,the poet1 in commencing a piece like this1 should decide whether or not to rhyme the first and third lines of quatrains2 and having decided1 should adhere to his decision4 ,instead1 ,mr4 ,goodenough omits these optional rhymes in the first stanza and in the first half of the third and fourth stanzas2 elsewhere employing them4 ,the result1 while not flagrantly inharmonious1 nevertheless gives an impression of imperfection1 and tends to alienate the fastidious critic4 ,mr4 ,goodenough possesses so great a degree of inspiration1 and so wide an array of allusions and imagery2 that he owes it to himself to complete the excellence of his vivid work with an unexceptionable technique4 ,the ,cross1 a sonnet by ,captain ,theodore ,draper ,gottlieb1 is dedicated to the ,red ,cross1 with which the author is serving so valiantly4 ,in thought and form this piece deserves unqualified praise4 ,death1 by ,andrew ,francis ,lockhart1 exhibits our versatile ,western bard in sober mood4 ,the poem contains that unmistakable stamp of genuine emotion which we have come to associate with ,mr4 ,lockhart's work1 and is technically faultless4 ,destiny1 by ,w4 ,f4 ,pelton1 is a sonnet of smooth construction and thorough excellence by one whom we know better as ,wilfrid ,kemble4 ,the lines ,to ,my ,pal1 ,fred present ,mr4 ,harry ,e4 ,rieseberg1 a new member of the ,united who has for some time been a regular ,clarion contributor4 ,in this piece ,mr4 ,rieseberg falls somewhat below his usual standard2 for though the sentiment is appropriate1 the metre is sadly irregular4 ,mr4 ,rieseberg should count the syllables in his lines1 for he is a young poet of much promise1 and should allow his technique to keep pace with his genius4 ,faith1 by ,winifred ,v4 ,jordan1 enunciates a familiar doctrine in melodious and original metaphor1 and well sustains the poetical reputation of its celebrated author4 ,the ,song ,unsung1 by ,w4 ,f4 ,booker1 is a war poem in minor key1 which deserves much praise4 ,you're ,like a ,willow1 by ,eugene ,b4 ,kuntz1 is marked by that warmth of fancy and wealth of imagery for which its author is noted4 ,thoughts1 a courtly offering from the quill of ,james ,laurence ,crowley1 winds up the poetical part of the magazine2 this month a very ample part4 ,in rhyme and metre this sentimental gem is quite satisfactory4 ,the only prose in this issue is ,mr4 ,samples' well-written editorial on ,the ,passing ,year4 ,herein we find some really excellent passages1 savouring somewhat of the oratorical in style4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the ,silver ,clarion for ,february is of ample size and ample merit4 ,opening the issue is an excellent poem in heroic couplets by ,mrs4 ,stella ,l4 ,tully of ,mountmellick1 ,ireland1 a new member of the ,united4 ,mrs4 ,tully1 whose best work is in a lyric and religious vein1 is one endowed with hereditary or family genius2 as the ,association no doubt appreciated when reading the poetry of her gifted sister1 ,mrs4 ,s4 ,lilian ,mc,mullen of ,newton ,centre1 in the preceding issue of ,,the ,,united ,,amateur4 ,the present piece by ,mrs4 ,tully1 ,the ,greatest of ,these is ,love1 is based upon a ,biblical text1 and sets forth its ideas very effectively1 despite a few passages whose stiff construction betrays a slight inexperience in the traditions of heroic verse4 ,the ,two ,crosses1 by ,capt4 ,theodore ,gottlieb1 is also in heroics1 and graphically compares the most holy symbols of today and of nineteen hundred years ago4 ,more of the religious atmosphere is furnished by ,john ,milton ,samples' trochaic composition entitled ,the ,millennium--from whose title1 by the way1 one of the necessary n's is missing4 ,in this pleasing picture of an impossible age we note but three things requiring critical attention4 7#a7 ,the term super-race in stanza #e1 is too technically philosophical to be really poetic4 7#b7 ,the rhyme of victory and eternally is not very desirable1 because both the rhyming syllables bear only a secondary accent4 7#c7 ,there is something grotesque and unconsciously comic in the prophecy ,then the lamb shall kiss the lion4 ,such grotesqueness is not to be found in the original words of ,mr4 ,samples' predecessor and source of inspiration1 the well-known prophet ,isaiah4 7,vide ,isaiah1 xi3 #f-g47 ,nature ,worship1 by ,arthur ,goodenough1 is one of the most meritorious poems in the issue1 despite some dubious grammar in the first stanza1 and an internal rhyme in the final stanza which has no counterpart in the lines preceding4 ,the first named error consists of a disagreement in number betwixt subject and verb3 faith and form and 444 mazes which 444 perplexes1 dazes4 ,the ,new ,order1 an essay by ,john ,milton ,samples1 is an eloquent but fantastically idealistic bit of speculation concerning the wonderful future which dreamers picture as arising out of the recent war4 ,to us1 there is a sort of pathos in these vain hopes and mirage-like visions of an ,utopia which can never be2 yet if they can cheer anyone1 they are doubtless not altogether futile4 ,indeed1 after the successive menaces of the ,huns and the ,bolsheviki1 we can call almost any future ,utopian1 if it will but afford the comparative calm of pre-#aiad days6 ,no ,night ,so ,dark1 ,no ,day ,so ,drear1 by ,mamie ,knight ,samples1 is a poem which reveals merit despite many crudities4 ,the outstanding fault is defective metre--,mrs4 ,samples should carefully count her syllables1 and repeat her lines aloud1 to make sure of perfect scansion4 ,since the intended metre appears to be iambic tetrameter1 we shall here give a revised rendering of the first stanza2 showing how it can be made to conform to that measure3 ,no night so dark1 no day so drear1 ,but we may sing our songs of cheer4 ,these words1 borne from the world without1 ,cheer'd a heart sick with grief and doubt4 ,o doubting soul1 bow'd down so low1 ,if thou couldst feel1 and only know ,the darkness is in thee alone1 ,for grief and tears it would atone4 ,no night so dark1 no day so drear1 ,but we may sing our songs of cheer4 ,let the authoress note that each line must have eight syllables--no more1 no less4 ,for the trite ideas and hackneyed rhymes1 nothing can be recommended save a more observant and discriminating perusal of standard poets4 ,it must be kept in mind that the verse found in current family magazines and popular hymn-books is seldom1 if ever1 true poetry4 ,the only authors suitable as models1 are those whose names are praised in histories of ,english literature4 ,w4 ,f4 ,booker's ,song is a delightful short lyric whose sentiment and technique deserve naught but praise4 ,when ,i ,am ,gone1 a poem in pentameter quatrains by ,james ,laurence ,crowley1 contains the customary allotment of sweet sentiment1 together with some really commendable imagery4 ,mr4 ,crowley's genius will shine brightly before long4 ,the ,path to ,glory1 by ,andrew ,francis ,lockhart1 is perhaps the poetic gem of the issue4 ,in this virile anapstic piece ,mr4 ,lockhart sums up all the horrors of the trenches in such a way that the reader may guess at the extent of the sacrifice undergone by those who have given all for their country4 ,in ,coconino ,jim1 ,lumberjack1 ,mr4 ,harry ,e4 ,rieseberg shows himself a true and powerful poet of the rugged1 virile school of ,kipling1 ,service1 ,knibbs1 and their analogues4 ,the present piece is entirely correct in rhyme and well-developed in thought1 wanting only good metre to make it perfect4 ,this latter accomplishment ,mr4 ,rieseberg should strive hard to attain1 for his poetry surely deserves as good a form as he can give it4 ,a word of praise should be given ,mr4 ,samples' editorial1 ,the ,professional in ,amateur ,journalism1 in which he shows the fallacy of the plea for a cruder1 more juvenile amateurdom1 which often emanates from members of the older and less progressive associations4 ,as the editor contends1 intellectual evolution must occur2 and the whole recent career of the ,united demonstrates the value of a purely literary society for genuine literary aspirants of every age and every stage of mental development4 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,may #aiai ,helene ,hoffman ,cole--,litterateur ,howard ,phillips ,lovecraft ,of the various authors who have contributed to the fame of our ,association1 few can be compared in sustained ability and breadth of interests to the late ,helene ,hoffman ,cole4 ,represented in the press as a poet1 critic1 essayist1 and fiction-writer1 ,mrs4 ,cole achieved distinction in all of these departments2 rising during recent years to an almost unique prominence in the field of book-reviewing4 ,her compositions display a diversity of attainments and catholicity of taste highly remarkable in one of so relatively slight an age1 familiar knowledge of foreign and archaic literature supplying a mature background too seldom possessed by amateur authors4 ,it is as a poet that ,mrs4 ,cole has been least known1 since her verse was not of frequent occurrence in the amateur press4 ,a glance at the few existing specimens1 however1 demonstrates conclusively that her poetical gifts were by no means inconsiderable2 and that had she chosen such a course1 she might easily have become one of the leading bards of the ,united4 ,verse like the unnamed autumn pieces in ,leaflets and ,the ,hellenian possess an aptness and cleverness of fancy which bespeak the true poet despite trivial technical imperfections4 ,in fiction the extent of ,mrs4 ,cole's genius was still further revealed1 nearly all her narratives moving along with impeccable grace and fluency4 ,her plots were for the most part light and popular in nature1 and would have reflected credit on any professional writer of modern magazine tales4 ,of her stories1 ,the ,picture1 appearing in ,leaflets for ,october1 #aiac1 is an excellent example4 ,more dramatic in quality is ,her ,wish1 in the ,august1 #aiad1 ,olympian4 ,this brief tragedy of a ,serbian and his bride is perhaps one of the very first tales written around the ,world ,war4 ,but it is in the domain of the literary essay that this authoress rose to loftiest altitude4 ,of wide and profound reading1 and of keen and discriminating mind1 ,mrs4 ,cole presented in a style of admirable grace and lucidity her reactions to the best works of numerous standard authors1 ancient and modern1 ,english and foreign4 ,the value of such work in amateurdom1 extending the cultural outlook and displaying the outside world as seen through the eyes of a gifted1 respected1 and representative member1 scarce needs the emphasis of the commentator4 ,he who can link the amateur and larger spheres in a pleasing and acceptable fashion1 deserves the highest approbation and panegyric that the ,united can bestow4 ,notable indeed are ,mrs4 ,cole's sound reviews of ,sir ,thomas ,browne's ,hydriotaphia in ,,the ,,united ,,amateur1 of ,pelle1 the ,conqueror in ,the ,tryout1 and of numerous ,south ,american works but little known to ,northern readers4 ,of equal merit are such terse and delightful essays as ,m4 ,tullius ,cicero1 ,pater ,patriae1 where the essayist invests a classical theme with all the living charm of well-restrained subjectivity4 ,the style of these writings is in itself captivating2 the vocabulary containing enough words of ,latin derivation to rescue it from the ,boeotian harshness typical of this age4 ,all that has been said of ,mrs4 ,cole's broader reviews may be said of her amateur criticism1 much of which graced the columns of ,the ,olympian and other magazines4 ,the exclusively journalistic skill of ,mrs4 ,cole now remains to be considered1 and this we find as brilliant as her other attainments4 ,as the editor of numerous papers during every stage of her career1 she exhibited phenomenal taste and enterprise2 never failing to create enthusiasm and evoke encomium with her ventures both individual and co-operative4 ,her gift for gathering1 selecting and writing news was quite unexampled4 ,as the reporter par excellence of both associations1 she was the main reliance of other editors for convention reports and general items2 all of which were phrased with an ease1 urbanity1 and personality that lent them distinctiveness4 ,not the least of her qualities was a gentle and unobtrusive humour which enlivened her lighter productions4 ,amateurdom will long remember the quaint piquancy of the issues of ,the ,martian which she cleverly published in the name of her infant son4 ,during these latter days nearly every amateur has expressed a kind of incredulity that ,mrs4 ,cole can indeed be no more1 and in this the present writer must needs share4 ,to realise that her gifted pen has ceased to enrich our small literary world requires a painful effort on the part of everyone who has followed her brilliant progress in the field of letters4 ,the ,united loses more by her sudden and untimely demise than can well be reckoned at this moment4 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,july #aiai ,americanism ,howard ,phillips ,lovecraft ,laureate ,it is easy to sentimentalise on the subject of the ,american spirit--what it is1 may be1 or should be4 ,exponents of various novel political and social theories are particularly given to this practice1 nearly always concluding that true ,americanism is nothing more or less than a national application of their respective individual doctrines4 ,slightly less superficial observers hit upon the abstract principle of ,liberty as the keynote of ,americanism1 interpreting this justly esteemed principle as anything from ,bolshevism to the right to drink #b4ge per cent4 beer4 ,opportunity is another favourite byword1 and one which is certainly not without real significance4 ,the synonymousness of ,america and opportunity has been inculcated into many a young head of the present generation by ,emerson via ,montgomery's ,leading ,facts of ,american ,history4 ,but it is worthy of note that nearly all would-be definers of ,americanism fail through their prejudiced unwillingness to trace the quality to its ,european source4 ,they cannot bring themselves to see that abiogenesis is as rare in the realm of ideas as it is in the kingdom of organic life2 and consequently waste their efforts in trying to treat ,america as if it were an isolated phenomenon without ancestry4 ,americanism is expanded ,anglo-,saxonism4 ,it is the spirit of ,england1 transplanted to a soil of vast extent and diversity1 and nourished for a time under pioneer conditions calculated to increase its democratic aspects without impairing its fundamental virtues4 ,it is the spirit of truth1 honour1 justice1 morality1 moderation1 individualism1 conservative liberty1 magnanimity1 toleration1 enterprise1 industriousness1 and progress--which is ,england--plus the element of equality and opportunity caused by pioneer settlement4 ,it is the expression of the world's highest race under the most favourable social1 political1 and geographical conditions4 ,those who endeavour to belittle the importance of our ,british ancestry1 are invited to consider the other nations of this continent4 ,all these are equally ,american in every particular1 differing only in race-stock and heritage2 yet of them all1 none save ,british ,canada will even bear comparison with us4 ,we are great because we are a part of the great ,anglo-,saxon cultural sphere2 a section detached only after a century and a half of heavy colonisation and ,english rule1 which gave to our land the ineradicable stamp of ,british civilisation4 ,most dangerous and fallacious of the several misconceptions of ,americanism is that of the so-called melting-pot of races and traditions4 ,it is true that this country has received a vast influx of non-,english immigrants who come hither to enjoy without hardship the liberties which our ,british ancestors carved out in toil and bloodshed4 ,it is also true that such of them as belong to the ,teutonic and ,celtic races are capable of assimilation to our ,english type and of becoming valuable acquisitions to the population4 ,but1 from this it does not follow that a mixture of really alien blood or ideas has accomplished or can accomplish anything but harm4 ,observation of ,europe shows us the relative status and capability of the several races1 and we see that the melting together of ,english gold and alien brass is not very likely to produce any alloy superior or even equal to the original gold4 ,immigration cannot1 perhaps1 be cut off altogether1 but it should be understood that aliens who choose ,america as their residence must accept the prevailing language and culture as their own2 and neither try to modify our institutions1 nor to keep alive their own in our midst4 ,we must not1 as the greatest man of our age declared1 suffer this nation to become a polyglot boarding house4 ,the greatest foe to rational ,americanism is that dislike for our parent nation which holds sway amongst the ignorant and bigoted1 and which is kept alive largely by certain elements of the population who seem to consider the sentiments of ,southern and ,western ,ireland more important than those of the ,united ,states4 ,in spite of the plain fact that a separate ,ireland would weaken civilisation and menace the world's peace by introducing a hostile and undependable wedge betwixt the two major parts of ,saxondom1 these irresponsible elements continue to encourage rebellion in the ,green ,isle2 and in so doing tend to place this nation in a distressingly anomalous position as an abettor of crime and sedition against the ,mother ,land4 ,disgusting beyond words are the public honours paid to political criminals like ,edward1 alias ,eamonn1 de ,valera1 whose very presence at large among us is an affront to our dignity and heritage4 ,never may we appreciate or even fully comprehend our own place and mission in the world1 till we can banish those clouds of misunderstanding which float between us and the source of our culture4 ,but the features of ,americanism peculiar to this continent must not be belittled4 ,in the abolition of fixed and rigid class lines a distinct sociological advance is made1 permitting a steady and progressive recruiting of the upper levels from the fresh and vigorous body of the people beneath4 ,thus opportunities of the choicest sort await every citizen alike1 whilst the biological quality of the cultivated classes is improved by the cessation of that narrow inbreeding which characterises ,european aristocracy4 ,total separation of civil and religious affairs1 the greatest political and intellectual advance since the ,renaissance1 is also a local ,american--and more particularly a ,rhode ,island--triumph4 ,agencies are today subtly at work to undermine this principle1 and to impose upon us through devious political influences the ,papal chains which ,henry ,,viii first struck from our limbs2 chains unfelt since the bloody reign of ,mary1 and infinitely worse than the ecclesiastical machinery which ,roger ,williams rejected4 ,but when the vital relation of intellectual freedom to genuine ,americanism shall be fully impressed upon the people1 it is likely that such sinister undercurrents will subside4 ,the main struggle which awaits ,americanism is not with reaction1 but with radicalism4 ,our age is one of restless and unintelligent iconoclasm1 and abounds with shrewd sophists who use the name ,americanism to cover attacks on that institution itself4 ,such familiar terms and phrases as democracy1 liberty1 or freedom of speech are being distorted to cover the wildest forms of anarchy1 whilst our old representative institutions are being attacked as un-,american by foreign immigrants who are incapable both of understanding them or of devising anything better4 ,this country would benefit from a wider practice of sound ,americanism1 with its accompanying recognition of an ,anglo-,saxon source4 ,americanism implies freedom1 progress1 and independence2 but it does not imply a rejection of the past1 nor a renunciation of traditions and experience4 ,let us view the term in its real1 practical1 and unsentimental meaning4 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,november #aiai ,the ,white ,ship ,howard ,phillips ,lovecraft ,i am ,basil ,elton1 keeper of the ,north ,point light that my father and grandfather kept before me4 ,far from the shore stands the grey lighthouse1 above sunken slimy rocks that are seen when the tide is low1 but unseen when the tide is high4 ,past that beacon for a century have swept the majestic barques of the seven seas4 ,in the days of my grandfather there were many2 in the days of my father not so many2 and now there are so few that ,i sometimes feel strangely alone1 as though ,i were the last man on our planet4 ,from far shores came those white-sailed argosies of old2 from far ,eastern shores where warm suns shine and sweet odours linger about strange gardens and gay temples4 ,the old captains of the sea came often to my grandfather and told him of these things1 which in turn he told to my father1 and my father told to me in the long autumn evenings when the wind howled eerily from the ,east4 ,and ,i have read more of these things1 and of many things besides1 in the books men gave me when ,i was young and filled with wonder4 ,but more wonderful than the lore of old men and the lore of books is the secret lore of ocean4 ,blue1 green1 grey1 white or black2 smooth1 ruffled1 or mountainous2 that ocean is not silent4 ,all my days have ,i watched it and listened to it1 and ,i know it well4 ,at first it told to me only the plain little tales of calm beaches and near ports1 but with the years it grew more friendly and spoke of other things2 of things more strange and more distant in space and in time4 ,sometimes at twilight the grey vapours of the horizon have parted to grant me glimpses of the ways beyond2 and sometimes at night the deep waters of the sea have grown clear and phosphorescent1 to grant me glimpses of the ways beneath4 ,and these glimpses have been as often of the ways that were and the ways that might be1 as of the ways that are2 for ocean is more ancient than the mountains1 and freighted with the memories and the dreams of ,time4 ,out of the ,south it was that the ,white ,ship used to come when the moon was full and high in the heavens4 ,out of the ,south it would glide very smoothly and silently over the sea4 ,and whether the sea was rough or calm1 and whether the wind was friendly or adverse1 it would always glide smoothly and silently1 its sails distent and its long strange tiers of oars moving rhythmically4 ,one night ,i espied upon the deck a man1 bearded and robed1 and he seemed to beckon me to embark for fair unknown shores4 ,many times afterward ,i saw him under the full moon1 and ever did he beckon me4 ,very brightly did the moon shine on the night ,i answered the call1 and ,i walked out over the waters to the ,white ,ship on a bridge of moonbeams4 ,the man who had beckoned now spoke a welcome to me in a soft language ,i seemed to know well1 and the hours were filled with soft songs of the oarsmen as we glided away into a mysterious ,south1 golden with the glow of that full1 mellow moon4 ,and when the day dawned1 rosy and effulgent1 ,i beheld the green shore of far lands1 bright and beautiful1 and to me unknown4 ,up from the sea rose lordly terraces of verdure1 tree-studded1 and shewing here and there the gleaming white roofs and colonnades of strange temples4 ,as we drew nearer the green shore the bearded man told me of that land1 the ,land of ,zar1 where dwell all the dreams and thoughts of beauty that come to men once and then are forgotten4 ,and when ,i looked upon the terraces again ,i saw that what he said was true1 for among the sights before me were many things ,i had once seen through the mists beyond the horizon in the phosphorescent depths of ocean4 ,there too were forms and fantasies more splendid than ,i had ever known2 the visions of young poets who died in want before the world could learn of what they had seen and dreamed4 ,but we did not set foot upon the sloping meadows of ,zar1 for it is told that he who treads them may nevermore return to his native shore4 ,as the ,white ,ship sailed silently away from the templed terraces of ,zar1 we beheld on the distant horizon ahead the spires of a mighty city2 and the bearded man said to me1 ,this is ,thalarion1 the ,city of a ,thousand ,wonders1 wherein reside all those mysteries that man has striven in vain to fathom4 ,and ,i looked again1 at closer range1 and saw that the city was greater than any city ,i had known or dreamed of before4 ,into the sky the spires of its temples reached1 so that no man might behold their peaks2 and far back beyond the horizon stretched the grim1 grey walls1 over which one might spy only a few roofs1 weird and ominous1 yet adorned with rich friezes and alluring sculptures4 ,i yearned mightily to enter this fascinating yet repellent city1 and beseeched the bearded man to land me at the stone pier by the huge carven gate ,akariel2 but he gently denied my wish1 saying1 ,into ,thalarion1 the ,city of a ,thousand ,wonders1 many have passed but none returned4 ,therein walk only dmons and mad things that are no longer men1 and the streets are white with the unburied bones of those who have looked upon the eidolon ,lathi1 that reigns over the city4 ,so the ,white ,ship sailed on past the walls of ,thalarion1 and followed for many days a southward-flying bird1 whose glossy plumage matched the sky out of which it had appeared4 ,then came we to a pleasant coast gay with blossoms of every hue1 where as far inland as we could see basked lovely groves and radiant arbours beneath a meridian sun4 ,from bowers beyond our view came bursts of song and snatches of lyric harmony1 interspersed with faint laughter so delicious that ,i urged the rowers onward in my eagerness to reach the scene4 ,and the bearded man spoke no word1 but watched me as we approached the lily-lined shore4 ,suddenly a wind blowing from over the flowery meadows and leafy woods brought a scent at which ,i trembled4 ,the wind grew stronger1 and the air was filled with the lethal1 charnel odour of plague-stricken towns and uncovered cemeteries4 ,and as we sailed madly away from that damnable coast the bearded man spoke at last1 saying1 ,this is ,xura1 the ,land of ,pleasures ,unattained4 ,so once more the ,white ,ship followed the bird of heaven1 over warm blessed seas fanned by caressing1 aromatic breezes4 ,day after day and night after night did we sail1 and when the moon was full we would listen to soft songs of the oarsmen1 sweet as on that distant night when we sailed away from my far native land4 ,and it was by moonlight that we anchored at last in the harbour of ,sona-,nyl1 which is guarded by twin headlands of crystal that rise from the sea and meet in a resplendent arch4 ,this is the ,land of ,fancy1 and we walked to the verdant shore upon a golden bridge of moonbeams4 ,in the ,land of ,sona-,nyl there is neither time nor space1 neither suffering nor death2 and there ,i dwelt for many ons4 ,green are the groves and pastures1 bright and fragrant the flowers1 blue and musical the streams1 clear and cool the fountains1 and stately and gorgeous the temples1 castles1 and cities of ,sona-,nyl4 ,of that land there is no bound1 for beyond each vista of beauty rises another more beautiful4 ,over the countryside and amidst the splendour of cities can move at will the happy folk1 of whom all are gifted with unmarred grace and unalloyed happiness4 ,for the ons that ,i dwelt there ,i wandered blissfully through gardens where quaint pagodas peep from pleasing clumps of bushes1 and where the white walks are bordered with delicate blossoms4 ,i climbed gentle hills from whose summits ,i could see entrancing panoramas of loveliness1 with steepled towns nestling in verdant valleys1 and with the golden domes of gigantic cities glittering on the infinitely distant horizon4 ,and ,i viewed by moonlight the sparkling sea1 the crystal headlands1 and the placid harbour wherein lay anchored the ,white ,ship4 ,it was against the full moon one night in the immemorial year of ,tharp that ,i saw outlined the beckoning form of the celestial bird1 and felt the first stirrings of unrest4 ,then ,i spoke with the bearded man1 and told him of my new yearning to depart for remote ,cathuria1 which no man hath seen1 but which all believe to lie beyond the basalt pillars of the ,west4 ,it is the ,land of ,hope1 and in it shine the perfect ideals of all that we know elsewhere2 or at least so men relate4 ,but the bearded man said to me1 ,beware of those perilous seas wherein men say ,cathuria lies4 ,in ,sona-,nyl there is no pain nor death1 but who can tell what lies beyond the basalt pillars of the ,west8 ,natheless at the next full moon ,i boarded the ,white ,ship1 and with the reluctant bearded man left the happy harbour for untravelled seas4 ,and the bird of heaven flew before1 and led us toward the basalt pillars of the ,west1 but this time the oarsmen sang no soft songs under the full moon4 ,in my mind ,i would often picture the unknown ,land of ,cathuria with its splendid groves and palaces1 and would wonder what new delights there awaited me4 ,cathuria1 ,i would say to myself1 is the abode of gods and the land of unnumbered cities of gold4 ,its forests are of aloe and sandalwood1 even as the fragrant groves of ,camorin1 and among the trees flutter gay birds sweet with song4 ,on the green and flowery mountains of ,cathuria stand temples of pink marble1 rich with carven and painted glories1 and having in their courtyards cool fountains of silver1 where purl with ravishing music the scented waters that come from the grotto-born river ,narg4 ,and the cities of ,cathuria are cinctured with golden walls1 and their pavements are also of gold4 ,in the gardens of these cities are strange orchids1 and perfumed lakes whose beds are of coral and amber4 ,at night the streets and the gardens are lit with gay lanthorns fashioned from three-coloured shell of the tortoise1 and here resound the soft notes of the singer and the lutanist4 ,and the houses of the cities of ,cathuria are all palaces1 each built over a fragrant canal bearing the waters of the sacred ,narg4 ,of marble and porphyry are the houses1 and roofed with glittering gold that reflects the rays of the sun and enhances the splendour of the cities as blissful gods view them from the distant peaks4 ,fairest of all is the palace of the great monarch ,dorieb1 whom some say to be a demigod and others a god4 ,high is the palace of ,dorieb1 and many are the turrets of marble upon its walls4 ,in its wide halls may multitudes assemble1 and here hang the trophies of the ages4 ,and the roof is of pure gold1 set upon tall pillars of ruby and azure1 and having such carven figures of gods and heroes that he who looks up to those heights seem to gaze upon the living ,olympus4 ,and the floor of the palace is of glass1 under which flow the cunningly lighted waters of the ,narg1 gay with gaudy fish not known beyond the bounds of lovely ,cathuria4 ,thus would ,i speak to myself of ,cathuria1 but ever would the bearded man warn me to turn back to the happy shores of ,sona-,nyl2 for ,sona-,nyl is known of men1 while none hath ever beheld ,cathuria4 ,and on the thirty-first day that we followed the bird1 we beheld the basalt pillars of the ,west4 ,shrouded in mist they were1 so that no man might peer beyond them or see their summits--which indeed some say reach even to the heavens4 ,and the bearded man again implored me to turn back1 but ,i heeded him not2 for from the mists beyond the basalt pillars ,i fancied there came the notes of singer and lutanist2 sweeter than the sweetest songs of ,sona-,nyl1 and sounding mine own praises2 the praises of me1 who had voyaged far under the full moon and dwelt in the ,land of ,fancy4 ,so to the sound of melody the ,white ,ship sailed into the mist betwixt the basalt pillars of the ,west4 ,and when the music ceased and the mist lifted1 we beheld not the ,land of ,cathuria1 but a swift-rushing resistless sea1 over which our helpless barque was borne toward some unknown goal4 ,soon to our ears came the distant thunder of falling waters1 and to our eyes appeared on the far horizon ahead the titanic spray of a monstrous cataract1 wherein the oceans of the world drop down to abysmal nothingness4 ,then did the bearded man say to me with tears on his cheek1 ,we have rejected the beautiful ,land of ,sona-,nyl1 which we may never behold again4 ,the gods are greater than men1 and they have conquered4 ,and ,i closed my eyes before the crash that ,i knew would come1 shutting out the sight of the celestial bird which flapped its mocking blue wings over the brink of the torrent4 ,out of that crash came darkness1 and ,i heard the shrieking of men and of things which were not men4 ,from the ,east tempestuous winds arose1 and chilled me as ,i crouched on the slab of damp stone which had risen beneath my feet4 ,then as ,i heard another crash ,i opened my eyes and beheld myself upon the platform of that lighthouse from whence ,i had sailed so many ons ago4 ,in the darkness below there loomed the vast blurred outlines of a vessel breaking up on the cruel rocks1 and as ,i glanced out over the waste ,i saw that the light had failed for the first time since my grandfather had assumed its care4 ,and in the later watches of the night1 when ,i went within the tower1 ,i saw on the wall a calendar which still remained as when ,i had left it at the hour ,i sailed away4 ,with the dawn ,i descended the tower and looked for wreckage upon the rocks1 but what ,i found was only this3 a strange dead bird whose hue was as of the azure sky1 and a single shattered spar1 of a whiteness greater than that of the wave-tips or of the mountain snow4 ,and thereafter the ocean told me its secrets no more2 and though many times since has the moon shone full and high in the heavens1 the ,white ,ship from the ,south came never again4 ,,to ,,mistress ,,sophia ,,simple1 ,,queen ,,of ,,the ,,cinema 7,with humblest apologies to ,randolph ,st4 ,john1 ,gent47 ,l4 ,theobald1 ,jun4 ,before our sight your mobile face ,depicts your joys or woes distracting2 ,we marvel at your winsome grace-- ,and wish you'd learn the art of acting6 ,your eyes1 we vow1 surpass the stars2 ,your mouth is like the bow of ,cupid2 ,your rose-ting'd cheeks no wrinkle mars-- ,yet why are you so sweetly stupid8 ,the hero views you with delight1 ,to win your hand forever working2 ,we pity him--the witless wight-- ,to fall a victim to your smirking6 ,and yet1 why should we wail in rhyme ,because so crudely you dissemble8 ,we can't expect for one small dime1 ,to see a ,woffington or ,kemble6 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,january #aibj ,literary ,composition ,h4 ,p4 ,lovecraft ,in a former article our readers have been shewn the fundamental sources of literary inspiration1 and the leading prerequisites to expression4 ,it remains to furnish hints concerning expression itself2 its forms1 customs1 and technicalities1 in order that the young writer may lose nothing of force or charm in presenting his ideas to the public4 ,grammar ,a review of the elements of ,english grammar would be foreign to the purpose of this department4 ,the subject is one taught in all common schools1 and may be presumed to be understood by every aspirant to authorship4 ,it is necessary1 however1 to caution the beginner to keep a reliable grammar and dictionary always beside him1 that he may avoid in his compositions the frequent errors which imperceptibly corrupt even the purest ordinary speech4 ,as a general rule1 it is well to give close critical scrutiny to all colloquial phrases and expressions of doubtful parsing1 as well as to all words and usages which have a strained or unfamiliar sound4 ,the human memory is not to be trusted too far1 and most minds harbour a considerable number of slight linguistic faults and inelegancies picked up from random discourse or from the pages of newspapers1 magazines1 and popular modern books4 ,types of ,mistakes ,most of the mistakes of young authors1 aside from those gross violations of syntax which ordinary education corrects1 may perhaps be enumerated as follows4 7#a7 ,erroneous plurals of nouns1 as vallies or echos4 7#b7 ,barbarous compound nouns1 as viewpoint or upkeep4 7#c7 ,want of correspondence in number between noun and verb where the two are widely separated or the construction involved4 7#d7 ,ambiguous use of pronouns4 7#e7 ,erroneous case of pronouns1 as whom for who1 and vice versa1 or phrases like between you and ,i1 or ,let we who are loyal1 act promptly4 7#f7 ,erroneous use of shall and will1 and of other auxiliary verbs4 7#g7 ,use of intransitive for transitive verbs1 as he was graduated from college1 or vice versa1 as he ingratiated with the tyrant4 7#h7 ,use of nouns for verbs1 as he motored to ,boston1 or he voiced a protest4 7#i7 ,errors in moods and tenses of verbs1 as ,if ,i was he1 ,i should do otherwise1 or ,he said the earth was round4 7#aj7 ,the split infinitive1 as to calmly glide4 7#aa7 ,the erroneous perfect infinitive1 as ,last week ,i expected to have met you4 7#ab7 ,false verb-forms1 as ,i pled with him4 7#ac7 ,use of like for as1 as ,i strive to write like ,pope wrote4 7#ad7 ,misuse of prepositions1 as ,the gift was bestowed to an unworthy object1 or ,the gold was divided between the five men4 7#ae7 ,the superfluous conjunction1 as ,i wish for you to do this4 7#af7 ,use of words in wrong senses1 as ,the book greatly intrigued me1 ,leave me take this1 ,he was obsessed with the idea1 or ,he is a meticulous writer4 7#ag7 ,erroneous use of non-,anglicised foreign forms1 as a strange phenomena1 or two stratas of clouds4 7#ah7 ,use of false or unauthorized words1 as burglarize or supremest4 7#ai7 ,errors of taste1 including vulgarisms1 pompousness1 repetition1 vagueness1 ambiguousness1 colloquialism1 bathos1 bombast1 pleonasm1 tautology1 harshness1 mixed metaphor1 and every sort of rhetorical awkwardness4 7#bj7 ,errors of spelling and punctuation1 and confusion of forms such as that which leads many to place an apostrophe in the possessive pronoun its4 ,of all blunders1 there is hardly one which might not be avoided through diligent study of simple textbooks on grammar and rhetoric1 intelligent perusal of the best authors1 and care and forethought in composition4 ,almost no excuse exists for their persistent occurrence1 since the sources of correction are so numerous and so available4 ,many of the popular manuals of good ,english are extremely useful1 especially to persons whose reading is not as yet extensive2 but such works sometimes err in being too pedantically precise and formal4 ,for correct writing1 the cultivation of patience and mental accuracy is essential4 ,throughout the young author's period of apprenticeship1 he must keep reliable dictionaries and textbooks at his elbow2 eschewing as far as possible that hasty extemporaneous manner of writing which is the privilege of more advanced students4 ,he must take no popular usage for granted1 nor must he ever hesitate1 in case of doubt1 to fall back on the authority of his books4 ,reading ,no aspiring author should content himself with a mere acquisition of technical rules4 ,as ,mrs4 ,renshaw remarked in the preceding article1 ,impression should ever precede and be stronger than expression4 ,all attempts at gaining literary polish must begin with judicious reading1 and the learner must never cease to hold this phase uppermost4 ,in many cases1 the usage of good authors will be found a more effective guide than any amount of precept4 ,a page of ,addison or of ,irving will teach more of style than a whole manual of rules1 whilst a story of ,poe's will impress upon the mind a more vivid notion of powerful and correct description and narration than will ten dry chapters of a bulky textbook4 ,let every student read unceasingly the best writers1 guided by the admirable ,reading ,table which has adorned the ,,united ,,amateur during the past two years4 ,it is also important that cheaper types of reading1 if hitherto followed1 be dropped4 ,popular magazines inculcate a careless and deplorable style which is hard to unlearn1 and which impedes the acquisition of a purer style4 ,if such things must be read1 let them be skimmed over as lightly as possible4 ,an excellent habit to cultivate is the analytical study of the ,king ,james ,bible4 ,for simple yet rich and forceful ,english1 this masterly production is hard to equal2 and even though its ,saxon vocabulary and poetic rhythm be unsuited to general composition1 it is an invaluable model for writers on quaint or imaginative themes4 ,lord ,dunsany1 perhaps the greatest living prose artist1 derived nearly all of his stylistic tendencies from the ,scriptures2 and the contemporary critic ,boyd points out very acutely the loss sustained by most ,catholic ,irish writers through their unfamiliarity with the historic volume and its traditions4 ,vocabulary ,one superlatively important effect of wide reading is the enlargement of vocabulary which always accompanies it4 ,the average student is gravely impeded by the narrow range of words from which he must choose1 and he soon discovers that in long compositions he cannot avoid monotony4 ,in reading1 the novice should note the varied mode of expression practiced by good authors1 and should keep in his mind for future use the many appropriate synonymes he encounters4 ,never should an unfamiliar word be passed over without elucidation2 for with a little conscientious research we may each day add to our conquests in the realm of philology1 and become more and more ready for graceful independent expression4 ,but in enlarging the vocabulary1 we must beware lest we misuse our new possessions4 ,we must remember that there are fine distinctions betwixt apparently similar words1 and that language must ever be selected with intelligent care4 ,as the learned ,dr4 ,blair points out in his ,lectures1 ,hardly in any language are there two words that convey precisely the same idea2 a person thoroughly conversant in the propriety of language will always be able to observe something that distinguishes them4 ,elemental ,phases ,before considering the various formal classes of composition1 it is well to note certain elements common to them all4 ,upon analysis1 every piece of writing will be found to contain one or more of the following basic principles3 ,description1 or an account of the appearance of things2 ,narration1 or an account of the actions of things2 ,exposition1 which defines and explains with precision and lucidity2 ,argument1 which discovers truth and rejects error2 and ,persuasion1 which urges to certain thoughts or acts4 ,the first two are the bases of fiction2 the third didactic1 scientific1 historical and editorial writings4 ,the fourth and fifth are mostly employed in conjunction with the third1 in scientific1 philosophical1 and partisan literature4 ,all these principles1 however1 are usually mingled with one another4 ,the work of fiction may have its scientific1 historical1 or argumentative side2 whilst the textbook or treatise may be embellished with descriptions and anecdotes4 ,description ,description1 in order to be effective1 calls upon two mental qualities2 observation and discrimination4 ,many descriptions depend for their vividness upon the accurate reproduction of details2 others upon the judicious selection of salient1 typical1 or significant points4 ,one cannot be too careful in the selection of adjectives for descriptions4 ,words or compounds which describe precisely1 and which convey exactly the right suggestions to the mind of the reader1 are essential4 ,as an example1 let us consider the following list of epithets applicable to a fountain1 taken from ,richard ,green ,parker's admirable work on composition4 ,crystal1 gushing1 rustling1 silver1 gently-gliding1 parting1 pearly1 weeping1 bubbling1 gurgling1 chiding1 clear1 grass-fringed1 moss-fringed1 pebble-paved1 verdant1 sacred1 grass-margined1 moss-margined1 trickling1 soft1 dew-sprinkled1 fast-flowing1 delicate1 delicious1 clean1 straggling1 dancing1 vaulting1 deep-embosomed1 leaping1 murmuring1 muttering1 whispering1 prattling1 twaddling1 swelling1 sweet-rolling1 gently-flowing1 rising1 sparkling1 flowing1 frothy1 dew-distilling1 dew-born1 exhaustless1 inexhaustible1 never-decreasing1 never-failing1 heaven-born1 earth-born1 deep-divulging1 drought-dispelling1 thirst-allaying1 refreshing1 soul-refreshing1 earth-refreshing1 laving1 lavish1 plant-nourishing4 ,for the purpose of securing epithets at once accurate and felicitous1 the young author should familiarize himself thoroughly with the general aspect and phenomena of ,nature1 as well as with the ideas and associations which these things produce in the human mind4 ,descriptions may be of objects1 of places1 of animals1 and of persons4 ,the complete description of an object may be said to consist of the following elements3 #a4 ,when1 where1 and how seen2 when made or found2 how affected by time4 #b4 ,history and traditional associations4 #c4 ,substance and manner of origin4 #d4 ,size1 shape1 and appearance4 #e4 ,analogies with similar objects4 #f4 ,sensations produced by contemplating it4 #g4 ,its purpose or function4 #h4 ,its effects--the results of its existence4 ,descriptions of places must of course vary with the type of the place4 ,of natural scenery1 the following elements are notable3 #a4 ,how beheld--at dawn1 noon1 evening1 or night2 by starlight or moonlight4 #b4 ,natural features--flat or hilly2 barren or thickly grown2 kind of vegetation2 trees1 mountains1 and rivers4 #c4 ,works of man--cultivation1 edifices1 bridges2 modifications of scenery produced by man4 #d4 ,inhabitants and other forms of animal life4 #e4 ,local customs and traditions4 #f4 ,sounds--of water2 forest2 leaves2 birds2 barnyards2 human beings2 machinery4 #g4 ,view--prospect on every side1 and the place itself as seen from afar4 #h4 ,analogies to other scenes1 especially famous scenes4 #i4 ,history and associations4 #aj4 ,sensations produced by contemplating it4 ,descriptions of animals may be analyzed thus3 #a4 ,species and size4 #b4 ,covering4 #c4 ,parts4 #d4 ,abode4 #e4 ,characteristics and habits4 #f4 ,food4 #g4 ,utility or harmfulness4 #h4 ,history and associations4 ,descriptions of persons can be infinitely varied4 ,sometimes a single felicitous touch brings out the whole type and character1 as when the modern author ,leonard ,merrick hints at shabby gentility by mentioning the combination of a frock coat with the trousers of a tweed suit4 ,suggestion is very powerful in this field1 especially when mental qualities are to be delineated4 ,treatment should vary with the author's object2 whether to portray a mere personified idea1 or to give a quasi photographic view1 mental and physical1 of some vividly living character4 ,in a general description1 the following elements may be found3 #a4 ,appearance1 stature1 complexion1 proportions1 features4 #b4 ,most conspicuous feature4 #c4 ,expression4 #d4 ,grace or ugliness4 #e4 ,attire--nature1 taste1 quality4 #f4 ,habits1 attainments1 graces1 or awkwardnesses4 #g4 ,character--moral and intellectual--place in the community4 #h4 ,notable special qualities4 ,in considering the preceding synopses1 the reader must remember that they are only suggestions1 and not for literal use4 ,the extent of any description is to be determined by its place in the composition2 by taste and fitness4 ,it should be added1 that in fiction description must not be carried to excess4 ,a plethora of it leads to dulness1 so that it must ever be balanced by a brisk flow of ,narration1 which we are about to consider4 ,narration ,narration is an account of action1 or of successive events1 either real or imagined2 and is therefore the basis both of history and of fiction4 ,to be felicitous and successful1 it demands an intelligent exercise of taste and discrimination2 salient points must be selected1 and the order of time and of circumstances must be well maintained4 ,it is deemed wisest in most cases to give narratives a climactic form2 leading from lesser to greater events1 and culminating in that chief incident upon which the story is primarily founded1 or which makes the other parts important through its own importance4 ,this principle1 of course1 cannot be literally followed in all historical and biographical narratives4 ,fictional ,narration ,the essential point of fictional narration is plot1 which may be defined as a sequence of incidents designed to awaken the reader's interest and curiosity as to the result4 ,plots may be simple or complex2 but suspense1 and climactic progress from one incident to another1 are essential4 ,every incident in a fictional work should have some bearing on the climax or denouement1 and any denouement which is not the inevitable result of the preceding incidents is awkward and unliterary4 ,no formal course in fiction-writing can equal a close and observant perusal of the stories of ,edgar ,allan ,poe or ,ambrose ,bierce4 ,in these masterpieces one may find that unbroken sequence and linkage of incident and result which mark the ideal tale4 ,observe how1 in ,the ,fall of the ,house of ,usher1 each separate event foreshadows and leads up to the tremendous catastrophe and its hideous suggestion4 ,poe was an absolute master of the mechanics of his craft4 ,observe also how ,bierce can attain the most stirring denouements from a few simple happenings2 denouements which develop purely from these preceding circumstances4 ,in fictional narration1 verisimilitude is absolutely essential4 ,a story must be consistent and must contain no event glaringly removed from the usual order of things1 unless that event is the main incident1 and is approached with the most careful preparation4 ,in real life1 odd and erratic things do occasionally happen2 but they are out of place in an ordinary story1 since fiction is a sort of idealization of the average4 ,development should be as lifelike as possible1 and a weak1 trickling conclusion should be assiduously avoided4 ,the end of a story must be stronger rather than weaker than the beginning2 since it is the end which contains the denouement or culmination1 and which will leave the strongest impression upon the reader4 ,it would not be amiss for the novice to write the last paragraph of his story first1 once a synopsis of the plot has been carefully prepared--as it always should be4 ,in this way he will be able to concentrate his freshest mental vigour upon the most important part of his narrative2 and if any changes be later found needful1 they can easily be made4 ,in no part of a narrative should a grand or emphatic thought or passage be followed by one of tame or prosaic quality4 ,this is anticlimax1 and exposes a writer to much ridicule4 ,notice the absurd effect of the following couplet--which was1 however1 written by no less a person than ,waller3 ,under the tropic is our language spoke1 ,and part of ,flanders hath receiv'd our yoke4 ,unity1 ,mass1 ,coherence ,in developing a theme1 whether descriptive or narrative1 it is necessary that three structural qualities be present3 ,unity1 ,mass1 and ,coherence4 ,unity is that principle whereby every part of a composition must have some bearing on the central theme4 ,it is the principle which excludes all extraneous matter1 and demands that all threads converge toward the climax4 ,classical violations of ,unity may be found in the episodes of ,homer and other epic poets of antiquity1 as well as in the digressions of ,fielding and other celebrated novelists2 but no beginner should venture to emulate such liberties4 ,unity is the quality we have lately noted and praised in ,poe and ,bierce4 ,mass is that principle which requires the more important parts of a composition to occupy correspondingly important places in the whole composition1 the paragraph1 and the sentence4 ,it is that law of taste which insists that emphasis be placed where emphasis is due1 and is most strikingly embodied in the previously mentioned necessity for an emphatic ending4 ,according to this law1 the end of a composition is its most important part1 with the beginning next in importance4 ,coherence is that principle which groups related parts together and keeps unrelated parts removed from one another4 ,it applies1 like ,mass1 to the whole composition1 the paragraph1 or the sentence4 ,it demands that kindred events be narrated without interruption1 effect following cause in a steady flow4 ,forms of ,composition ,few writers succeed equally in all the various branches of literature4 ,each type of thought has its own particular form of expression1 based on natural appropriateness2 and the average author tends to settle into that form which best fits his particular personality4 ,many1 however1 follow more than one form2 and some writers change from one form to another as advancing years produce alterations in their mental processes or points of view4 ,it is well1 in the interests of breadth and discipline1 for the beginner to exercise himself to some degree in every form of literary art4 ,he may thus discover that which best fits his mind1 and develop hitherto unsuspected potentialities4 ,we have so far surveyed only those simpler phases of writing which centre in prose fiction and descriptive essays4 ,hereafter we hope to touch upon didactic1 argumentative1 and persuasive writing2 to investigate to some extent the sources of rhetorical strength and elegance2 and to consider a few major aspects of versification4 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,may #aibj ,for ,what ,does the ,united ,stand8 ,it is easy to comply in #ejj words with a request for an article on what the ,united represents4 ,an amateur journalistic association is generally too democratic to have any one object for long2 it is rather a battle-ground between the proponents of opposed ideas4 ,i think1 however1 that since the dawn of the ,hoffman administration1 when the best elements were automatically sifted out through the secession of most of the confirmed politicians1 we have been gradually acquiring a policy and a tradition which will endure4 ,the printing-press1 political and frivolous phases have been passed through2 and our aspirations seem to be crystallising into a form more worthy than any of our past aspirations4 ,judging from the majority of our truly active members1 the ,united now aims at the development of its adherents in the direction of purely artistic literary perception and expression2 to be effected by the encouragement of writing1 the giving of constructive criticism1 and the cultivation of correspondence friendships among scholars and aspirants capable of stimulating and aiding one another's efforts4 ,it aims at the revival of the uncommercial spirit2 the real creative thought which modern conditions have done their worst to suppress and eradicate4 ,it seeks to banish mediocrity as a goal and standard2 to place before its members the classical and the universal and to draw their minds from the commonplace to the beautiful4 ,the ,united aims to assist those whom other forms of literary influence cannot reach4 ,the non-university man1 the dwellers in distant places1 the recluse1 the invalid1 the very young1 the elderly2 all these are included within our scope4 ,and beside our novices stand persons of mature cultivation and experience1 ready to assist for the sheer joy of assisting4 ,in no other society does wealth or previous learning count for so little4 ,merit and aspiration form the only criterion we apply to our members1 nor has poverty or primitive crudity ever retarded the steady progress of any determined aspirant among us4 ,we ask only that the goal be high2 that the souls of our band be seeking the antique legacy of verdant ,helicon4 ,practically1 we are aware of many obstacles2 yet we think we are in the main fulfilling our functions4 ,naturally1 we do not expect to make a ,shelley or ,swinburne of every rhymer who joins us1 or a ,poe or ,dunsany of every teller of tales2 but if we enable these persons to appreciate ,shelley and ,swinburne and ,poe and ,dunsany1 and teach them how to shed their dominant faults and use words correctly and expressively1 we cannot call ourselves unsuccessful and only genius can lead to the heights2 it is our province merely to point the way and assist on the gentler1 lower slopes4 ,the ,united1 then1 stands for education in the eternal truths of literary art1 and for personal aid in the realisation of its members' literary potentialities4 ,it is a university1 stripped of every artificiality and conventionality1 and thrown open to all without distinction4 ,here may every man shine according to his genius1 and here may the small as well as the great writer know the bliss of appreciation and the glory of recognised achievement4 ,h4 ,p4 ,,lovecraft4 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,official ,organ of the ,united ,amateur ,press ,association ,,volume ,,xx ,,elroy1 ,,wis41 ,,september1 #aibj ,,number #a ,poetry and the ,gods ,,anna ,,helen ,,crofts ,,and ,,henry ,,paget-,,lowe ,a damp1 gloomy evening in ,april it was1 just after the close of the ,great ,war1 when ,marcia found herself alone with strange thoughts and wishes2 unheard-of yearnings which floated out of the spacious twentieth-century drawing-room1 up the misty deeps of the air1 and ,eastward to far olive-groves in ,arcady which she had seen only in her dreams4 ,she had entered the room in abstraction1 turned off the glaring chandeliers1 and now reclined on a soft divan by a solitary lamp which shed over the reading table a green glow as soothing and delicious as moonlight through the foliage about an antique shrine4 ,attired simply1 in a low-cut evening dress of black1 she appeared outwardly a typical product of modern civilisation2 but tonight she felt the immeasurable gulf that separated her soul from all her prosaic surroundings4 ,was it because of the strange home in which she lived2 that abode of coldness where relations were always strained and the inmates scarcely more than strangers8 ,was it that1 or was it some greater and less explicable misplacement in ,time and ,space1 whereby she had been born too late1 too early1 or too far away from the haunts of her spirit ever to harmonise with the unbeautiful things of contemporary reality8 ,to dispel the mood which was engulfing her more deeply each moment1 she took a magazine from the table and searched for some healing bit of poetry4 ,poetry had always relieved her troubled mind better than anything else1 though many things in the poetry she had seen detracted from the influence4 ,over parts of even the sublimest verses hung a chill vapour of sterile ugliness and restraint1 like dust on a window-pane through which one views a magnificent sunset4 ,listlessly turning the magazine's pages1 as if searching for an elusive treasure1 she suddenly came upon something which dispelled her languor4 ,an observer could have read her thoughts and told that she had discovered some image or dream which brought her nearer to her unattained goal than any image or dream she had seen before4 ,it was only a bit of vers libre1 that pitiful compromise of the poet who overleaps prose yet falls short of the divine melody of numbers2 but it had in it all the unstudied music of a bard who lives and feels1 and who gropes ecstatically for unveiled beauty4 ,devoid of regularity1 it yet had the wild harmony of winged1 spontaneous words2 a harmony missing from the formal1 convention-bound verse she had known4 ,as she read on1 her surroundings gradually faded1 and soon there lay about her only the mists of dream2 the purple1 star-strown mists beyond ,time1 where only gods and dreamers walk4 ,moon over ,japan1 ,white butterfly moon6 ,where the heavy-lidded ,buddhas dream ,to the sound of the cuckoo's call4444 ,the white wings of moon-butterflies ,flicker down the streets of the city1 ,blushing into darkness the useless wicks of round lanterns in the hands of girls4 ,moon over the tropics1 ,a white-curved bud ,opening its petals slowly in the warmth of heaven4444 ,the air is full of odours ,and languorous warm sounds4444 ,a flute drones its insect music to the night ,below the curving moon-petal of the heavens4 ,moon over ,china1 ,weary moon on the river of the sky1 ,the stir of light in the willows is like the flashing of a thousand silver minnows ,through dark shoals2 ,the tiles on graves and rotting temples flash like ripples1 ,the sky is flecked with clouds like the scales of a dragon4 ,amid the mists of dream the reader cried to the rhythmical stars of her delight at the coming of a new age of song1 a rebirth of ,pan4 ,half closing her eyes1 she repeated words whose melody lay hid like crystals at the bottom of a stream before the dawn2 hidden but to gleam effulgently at the birth of day4 ,moon over ,japan1 ,white butterfly moon6 ,moon over the tropics1 ,a white-curved bud ,opening its petals slowly in the warmth of heaven4 ,the air is full of odours ,and languorous warm sounds 444 languorous warm sounds4 ,moon over ,china1 ,weary moon on the river of the sky 444 weary moon6 99 99 99 ,out of the mists gleamed godlike the figure of a youth in winged helmet and sandals1 caduceus-bearing1 and of a beauty like to nothing on earth4 ,before the face of the sleeper he thrice waved the rod which ,apollo had given him in trade for the nine-corded shell of melody1 and upon her brow he placed a wreath of myrtle and roses4 ,then1 adoring1 ,hermes spoke3 ,o ,nymph more fair than the golden-haired sisters of ,cyane or the sky-inhabiting ,atlantides1 beloved of ,aphrodite and blessed of ,pallas1 thou hast indeed discovered the secret of the ,gods1 which lieth in beauty and song4 ,o ,prophetess more lovely than the ,sybil of ,cumae when ,apollo first knew her1 thou hast truly spoken of the new age1 for even now on ,maenalus1 ,pan sighs and stretches in his sleep1 wishful to awake and behold about him the little rose-crowned ,fauns and the antique ,satyrs4 ,in thy yearning hast thou divined what no mortal else1 saving only a few whom the world reject1 remembereth2 that the ,gods were never dead1 but only sleeping the sleep and dreaming the dreams of ,gods in lotos-filled ,hesperian gardens beyond the golden sunset4 ,and now draweth nigh the time of their awaking1 when coldness and ugliness shall perish1 and ,zeus sit once more on ,olympus4 ,already the sea about ,paphos trembleth into a foam which only ancient skies have looked on before1 and at night on ,helicon the shepherds hear strange murmurings and half-remembered notes4 ,woods and fields are tremulous at twilight with the shimmering of white saltant forms1 and immemorial ,ocean yields up curious sights beneath thin moons4 ,the ,gods are patient1 and have slept long1 but neither man nor giant shall defy the ,gods forever4 ,in ,tartarus the ,titans writhe1 and beneath the fiery ,aetna groan the children of ,uranus and ,gaea4 ,the day now dawns when man must answer for his centuries of denial1 but in sleeping the ,gods have grown kind1 and will not hurl him to the gulf made for deniers of ,gods4 ,instead will their vengeance smite the darkness1 fallacy and ugliness which have turned the mind of man2 and under the sway of bearded ,saturnus shall mortals1 once more sacrificing unto him1 dwell in beauty and delight4 ,this night shalt thou know the favour of the ,gods1 and behold on ,parnassus those dreams which the ,gods have through ages sent to ,earth to show that they are not dead4 ,for poets are the dreams of the ,gods1 and in each age someone hath sung unknowing the message and the promise from the lotos-gardens beyond the sunset4 ,then in his arms ,hermes bore the dreaming maiden through the skies4 ,gentle breezes from the tower of ,aiolos wafted them high above warm1 scented seas1 till suddenly they came upon ,zeus holding court on the double-headed ,parnassus2 his golden throne flanked by ,apollo and the ,muses on the right hand1 and by ivy-wreathed ,dionysus and pleasure-flushed ,bacchae on the left hand4 ,so much of splendour ,marcia had never seen before1 either awake or in dreams1 but its radiance did her no injury1 as would have the radiance of lofty ,olympus2 for in this lesser court the ,father of ,gods had tempered his glories for the sight of mortals4 ,before the laurel-draped mouth of the ,corycian cave sat in a row six noble forms with the aspect of mortals1 but the countenances of ,gods4 ,these the dreamer recognised from images of them which she had beheld1 and she knew that they were none else than the divine ,maeonides1 the ,avernian ,dante1 the more than mortal ,shakespeare1 the chaos-exploring ,milton1 the cosmic ,goethe1 and the ,musaean ,keats4 ,these were those messengers whom the ,gods had sent to tell men that ,pan had passed not away1 but only slept2 for it is in poetry that ,gods speak to men4 ,then spake the ,thunderer3 ,o daughter1 for1 being one of my endless line1 thou art indeed my daughter1 behold upon ivory thrones of honour the august messengers that ,gods have sent down1 that in the words and the writings of men there may still be some trace of divine beauty4 ,other bards have men justly crowned with enduring laurels1 but these hath ,apollo crowned1 and these have ,i set in places apart1 as mortals who have spoken the language of the ,gods4 ,long have we dreamed in lotos-gardens beyond the ,west1 and spoken only through our dreams2 but the time approaches when our voices shall not be silent4 ,it is a time of awaking and of change4 ,once more hath ,phaeton ridden low1 searing the fields and drying the streams4 ,in ,gaul lone nymphs with disordered hair weep beside fountains that are no more1 and pine over rivers turned red with the blood of mortals4 ,ares and his train have gone forth with the madness of ,gods1 and have returned1 ,deimos and ,phobos glutted with unnatural delight4 ,tellus moans with grief1 and the faces of men are as the faces of the ,erinyes1 even as when ,astraea fled to the skies1 and the waves of our bidding encompassed all the land saving this high peak alone4 ,amidst this chaos1 prepared to herald his coming yet to conceal his arrival1 even now toileth our latest-born messenger1 in whose dreams are all the images which other messengers have dreamed before him4 ,he it is that we have chosen to blend into one glorious whole all the beauty that the world hath known before1 and to write words wherein shall echo all the wisdom and the loveliness of the past4 ,he it is who shall proclaim our return1 and sing of the days to come when ,fauns and ,dryads shall haunt their accustomed groves in beauty4 ,guided was our choice by those who now sit before the ,corycian grotto on thrones of ivory1 and in whose songs thou shalt hear notes of sublimity by which years hence thou shall know the greater messenger when he cometh4 ,attend their voices as one by one they sing to thee here4 ,each note shalt thou hear again in the poetry which is to come2 the poetry which shall bring peace and pleasure to thy soul1 though search for it through bleak years thou must4 ,attend with diligence1 for each chord that vibrates away into hiding shall appear again to thee after thou hast returned to earth1 as ,alpheus1 sinking his waters into the soil of ,hellas1 appears as the crystal ,arethusa in remote ,sicilia4 ,then arose ,homeros1 the ancient among bards1 who took his lyre and chaunted his hymn to ,aphrodite4 ,no word of ,greek did ,marcia know1 yet did the message fall not vainly upon her ears2 for in the cryptic rhythm was that which spake to all mortals and ,gods1 and needed no interpreter4 ,so too the songs of ,dante and ,goethe1 whose unknown words clave the ether with melodies easy to read and to adore4 ,but at last remembered accents rebounded before the listener4 ,it was the ,swan of ,avon1 once a ,god among men1 and still a ,god among ,gods3 ,write1 write1 that from the bloody course of war1 ,my dearest master1 your dear son1 may hie2 ,bless him at home in peace1 whilst ,i from far1 ,his name with zealous fervour sanctify4 ,accents still more familiar arose as ,milton1 blind no more1 declaimed immortal harmony3 ,or let my lamp at midnight hour ,be seen in some high lonely tower1 ,where ,i might oft outwatch the ,bear ,with thrice-great ,hermes1 or unsphere ,the spirit of ,plato1 to unfold ,what worlds or what vast regions hold ,th' immortal mind1 that hath forsook ,her mansion in this fleshy nook4 ,sometime let gorgeous ,tragedy ,in sceptred pall come sweeping by1 ,presenting ,thebes1 or ,pelops' line1 ,or the tale of ,troy divine4 ,last of all came the young voice of ,keats1 closest of all the messengers to the beauteous faun-folk4 ,heard melodies are sweet1 but those unheard ,are sweeter3 therefore1 ye soft pipes1 play on4444 ,when old age shall this generation waste1 ,thou shalt remain1 in midst of other woe ,than ours1 a friend to man1 to whom thou say'st1 ',beauty is truth1 truth beauty'--that is all ,ye know on earth1 and all ye need to know4 ,as the singer ceased1 there came a sound in the wind blowing from far ,egypt1 where at night ,aurora mourns by the ,nile for her slain son ,memnon4 ,to the feet of the ,thunderer flew the rosy-fingered ,goddess1 and kneeling1 cried1 ,master1 it is time ,i unlocked the gates of the ,east4 ,and ,phoebus1 handing his lyre to ,calliope1 his bride among the ,muses1 prepared to depart for the jewelled and column-raised ,palace of the ,sun1 where fretted the steeds already harnessed to the golden car of day4 ,so ,zeus descended from his carven throne and placed his hand upon the head of ,marcia1 saying3 ,daughter1 the dawn is nigh1 and it is well that thou shouldst return before the awaking of mortals to thy home4 ,weep not at the bleakness of thy life1 for the shadow of false faiths will soon be gone1 and the ,gods shall once more walk among men4 ,search thou unceasingly for our messenger1 for in him wilt thou find peace and comfort4 ,by his word shall thy steps be guided to happiness1 and in his dreams of beauty shall thy spirit find all that it craveth4 ,as ,zeus ceased1 the young ,hermes gently seized the maiden and bore her up toward the fading stars2 up1 and westward over unseen seas4 99 99 99 ,many years have passed since ,marcia dreamt of the ,gods and of their ,parnassian conclave4 ,tonight she sits in the same spacious drawing-room1 but she is not alone4 ,gone is the old spirit of unrest1 for beside her is one whose name is luminous with celebrity2 the young poet of poets at whose feet sits all the world4 ,he is reading from a manuscript words which none has ever heard before1 but which when heard will bring to men the dreams and fancies they lost so many centuries ago1 when ,pan lay down to doze in ,arcady1 and the greater ,gods withdrew to sleep in lotos-gardens beyond the lands of the ,hesperides4 ,in the subtle cadences and hidden melodies of the bard the spirit of the maiden has found rest at last1 for there echo the divinest notes of ,thracian ,orpheus2 notes that moved the very rocks and trees by ,hebrus' banks4 ,the singer ceases1 and with eagerness asks a verdict1 yet what can ,marcia say but that the strain is fit for the ,gods8 ,and as she speaks there comes again a vision of ,parnassus and the far-off sound of a mighty voice saying1 ,by his word shall thy steps be guided to happiness1 and in his dreams of beauty shall thy spirit find all that it craveth4 99 99 99 99 99 ,mr4 ,paul ,j4 ,campbell deserves the most unstinted thanks of the ,united this year1 for besides serving as ,first ,vice-,president he has furnished free of charge a supply of recruiting booklets and application blanks1 thus relieving us of one of our most onerous burdens4 ,mr4 ,campbell's eighteen years of undiminished devotion to amateurdom form a thing worthy of emulation4 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,november #aibj ,nyarlathotep ,h4 ,p4 ,,lovecraft ,nyarlathotep 444 the crawling chaos 444 ,i am the last 444 ,i will tell the audient void4444 ,i do not recall distinctly when it began1 but it was months ago4 ,the general tension was horrible4 ,to a season of political and social upheaval was added a strange and brooding apprehension of hideous physical danger2 a danger widespread and all-embracing1 such a danger as may be imagined only in the most terrible phantasms of the night4 ,i recall that the people went about with pale and worried faces1 and whispered warnings and prophecies which no one dared consciously repeat or acknowledge to himself that he had heard4 ,a sense of monstrous guilt was upon the land1 and out of the abysses between the stars swept chill currents that made men shiver in dark and lonely places4 ,there was a demoniac alteration in the sequence of the seasons--the autumn heat lingered fearsomely1 and everyone felt that the world and perhaps the universe had passed from the control of known gods or forces to that of gods or forces which were unknown4 ,and it was then that ,nyarlathotep came out of ,egypt4 ,who he was1 none could tell1 but he was of the old native blood and looked like a ,pharaoh4 ,the fellahin knelt when they saw him1 yet could not say why4 ,he said he had risen up out of the blackness of twenty-seven centuries1 and that he had heard messages from places not on this planet4 ,into the lands of civilisation came ,nyarlathotep1 swarthy1 slender1 and sinister1 always buying strange instruments of glass and metal and combining them into instruments yet stranger4 ,he spoke much of the sciences--of electricity and psychology--and gave exhibitions of power which sent his spectators away speechless1 yet which swelled his fame to exceeding magnitude4 ,men advised one another to see ,nyarlathotep1 and shuddered4 ,and where ,nyarlathotep went1 rest vanished2 for the small hours were rent with the screams of nightmare4 ,never before had the screams of nightmare been such a public problem2 now the wise men almost wished they could forbid sleep in the small hours1 that the shrieks of cities might less horribly disturb the pale1 pitying moon as it glimmered on green waters gliding under bridges1 and old steeples crumbling against a sickly sky4 ,i remember when ,nyarlathotep came to my city--the great1 the old1 the terrible city of unnumbered crimes4 ,my friend had told me of him1 and of the impelling fascination and allurement of his revelations1 and ,i burned with eagerness to explore his uttermost mysteries4 ,my friend said they were horrible and impressive beyond my most fevered imaginings2 that what was thrown on a screen in the darkened room prophesied things none but ,nyarlathotep dare prophesy1 and that in the sputter of his sparks there was taken from men that which had never been taken before yet which shewed only in the eyes4 ,and ,i heard it hinted abroad that those who knew ,nyarlathotep looked on sights which others saw not4 ,it was in the hot autumn that ,i went through the night with the restless crowds to see ,nyarlathotep2 through the stifling night and up the endless stairs into the choking room4 ,and shadowed on a screen1 ,i saw hooded forms amidst ruins1 and yellow evil faces peering from behind fallen monuments4 ,and ,i saw the world battling against blackness2 against the waves of destruction from ultimate space2 whirling1 churning2 struggling around the dimming1 cooling sun4 ,then the sparks played amazingly around the heads of the spectators1 and hair stood up on end whilst shadows more grotesque than ,i can tell came out and squatted on the heads4 ,and when ,i1 who was colder and more scientific than the rest1 mumbled a trembling protest about imposture and static electricity1 ,nyarlathotep drave us all out1 down the dizzy stairs into the damp1 hot1 deserted midnight streets4 ,i screamed aloud that ,i was not afraid2 that ,i never could be afraid2 and others screamed with me for solace4 ,we sware to one another that the city was exactly the same1 and still alive2 and when the electric lights began to fade we cursed the company over and over again1 and laughed at the queer faces we made4 ,i believe we felt something coming down from the greenish moon1 for when we began to depend on its light we drifted into curious involuntary marching formations and seemed to know our destinations though we dared not think of them4 ,once we looked at the pavement and found the blocks loose and displaced by grass1 with scarce a line of rusted metal to show where the tramways had run4 ,and again we saw a tram-car1 lone1 windowless1 dilapidated1 and almost on its side4 ,when we gazed around the horizon1 we could not find the third tower by the river1 and noticed that the silhouette of the second tower was ragged at the top4 ,then we split up into narrow columns1 each of which seemed drawn in a different direction4 ,one disappeared in a narrow alley to the left1 leaving only the echo of a shocking moan4 ,another filed down a weed-choked subway entrance1 howling with a laughter that was mad4 ,my own column was sucked toward the open country1 and presently felt a chill which was not of the hot autumn3 for as we stalked out on the dark moor1 we beheld around us the hellish moon-glitter of evil snows4 ,trackless1 inexplicable snows1 swept asunder in one direction only1 where lay a gulf all the blacker for its glittering walls4 ,the column seemed very thin indeed as it plodded dreamily into the gulf4 ,i lingered behind1 for the black rift in the green-litten snow was frightful1 and ,i thought ,i had heard the reverberations of a disquieting wail as my companions vanished2 but my power to linger was slight4 ,as if beckoned by those who had gone before1 ,i half-floated between the titanic snowdrifts1 quivering and afraid1 into the sightless vortex of the unimaginable4 ,screamingly sentient1 dumbly delirious1 only the gods that were can tell4 ,a sickened1 sensitive shadow writhing in hands that are not hands1 and whirled blindly past ghastly midnights of rotting creation1 corpses of dead worlds with sores that were cities1 charnel winds that brush the pallid stars and make them flicker low4 ,beyond the worlds vague ghosts of monstrous things2 half-seen columns of unsanctified temples that rest on nameless rocks beneath space and reach up to dizzy vacua above the spheres of light and darkness4 ,and through this revolving graveyard of the universe the muffled1 maddening beating of drums1 and thin1 monotonous whine of blasphemous flutes from inconceivable1 unlighted chambers beyond ,time2 the detestable pounding and piping whereunto dance slowly1 awkwardly and absurdly the gigantic1 tenebrous ultimate gods--the blind1 voiceless1 mindless gargoyles whose soul is ,nyarlathotep4 ,editorial ,editorial comment upon amateur journalism generally falls within one of two classes2 complacent self-congratulation upon a mythical perfection1 or hectic urging toward impossible achievements4 ,it is our purpose this month to indulge in neither of these rhetorical recreations1 but to make one very prosaic and practical appeal which springs solely from realistic observation4 ,this appeal concerns the official situation in the ,united4 ,for several years our foes have reproached us for excessive centralisation of authority3 asserting that the control of our society is anything from oligarchical to monarchial1 and pointing to the large amount of influence wielded by a very few leaders4 ,denials on our part1 prompted by the conspicuous absence of any dictatorial ambitions in the minds of our executives1 have been largely nullified by the fact that while power has not been autocratically usurped and arbitrarily exercised1 the burden of administrative work has certainly been thrust by common consent on a small number of reluctant though loyal shoulders4 ,a few persons have been forced to retain authority because no others have arisen to relieve them of their burdens1 until official nominations have come to mean no more than a campaign by one or two active spirits to persuade certain patient drudges to carry on another year4 ,nor does the formal official situation reflect all of the prevailing condition4 ,much of the ,association's most important activity1 such as recruiting1 welcoming and criticism1 verges into the field of unorganised effort2 and here the tendency to leave everything to a narrow group is overwhelming4 ,obviously1 this condition demands a remedy2 and that remedy lies in one direction only--an acceptance of potential official responsibility by all of those members who possess the time and experience to act as leaders4 ,as the fiscal year progresses1 the season for candidacies draws near2 and amateurs who feel competent to sustain their share of the administrative burden should come forward as nominees1 or at least should respond when approached by their friends4 ,that office-holding involves tedious work1 all admit1 but this tedium is a small enough price to pay for the varied boons of amateurdom4 ,in unofficial labour an equal willingness should be shown4 ,why is it that all the private revision in the ,united is performed by about three men at most1 despite the presence in our ranks of a full score of scholars abundantly capable of rendering such service8 ,if the literati as a whole will not awaken to the needs of the day1 one of two things will occur4 ,the ,united will stagnate quietly under the perpetual dictatorship of a limited group of unwilling but benevolent autocrats1 or it will succumb to the onslaught of some political clique of vigorous barbarians who will destroy in a month what it has taken the ,united over ten years to build up4 ,memories of #aiai should prove to us the reality of such a danger of sudden relapse4 ,our appeal1 then1 is for responsible candidates for high office1 and for volunteers in the work of maintaining interest and lending literary aid4 ,we know that executive energy and enthusiasm tend to be more abundant in the ,goth than in the ,greek2 that those best qualified to serve are generally least moved by political ambition4 ,but we are sure that the needs of our society should arouse enough sense of duty among its cultivated membership to draw to the front a new generation of leaders4 ,we ask for new presidential and editorial candidates who are prepared to serve faithfully and independently if elected2 for new critics and recruiters who understand our traditions and are willing to expend energy in upholding and diffusing them4 ,shall #aiba bring them to light8 --,h4 ,p4 ,,lovecraft ,official ,organ ,fund ,,receipts ,woodbee ,press ,club #be4jj ,from ,treasurer1 up to ,october #ae #bc4jj ,susan ,nelson ,furgerson #f4jj ,jonathan ,e4 ,hoag #e4jj ,verna ,mc,geoch 7for each issue7 #e4jj ,howard ,r4 ,conover #c4jj ,victor ,o4 ,schwab #c4jj ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,fritter 7for each issue7 #b4jj ,rev4 ,eugene ,b4 ,kuntz #a4ej ,anne ,tillery ,renshaw #a4ej ,anonymous 4#be ,one dollar each3 ,margaret ,abraham1 ,agnes ,r4 ,arnold1 ,elizabeth ,barnhart1 ,grace ,m4 ,bromley1 ,mary ,faye ,durr1 ,alice ,m4 ,hamlet1 ,hester ,harper4 ,total on hand1 ,november #f1 #aibj #hb4be ,,remarks ,the doubling of printing rates makes large contributions imperative if the ,organ is to approach its customary standard4 ,acknowledgments are due the ,woodbee ,press ,club for its exceedingly generous contribution1 and ex-,editor ,renshaw for the mailing of an appeal which has proved most effective in the campaign for funds4 ,emulation of the ,woodbees' generosity by other clubs would save a situation which is very threatening4 ,h4 ,p4 ,,lovecraft1 ,custodian4 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,january #aiba ,,official ,,organ ,,fund ,providence1 ,r4 ,i41 ,april #a1 #aiba4 ,,receipts ,,since ,,november #f1 #aibj ,from ,treasurer1 up to ,april #a1 #aiba #ba4ej ,verna ,mc,geoch 7#c instalments7 #ae4jj ,e4 ,edward ,ericson #aj4jj ,edward ,f4 ,daas #f4jj ,howard ,r4 ,conover #b4jj ,anna ,h4 ,crofts #a4jj ,ernest ,l4 ,mc,keag #a4jj ,john ,milton ,samples #a4jj ,anonymous 4#ge ------- ,balance on ,hand1 ,november #f1 #aibj #hb4be ,received1 ,november #f1 #aibj1 to ,april #a1 #aiba #eh4be ------- ,total ,receipts #adj4ej ,,expenditures ,to ,e4 ,e4 ,ericson1 for ,september ,u4 ,a4 #dh4jj ,to ,e4 ,e4 ,ericson1 for ,november ,u4 ,a4 #dh4jj ,to ,e4 ,e4 ,ericson1 for ,january ,u4 ,a4 #cf4jj ------- ,total ,expenditures #acb4jj ,balance on ,hand1 ,april #a1 #aiba #h4ej ,h4 ,p4 ,,lovecraft1 ,custodian4 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,march #aiba ,winifred ,virginia ,jackson3 ,a ,different ,poetess ,h4 ,p4 ,,lovecraft ,in these days of unrestrained license in poetry1 it would at first sight seem difficult to single out any one bard as the possessor of ideas and modes of expression so unique and original that the overworked adjective different is merited4 ,every poetaster of the modern school claims to be different1 and bases his claim to celebrity upon this difference2 an effect usually achieved by the adoption of a harsh1 amorphous style1 and a tone of analytical1 introspective subjectivity so individual that all the common and universal elements of beauty and poetry are excluded4 ,indeed1 eccentricity has come so completely into fashion1 that he who follows up the wildest vagaries is actually the least different from the hectic scribbling throng about him4 ,but notwithstanding this malady of the times1 there does remain among us an ample field for genius and artistic distinctiveness4 ,the laws of human thought are unchangeable1 and whenever there is born a soul attuned to real harmony1 and inspired by that rare sensitiveness which enables it to feel and express the latent beauty and hidden relationships of ,nature1 the world receives a new poet4 ,such an one will of necessity break through the decadent customs of the period2 and falling back to the forms of true melody1 sing a spontaneous song which can not help being original1 because it represents the unforced reaction of a keen and delicate mind to the panorama of life4 ,and when this reaction is enabled to bring out in the simplest and most beautiful style fancies and images which the world has not received or noted before1 we are justified in claiming that the bard is different4 ,such a bard is ,winifred ,virginia ,jackson1 whose poetry has for six years been the pride of the ,united ,amateur ,press ,association4 ,born in ,maine1 and through childhood accustomed to the mystical spell of the ancient ,new-,england countryside1 ,miss ,jackson for a long period quietly and unconsciously absorbed a prodigious store of beauty and phantasy from life4 ,having no design to become a poet1 she accepted these ethereal gifts as a matter of course2 until about a decade ago they manifested themselves in a burst of spontaneous melody which can best be described as a sheer overflowing of delightful dreams and pictures from a mind filled to the brim with poetic loveliness4 ,since that time ,miss ,jackson has written vast quantities of verse2 always rich and musical1 and if one may speak in paradox1 always artless with supreme art4 ,none of these poems is in any sense premeditated or consciously composed2 they are more like visions of the fancy1 instantaneously photographed for the perception of others1 and unerringly framed in the most appropriate metrical medium4 ,when we peruse the poetry of ,miss ,jackson we are impressed first by its amazing variety1 and almost as quickly by a certain distinctive quality which gives all the varied specimens a kind of homogeneity4 ,as we analyse our impressions1 we find that both of these qualities have a common source--the complete objectivity and almost magical imagination of supreme genius4 ,objectivity and imagination1 the gifts of the epic bards of classical antiquity1 are today the rarest of blessings4 ,we live in an age of morbid emotion and introspectiveness2 wherein the poets1 such as they are1 have sunk to the level of mere pathologists engaged in the dissection of their own ultra-sophisticated spirits4 ,the fresh touch of ,nature is lost to the majority1 and rhymesters rant endlessly and realistically about the relation of man to his fellows and to himself2 overlooking the real foundations of art and beauty--wonder1 and man's relation to the unknown cosmos4 ,but ,miss ,jackson is not of the majority1 and has not overlooked these things4 ,in her the ancient and unspoiled bard is refulgently reincarnated2 and with an amazing universality and freedom from self-consciousness she suppresses the ego completely1 delineating ,nature's diverse moods and aspects with an impersonal fidelity and delicacy which form the delight of the discriminating reader1 and the despair of the stupid critic who works by rule and formula rather than by brain4 ,there is no medium which the spirit of ,miss ,jackson can not inhabit4 ,the same mind which reflects the daintiest and most gorgeous phantasies of the faery world1 or furnishes the most finely wrought pictures or refined pathos and sentiment1 can abruptly take up its abode in some remote ,maine timber region and pour out such a wild1 virile chantey of the woods and the river that we seem to glimpse the singer as the huskiest of a tangle-bearded1 fight-scarred1 loud-shouting logging crew sprawling about a pine campfire4 ,a critic has grouped the poetical work of ,miss ,jackson into six classes3 ,lyrics of ideal beauty1 including delightful ,nature-poems replete with local colour2 delicate amatory lyrics2 rural dialect lyrics and vigorous colloquial pieces2 poems of sparkling optimism2 child verse2 and poems of potent terror and dark suggestion4 ,with her1 he adds1 sordid realism has no place2 and her poems glow with a subtle touch of the fanciful and the supernatural which is well sustained by tasteful and unusual word-combinations1 images1 and onomatopoetic effects4 ,this estimate is confirmed by the latest productions of the poetess1 as we shall endeavour to show by certain specimens lately published or about to be published1 selected almost at random3 ,the ,bonnet is a characteristic bit of ,jacksonian delicacy and originality4 ,we here behold a sustained metaphor of that striking type which the author so frequently creates2 a metaphor which draws on all ,nature and the unseen world for its basis1 and whose analogies are just the ones which please us most1 yet which our own minds are never finely attuned enough to conceive unaided4 ,the swain in the poem tells of his intention to make a bonnet for his chosen nymph to wear4 ,he will fashion it with golden thimble1 scissors1 needle1 thread2 taking velvet from the ,april sky as a groundwork1 stars for trimming1 moonlight for banding1 and a web of dreams for lining4 ,he will scent it with the perfume of the reddest rose that the singing wind finds sweetest where it farthest blows1 and will take it at the twilight for his love to wear4 ,here we have nothing of the bizarre or the conspicuous1 yet in the six little stanzas of quaintly regular metre there is suggested all of that world of faery beauty which the eye can glimpse beyond the leaden clouds of reality2 a world which exists because it can be dreamed of4 ,the poem is different in the truest way2 it is original because it conveys beauty originally in an inconspicuous and harmonious vehicle4 ,but turn now to ,ellsworth to ,great ,pond and marvel6 ,true1 we still find the vivid delineation of human feelings1 but what a distance we have travelled6 ,gone is the young dreamer with his world of moonshine1 for here roars the ,maine lumberjack with all the uncouth vigour and rude natural expressiveness of the living satyr4 ,it is life2 primal1 uncovered1 and unpolished--the ebullient1 shouting vitality of healthy animalism4 ,drink hard cider1 swig hard cider1 ,swill hard cider1 ,boys6 ,throw yer spikers1 throw yer peavies1 ,beller out yer noise6 ,we have drifted from the aether of ,keats to the earth of ,fielding1 yet under the guidance of the same author4 ,greater proof of ,miss ,jackson's absolute objectivity and marvellous imagination could not be produced or asked4 ,yet who shall say that the ,jackson pendulum is powerful only at the extremes of its sweeping arc8 ,in ,workin' ,out we discover a pastoral love-lyric which for quaintness and graphic humanness could not well be surpassed4 ,here the distinctive and spontaneous inventiveness of ,miss ,jackson's fancy is displayed with especial vividness4 ,the rural youth1 workin' out far from his loved ,molly1 enumerates the prosaic chores he can perform with easy heart2 but mentions in each case some more poetic thing which stirs his emotions and gives him loneliness for the absent fair4 ,he can cut and husk corn1 but the golden-rod reminds him of his ,molly's golden hair4 ,he can milk cows1 but the gentian reminds him of his ,molly's blue eyes4 ,aside from their intrinsic ingeniousness1 these images possess an unconscious lesson for the poet who can read it4 ,they expose with concrete illustrations the fallacy of the so-called new poetry1 which disregards the natural division between beautiful and unbeautiful things and rhapsodises as effusively over a sewer-pipe as over the crescent moon4 ,the ,token exhibits ,miss ,jackson in her airiest lyrical mood2 a mood original because it possesses the rare lyrism of pure music and fancy rather than the common lyrism of unsubtilised emotion4 ,there is bounding music in thought and medium alike1 whilst the naive plunge into the theme without introduction or explanation is a stroke savouring of the simplicity of genius4 ,equally effective is the simple metrical transition whereby the chorus assumes the trochaic measure of a childhood chant or carol3 ,lightly ,o1 brightly ,o1 ,down the long lane she will go6 ,dancing she1 glancing she1 ,down the lane with eyes aglow6 ,in ,assurance and ,it's ,lovetime1 the author displays a lyrical fervour of more conventional type2 adding the touch of originality by means of melodious simplicity and reiteration in the one case1 and pure lyric ecstasy in the other4 ,the metrical originality of ,miss ,jackson1 displayed in all classes of her work1 should not be slighted amidst the enthusiasm one entertains for her magical mastery of thoughts and images4 ,no other conservative poet of the period is more versatile and individual in choice of numbers1 or in adaptation of measure to mood4 ,driftwood1 a wonderfully original poem of imagination describing the fancies which arise from the smoke of logs wafted from far mysterious lands where once the trees grew under strange suns1 moons1 and rainbows1 is as remarkable in form as in idea4 ,one may judge by a sample pair of stanzas3 ,you warm your hands ,and smile ,before the fire of driftwood4 ,i feel old lands' ,wan guile ,that writhes in fire of driftwood4 ,we have so far viewed poetry which would lead us to classify ,miss ,jackson as a delineator of moods rather than of character2 yet knowing her versatility1 we naturally expect to find among her works some potent character studies4 ,nor are we disappointed4 ,joe1 a song of the ,maine woods1 describes in admirably appropriate verbiage--as simple and as nearly monosyllabic as possible--the typical ,anglo-,saxon stoic of far places1 who faces comfort and disaster1 life and death1 with the same unemotional attitude which ,miss ,jackson sums up so skilfully in the one ejaculatory bit of colloquial indifference--,dunno6 ,the ,song of ,jonny ,laughlin is a highly unusual ballad relating the history of a peculiarly good and self-sacrificing river character4 ,the story is simple1 but the piece gains distinctiveness from its absolutely faithful reproduction of the spirit of frontier balladry4 ,in words1 swing1 and weird refrain1 there exists every internal evidence of traditional authenticity2 and that such a bit of ,nature could be composed by a cultivated feminine author is an overwhelming testimonial to ,miss ,jackson's unique gifts4 ,that ,miss ,jackson can reflect the spirit of the most dissimilar characters is further proved by the two immensely powerful studies of the vagabond type entitled ,the ,call and ,john ,worthington ,speaks4 ,these things are masterpieces of their kind2 the self-revealing narratives of restless wanderers by land and sea1 crammed to repletion with details and local colour which no one but their author could command without actual experience as a derelict of five continents and as many oceans4 ,they leave the reader veritably breathless with wonder at the objectivity and imagination which can enable a ,new-,england poetess to mirror with such compelling vividness in thought and language the sentiments of so utterly opposite a type4 ,not even the narrowly specialised genius of such rough-and-ready writers as ,service and ,knibbs1 working in their own peculiar field1 can surpass this one slight phase of ,miss ,jackson's universal genius4 ,it remains to speak of the singular power of ,miss ,jackson in the realm of the gruesome and the terrible4 ,with that same sensitiveness to the unseen and the unreal which lends witchery to her gayer productions1 she has achieved in darker fields of verse results inviting comparison with the best prose work of ,ambrose ,bierce or ,maurice ,level4 ,among her older poems the ghastly and colourful phantasy ,insomnia and the grimly realistic rustic tragedy ,chores excited especial praise1 a critic referring as follows to the latter piece3 ,it has all the compelling power which marks ,miss ,jackson's darker productions1 and is conveyed in an arresting staccato measure which emphasises the homely horror of the theme4 ,the phraseology1 with its large proportion of rural and archaic words and constructions1 adds vastly to the general effect and atmosphere4 ,this reference to ,miss ,jackson's unusual vocabulary deserves elaboration1 for one of the secrets of her effective poetry is the wide and diverse array of words and word-combinations which she commands4 ,recondite archaisms and ruralisms1 together with marvellously apt and original descriptive compounds1 are things which perpetually astonish and delight her readers4 ,of recent specimens of ,miss ,jackson's darker verse1 ,finality1 ,the ,song and ,fallen ,fences deserve especial praise4 ,the horrible picture conjured up in the closing lines of the first named piece is one well calculated to haunt the dreams of the imaginative4 ,as we conclude this survey of rich and varied poetry1 our dominant impression aside from admiration is that of wonder at the tardiness with which the author has been recognised by the non-amateur public4 ,as yet the name of ,jackson is a comparative novelty to the literary world1 a thing explainable only by the reluctance of its possessor to adopt that species of trumpeting which helps less modest and less genuine poets into the glare of celebrity4 ,but genius such as ,miss ,jackson's can not remain forever hidden1 however slight be her striving for fame2 so that we may reasonably expect the next few years to witness her establishment among the leading literary figures1 as one of the ablest1 broadest and most original of contemporary bards4 ,ex ,oblivione ,,ward ,,phillips ,when the last days were upon me1 and the ugly trifles of existence began to drive me to madness like the small drops of water that torturers let fall ceaselessly upon one spot of their victim's body1 ,i loved the irradiate refuge of sleep4 ,in my dreams ,i found a little of the beauty ,i had vainly sought in life1 and wandered through old gardens and enchanted woods4 ,once when the wind was soft and scented ,i heard the south calling1 and sailed endlessly and languorously under strange stars4 ,once when the gentle rain fell ,i glided in a barge down a sunless stream under the earth till ,i reached another world of purple twilight1 iridescent arbours and undying roses4 ,and once ,i walked through a golden valley that led to shadowy groves and ruins1 and ended in a mighty wall green with antique vines1 and pierced by a little gate of bronze4 ,many times ,i walked through that valley1 and longer and longer would ,i pause in the spectral half-light where the giant trees squirmed and twisted grotesquely1 and the grey ground stretched damply from trunk to trunk1 sometimes disclosing the mould-stained stones of buried temples4 ,and always the goal of my fancies was the mighty vine-grown wall with the little gate of bronze therein4 ,after a while1 as the days of waking became less and less bearable from their greyness and sameness1 ,i would often drift in opiate peace through the valley and the shadowy groves1 and wonder how ,i might seize them for my eternal dwelling-place1 so that ,i need no more crawl back to a dull world stript of interest and new colours4 ,and as ,i looked upon the little gate in the mighty wall1 ,i felt that beyond it lay a dream-country from which1 once it was entered1 there would be no return4 ,so each night in sleep ,i strove to find the hidden latch of the gate in the ivied antique wall1 though it was exceedingly well-hidden4 ,and ,i would tell myself that the realm beyond the wall was not more lasting merely1 but more lovely and radiant as well4 ,then one night in the dream-city of ,zakarion ,i found a yellowed papyrus filled with the thoughts of dream-sages who dwelt of old in that city1 and who were too wise ever to be born in the waking world4 ,therein were written many things concerning the world of dream1 and among them was lore of a golden valley and a sacred grove with temples1 and a high wall pierced by a little bronze gate4 ,when ,i saw this lore1 ,i knew that it touched on the scenes ,i had haunted1 and ,i therefore read long in the yellowed papyrus4 ,some of the dream-sages wrote gorgeously of the wonders beyond the irrepassable gate1 but others told of horror and disappointment4 ,i knew not which to believe1 yet longed more and more to cross forever into the unknown land2 for doubt and secrecy are the lure of lures1 and no new horror can be more terrible than the daily torture of the commonplace4 ,so when ,i learned of the drug which would unlock the gate and drive me through1 ,i resolved to take it when next ,i awaked4 ,last night ,i swallowed the drug and floated dreamily into the golden valley and the shadowy groves2 and when ,i came this time to the antique wall1 ,i saw that the small gate of bronze was ajar4 ,from beyond came a glow that weirdly lit the giant twisted trees and tops of the buried temples1 and ,i drifted on songfully1 expectant of the glories of the land from whence ,i should never return4 ,but as the gate swung wider and the sorcery of drug and dream pushed me through1 ,i knew that all sights and glories were at an end2 for in that new realm was neither land nor sea1 but only the white void of unpeopled and illimitable space4 ,so1 happier than ,i had ever dared hope to be1 ,i dissolved again into that native infinity of crystal oblivion from which the daemon ,life had called me for one brief and desolate hour4 ,,official ,,organ ,,fund ,providence1 ,r4 ,i41 ,july #a1 #aiba4 ,,receipts ,,since ,,april #a1 #aiba ,from ,treasurer1 up to ,july #a1 #aiba #ah4ej ,verna ,mc,geoch 7#b instalments7 #aj4jj ,e4 ,edward ,ericson #aj4jj ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,leo ,fritter #b4jj ,john ,milton ,samples #a4jj ,balance on ,hand1 ,april #a1 #aiba #h4ej ------ ,total ,receipts #ej4jj ,,expenditures ,to ,e4 ,e4 ,ericson1 for ,march ,u4 ,a4 #df4jj ,balance on ,hand1 ,july #a1 #aiba #d4jj ,h4 ,p4 ,,lovecraft1 ,custodian4 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,september #aiba ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,official ,organ of the ,,united ,,amateur ,,press ,,association ,h4 ,p4 ,,lovecraft ,official ,editor ,e4 ,,edward ,,ericson ,official ,publisher ,issued bi-monthly by the ,united ,amateur ,press ,association4 ,subscription ,price1 #ej cents per year4 ,published at ,elroy1 ,wisconsin4 ,entered as second-class mail matter at the post office at ,elroy1 ,wis4 ,,september #aiba 99 99 99 99 99 ,,official ,,board ,president--,mrs4 ,ida ,c4 ,haughton1 #acgb ,e4 ,long ,st41 ,columbus1 ,ohio4 ,first ,vice-,president--,frank ,belknap ,long1 ,jr41 #hbc ,west ,end ,ave41 ,new ,york ,city4 ,second ,vice-,president--,eleanor ,beryl ,north1 #caf ,beaver ,ave41 ,state ,college1 ,pa4 ,secretary-,treasurer--,alma ,b4 ,sanger1 #ffg ,lilley ,ave41 ,columbus1 ,ohio4 ,official ,editor--,h4 ,p4 ,lovecraft1 #eih ,angell ,st41 ,providence1 ,r4 ,i4 ,official ,publisher--,e4 ,edward ,ericson1 ,elroy1 ,wis4 ,laureate ,recorder--,howard ,r4 ,conover1 ,route #a1 ,cozaddale1 ,ohio4 ,manuscript ,manager--,grace ,m4 ,bromley1 #adcb ,r ,st41 ,n4 ,w41 ,washington1 ,d4 ,c4 ,historian--,myrta ,alice ,little1 ,westville1 ,n4 ,h4 ,supervisor of ,amendments--7,to be appointed47 ,directors--,paul ,j4 ,campbell1 ,route #b1 ,ridgefarm1 ,ill42 ,anne ,t4 ,renshaw1 #baji ,f ,st41 ,n4 ,w41 ,washington1 ,d4 ,c42 ,jay ,fuller ,spoerri1 #cjd ,house ,office ,bldg41 ,washington1 ,d4 ,c4 ,department of ,public ,criticism--,alfred ,galpin1 ,jr41 ,chairman1 #hcj ,w4 ,johnson ,st41 ,madison1 ,wis4 ,department of ,private ,criticism--,maurice ,w4 ,moe1 ,chairman1 #bhab ,chestnut ,st41 ,milwaukee1 ,wis4 ,recruiting ,committee--,frank ,belknap ,long1 ,jr41 ,chairman1 ,paul ,j4 ,campbell1 ,leo ,fritter1 ,alfred ,l4 ,hutchinson1 ,gavin ,t4 ,mc,coll1 ,maurice ,w4 ,moe4 ,ladies' ,auxiliary ,committee--,eleanor ,beryl ,north1 ,chairman1 ,mary ,faye ,durr1 ,jennie ,eva ,harris1 ,winifred ,virginia ,jackson1 ,margaret ,mahon1 ,anne ,t4 ,renshaw4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,laureate ,,titles ,poetry--,s4 ,lilian ,mc,mullen2 ,honourable ,mention1 ,mary ,carver ,williams4 ,story--,h4 ,p4 ,lovecraft2 ,honourable ,mention1 ,alfred ,galpin1 ,jr4 ,essay--,anna ,helen ,crofts and ,h4 ,p4 ,lovecraft2 ,honourable ,mention1 ,alfred ,galpin1 ,jr4 ,editorial--7,to be awarded47 99 99 99 99 99 ,,literati ,poetry--,arthur ,goodenough1 ,olive ,g4 ,owen 7deceased74 ,story--,eleanor ,barnhart ,campbell4 ,editorial--,h4 ,p4 ,lovecraft4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,information ,amateur ,journalism is for those who cultivate literature from taste or attachment1 for those who write for the love of writing1 for those who pursue the art of letters for its own sake4 ,they may or may not be engaged 7or aspire to be engaged7 in authorship as a business1 but those who are members of that profession will undoubtedly find in ,amateur ,journalism the air of freedom which develops personality in writing4 ,they will find every encouragement to self-development1 amid an environment of art4 ,amateur ,journalism is for all those who do literary work for the love of it4 ,the privileges of the ,united ,amateur ,press ,association are3 ,the use of the ,manuscript ,bureau and the columns of the papers connected with the ,association2 the ,official ,organ2 attendance at ,conventions2 proxy representation at elections2 laureate competitions1 etc4 ,any person who edits or contributes prose or poetry to any amateur paper is eligible to membership4 ,application for membership must be accompanied by one dollar dues and a printed or written credential4444 ,if rejected1 dues will be returned4 ,renewal or reinstatement fee is two dollars4 ,applicants for membership should address their applications1 with credential and dues1 to the ,secretary1 ,miss ,alma ,b4 ,sanger1 #ffg ,lilley ,ave41 ,columbus1 ,ohio4 ,any person wishing to become connected with the ,association without furnishing a credential or becoming active1 may upon payment of two dollars be enrolled as a sustaining member for one year4 ,a sustaining member shall be entitled to all the privileges of active membership except the right to vote or hold office4 ,laureate entries shall be poem1 story1 essay and editorial4 ,entries must be printed in an amateur paper1 and a marked copy sent to the ,laureate ,recorder by ,june #a4 ,anyone desiring application blanks for recruiting may receive them by applying to the ,secretary4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,important ,members are urged to remember the recent doubling of dues1 whereby all renewals became ,two ,dollars each4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the fullest of apologies is due the membership for the lateness of this issue of ,,the ,,united ,,amateur4 ,a prostrating and overwhelming flood of professional duties1 coupled with a state of health permitting only the shortest of working hours1 has forced the editor to delay transmission of this copy to the publisher until ,november #d3 a date which should be remembered in justice to the latter official1 who is equally handicapped in the matter of conflicting duties4 ,,the ,,editor ,editorial ,in the excellent ,october ,woodbee1 ,mr4 ,leo ,fritter criticises with much force the attempt of the present editor to conduct ,,the ,,united ,,amateur on a tolerably civilised plane4 ,he points out that the appearance of a journal representing a fairly uniform maturity of thought and artistic development may perhaps tend to discourage those newer aspirants who have not yet attained their full literary stature1 and thus defeat the educational ends of the ,association4 ,mr4 ,fritter gathers his material for complaint from the opinions of certain amateurs with whom he has held communication1 and on this basis alleges a wide-spreading dissatisfaction with the present editorial policy4 ,we have ourselves received numerous and enthusiastic assurances of an opposite nature1 especially since the ,fritter attack1 so that we must rebut at least his charge that we are ignoring the membership's wishes and trying to conform them to a mould we have arbitrarily cast according to ideas of our own4 ,to adopt a lower standard would1 indeed1 be affronting a more influential element than that which may at present be dissatisfied2 an element which has possibly gained higher claims to consideration through the continuous nature of its services to the ,association during trying times when others were silent and inactive4 ,but in determining the question of editorial policy1 the abstract merits of the case are more important than the act of pleasing this or that person or group4 ,were we convinced that the existing order hampered the sincere novice1 we would abandon it without pride or ceremony4 ,that we do not1 is because we are certain that retrogression and decadence would constitute a fatal mistake4 ,the public we serve is assumed to be a genuinely progressive one1 a group bent upon attaining some measure of proficiency in that sincere self-expression which is art4 ,if it were not1 it would have joined some other association of different purposes--the defiantly crude ,erford pseudo-,united or the complacently social and stationary ,national4 ,what justifies the separate existence and support of the ,united is its higher aesthetic and intellectual cast2 its demand for the unqualified best as a goal--which demand1 by the way1 must not be construed as discriminating against even the crudest beginner who honestly cherishes that goal4 ,with these objects in mind1 it will be seen that the self-satisfied exultation of the superficial1 the obvious1 the commonplace1 and the conventional1 would form the greatest possible tactical error4 ,the goal would be unjustifiably obscured1 and the aspiration of the membership stunted1 through the enshrining of a false and inferior goal--a literary ,golden ,calf4 ,we must envisage a genuine scale of values1 and possess a model of genuine excellence toward which to strive4 ,it would pay better to work toward a high standard oneself1 than to seek to drag the standard down to fit whatever particular grade of ignorance one may happen to have at a given moment4 ,with proper effort any member may eventually produce work of the ,,united ,,amateur grade1 and such work will be certain of a cordial welcome in this office4 ,the official organ is not so narrow as it seems2 if more of our capable members would favour it with their literary contributions1 the range of authors represented would not be so restricted4 ,it is not the editor but the body of our literati who must bear responsibility for the constant reappearance of certain names4 ,this issue is headed by the same poet who headed the last two--but only because another eminent amateur1 so far unrepresented during the present regime1 utterly ignored our repeated requests for a contribution4 ,mr4 ,fritter--who1 ,i fear1 wrongs etymology in his acceptance of the word amateur as meaning a tyro rather than a genuine and disinterested artist--forgets that a relapse to cruder standards would totally unfit the ,united for serving that staunch element which has contributed most to its present welfare4 ,many would find a society of the lower grade intolerable2 certainly it could not hope to hold the very ones who have given this organization its existing distinctiveness and pre-eminence4 ,yet in the arguments of ,mr4 ,fritter there is an underlying soundness which misapplication should not obscure to the analytical reader4 ,he is right in lamenting1 as we believe he does1 the absence of a suitable publishing medium for the work of our younger writers4 ,it is not in a spirit of affront to him that we give preference to the plan of ,president ,haughton1 as outlined in her opening message1 for the re-establishment of a special magazine for credentials4 ,we should be glad to curtail the official organ in the interest of such a magazine1 as indeed we offered to do at the beginning of the term4 ,frustra laborat1 says the old proverb1 qui omnibus placere studet4 ,we regret that any one policy must of necessity displease a few members1 yet do not see how any improvement could be effected by making a change which would merely shift the displeasure to another and even more continuously industrious group4 ,it is significant that the ,gothic party have no editorial candidate of their own to offer1 so that the thankless and toilsome office has been forced upon one whose indifferent health makes it an almost unbearable burden to him4 ,the question is one which should ultimately be decided at the polls1 each party putting forward a nominee who can be depended upon to fulfil its mandates4 ,meanwhile the present editor1 whose sincere beliefs and policies were fully known long before his unopposed election1 stands ready to resign most cheerfully whenever a suitable successor can be found4 ,bitterness1 division and personalities must be avoided at any cost1 and we may be reckoned as a supporter of ,,the ,,united ,,amateur under any editor and policy4 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,november #aiba ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,official ,organ of the ,,united ,,amateur ,,press ,,association ,h4 ,p4 ,,lovecraft ,official ,editor ,e4 ,,edward ,,ericson ,official ,publisher ,issued bi-monthly by the ,united ,amateur ,press ,association4 ,subscription ,price1 #ej cents per year4 ,published at ,elroy1 ,wisconsin4 ,entered as second-class mail matter at the post office at ,elroy1 ,wis4 99 99 99 99 99 ,members who criticised the present editor for severity during the chairmanship of the critical department are invited to take a vicarious revenge this month1 observing the uncensored remarks of the present juvenile chairman concerning our pathetic ignorance4 ,of us ,master ,galpin says3 when the author approaches involved or technical subjects1 he shows clearly the unfortunate circumstance that he has never profited by an advanced education4 ,this certainly should purge us of all suspicion of conducting ,,the ,,united ,,amateur on too ,olympian a level1 although the critic qualifies his dictum by conceding that we realise our own crudity and are striving in our old age to acquire at least the rudiments of an elementary education4 ,in the course of a few years we hope to guarantee our readers an official organ practically free from the grosser errors of spelling and grammar3 meanwhile1 vivat ,galpinius parvulus6 99 99 99 99 99 ,myrta ,alice ,little1 ,eugene ,b4 ,kuntz1 ,leo ,g4 ,schussman1 ,margaret ,richard1 ,daisy ,crump ,whitehead1 ,clara ,l4 ,bell1 ,john ,o4 ,baldwin1 and the ,editor4 ,the ,tryout4 ,october #aiba4 ,uniform size4 ,contributions by ,h4 ,p4 ,lovecraft1 ,margaret ,richard1 ,beth ,cheney ,nichols1 ,arthur ,goodenough1 ,k4 ,leyson ,brown1 ,horace ,l4 ,lawson1 ,john ,milton ,samples1 ,washington ,van ,dusen1 ,leo ,g4 ,schussman1 ,lilian ,middleton1 ,anita ,roberta ,kirksey1 and the ,editor4 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur4 ,march #aiba4 ,official ,organ of the ,united ,amateur ,press ,association4 #ad ,pages and cover4 #gaj4 ,contributions by ,winifred ,virginia ,jackson1 ,lilian ,middleton1 ,frank ,belknap ,long1 ,jr41 ,j4 ,e4 ,hoag1 ,anna ,h4 ,crofts1 ,eleanor ,beryl ,north1 ,ward ,phillips1 and the ,editor1 ,h4 ,p4 ,lovecraft4 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur4 ,may #aiba4 #h pages4 #gaj4 ,contributions by ,lilian ,middleton1 ,alfred ,galpin1 ,jr41 ,eugene ,b4 ,kuntz1 ,margaret ,mahon1 ,winifred ,virginia ,jackson1 and ,adam ,harold ,brown4 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur4 ,july #aiba4 #f pages4 #gaj4 ,contributions by ,lilian ,middleton and ,myrta ,alice ,little4 ,the ,united ,co-,operative4 ,april #aiba4 #af pages4 #fi4 ,contributions by ,lilian ,middleton1 ,elizabeth ,berkeley and ,lewis ,theobald1 ,jr41 ,w4 ,edwin ,gibson1 ,john ,c4 ,pryor1 ,h4 ,p4 ,lovecraft1 ,samuel ,loveman1 ,eugene ,b4 ,kuntz4 ,published under the auspices of the ,u4 ,a4 ,p4 ,a4 by the following members3 ,anne ,tillery ,renshaw1 ,rev4 ,john ,clinton ,pryor1 ,w4 ,edwin ,gibson1 ,h4 ,p4 ,lovecraft4 ,the ,woodbee4 ,october #aiba4 #af pages and cover4 #eg4 ,contributions by ,bess ,ballou1 ,alma ,b4 ,sanger1 ,norma ,helena ,marie ,sanger1 ,leo ,fritter1 ,edna ,m4 ,haughton1 ,peggy ,hepner ,fritter1 ,henriette ,ziegfeld1 and the ,president1 ,ida ,c4 ,haughton4 ,official ,organ of the ,woodbee ,press ,club1 ,columbus1 ,ohio4 ,ziegfeld's ,follies4 ,september #aiba4 #a page4 #eh4 ,contributions by the ,editor1 ,arthur ,f4 ,ziegfeld4 ,ziegfeld's ,follies4 ,october #aiba4 #d pages4 ,uniform size4 ,contributions by ,ida ,c4 ,haughton1 ,leo ,fritter1 and the ,editor1 ,arthur ,f4 ,ziegfeld4 ,,myrta ,,alice ,,little1 ,historian4 ,,official ,,organ ,,fund ,providence1 ,r4 ,i41 ,december #bi1 #aiba4 ,on ,hand1 ,july #a1 #aiba #d4jj ,,receipts ,,since ,,july #a ,sonia ,h4 ,greene #ej4jj ,from ,treasury1 up to ,dec4 #bi1 #aiba #da4fj ,h4 ,p4 ,lovecraft #ae4dj ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,leo ,fritter #f4jj ,howard ,r4 ,conover #e4jj ,woodbee ,press ,club #e4jj ,theodore ,d4 ,gottlieb #a4jj ,ida ,c4 ,haughton #a4jj ------- ,total ,receipts #abi4jj ,,expenditures ,to ,e4 ,e4 ,ericson1 for ,may ,u4 ,a4 #bd4jj ,to ,e4 ,e4 ,ericson1 for ,july ,u4 ,a4 #ah4jj ,to ,e4 ,e4 ,ericson1 for ,sept4 ,u4 ,a4 #cf4jj ,to ,e4 ,e4 ,ericson1 for ,nov4 ,u4 ,a4 #cf4jj ------- ,total ,expenditures #aad4jj ,balance on ,hand1 ,december #bi1 #aiba #ae4jj ,h4 ,p4 ,,lovecraft1 ,custodian4 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,january #aibb ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,official ,organ of the ,,united ,,amateur ,,press ,,association ,h4 ,p4 ,,lovecraft ,official ,editor ,e4 ,,edward ,,ericson ,official ,publisher ,issued bi-monthly by the ,united ,amateur ,press ,association4 ,subscription ,price1 #ej cents per year4 ,published at ,elroy1 ,wisconsin4 ,entered as second-class mail matter at the post office at ,elroy1 ,wis4 ,editorial ,amidst the prevailing efforts of a small but pugnacious group to liven up the ,united through attacks on the ,official ,organ1 a few basic principles should be remembered by those who stand in bewilderment4 ,our constitution does not define the functions of ,,the ,,united ,,amateur beyond making imperative the publication of certain official documents4 ,the rest is left to an unwritten combination of tradition and editorial judgment4 ,any editor1 once elected1 is absolutely in control of the magazine aside from the essential official matter2 his only external obligation being a tacit recognition of the prevailing objects of the ,association4 ,in the present case a narrow circle of agitators seems to be seeking political capital by accusing the editor of placing too high an estimate on the membership and purposes of the ,united4 ,since the whole development of the ,association is involved in this matter1 it is important that a prompt and perfect understanding be reached4 ,the opinions of all members should be known1 and if the editor finds that he has been in error1 he will be glad to arrange for the accommodation of the ,organ to the wishes of the majority4 ,up to the present time1 despite the florid overstatements of the few who are trying to work up a new and wholly artificial dissatisfaction1 this office has received not so much as one complaint as to policy save from the two politicians who are seeking to lower the ,united's standards4 ,endorsements as to the existing policy have been many1 and as long as these remain so tremendously in the ,majority1 it would be a betrayal of trust to make a change to please a tiny group4 ,if there are those who differ1 why do they not speak8 ,since truth is the only perfect clarifier when politics seeks to becloud1 it is necessary that the editor state his policy here and now with the utmost candour4 ,shorn of all irrelevant things1 that policy is simply the maintenance of those standards established in the ,united by the departure of the chronically political element in #aiab4 ,prior to that time the ,official ,organ was mainly a bulletin of reports3 not1 as the present agitators would imply1 a repository for indiscriminate amateur writings4 ,the standard developed since then is the creation of no one person1 but a logical outgrowth of the rising calibre of a vital and progressive society4 ,it is neither one of favouritism nor one of autocracy2 but merely one of stimulation4 ,it is an embodiment of the ,united's desire to let the ,official ,organ exemplify the members' progress by using the best available material4 ,no genuine aspirant has ever been frowned upon1 or so far as we know given any ground for discouragement4 ,the ,organ is a beckoner and encourager1 designed to inspire the members to renewed efforts to produce work worthy of symbolising the ,united4 ,would anyone so far insult the ,association as to wish its official exponent to cater to that type of mediocrity which neither improves nor wishes to improve8 ,our columns are open to all who toil for the fruits of art1 and statements to the contrary cannot be interpreted as other than irresponsibly ignorant or craftily misrepresentative4 ,while insistence on a certain degree of merit is of course necessary1 it is not true that ,,the ,,united ,,amateur makes any arbitrary restrictions4 ,the ,organ was not designed for the publication of various members' work1 nor is access to its columns one of the special objects of membership1 as certain agitators are artfully intimating4 ,but notwithstanding those technical points1 all proficient writers are welcome4 ,it is illuminating1 in view of the prevalent loose statements1 to reflect that throughout the present editor's service not more than three manuscripts have been rejected2 and that even these three were or will be elsewhere placed4 ,those seeking an ,associational disturbance will not scruple to take advantage of every outward appearance which seems to favour them--unavoidable delays1 spatial limitations1 and other things interfering with prompt publication of all matter offered to this office4 ,the present editor will be denounced as a tyrant by elements attempting to degrade standards which he did not establish6 ,the life and well-being of the ,united are at stake1 and it is imperative that the membership exercise the most careful and independent reflection before accepting the views of radicals bent on retrogressive experiments4 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,march #aibb ,,official ,,organ ,,fund ,providence1 ,r4 ,i41 ,april #be1 #aibb4 ,on ,hand1 ,december #bi1 #aiba #ae4jj ,,receipts ,,since ,,december #bi ,from ,treasury1 up to ,april #be #ca4jj ,woodbee ,press ,club #aj4jj ,h4 ,p4 ,lovecraft #g4jj ,anonymous #e4jj ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,leo ,fritter #b4jj ,ida ,c4 ,haughton #b4jj ------ ,total ,receipts #gb4jj ,,expenditures ,to ,e4 ,e4 ,ericson1 for ,january ,u4 ,a4 #cf4jj ,to ,e4 ,e4 ,ericson1 for ,march ,u4 ,a4 #cf4jj ------ ,total ,expenditures #gb4jj ,balance on ,hand1 ,april #be1 #aibb ,none ,h4 ,p4 ,,lovecraft1 ,custodian4 ,,the ,,united ,,amateur ,,may #aibb ,,official ,,organ ,,fund ,providence1 ,r4 ,i41 ,june #bc1 #aibb4 ,on ,hand1 ,april #be1 #aibb ,none ,receipts ,since ,april #be ,from ,treasury1 up to ,june #bc #bh4jj ,alfred ,galpin1 ,jr4 #f4jj ,woodbee ,press ,club #e4jj ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,leo ,fritter #b4jj ------ ,total ,receipts #da4jj ,expenditures ,to ,e4 ,e4 ,ericson1 for ,may ,u4 ,a4 #bd4jj ,balance on ,hand1 ,june #bc1 #aibb #ag4jj ,h4 ,p4 ,,lovecraft1 ,custodian4 ,at the ,home of ,poe ,a ,poem in ,prose ,to ,h4 ,p4 ,lovecraft ,,frank ,,belknap ,,long1 ,,jr4 ,the home of ,poe6 ,it is like a fairy dwelling1 a gnomic palace built of the aether of dreams4 ,it is tiny and delicate and lovely1 and replete with memories of sere leaves in ,november and of lilies in ,april4 ,it is a castle of vanished hopes1 of dimly-remembered dreams1 of sad memories older than the deluge4 ,the dead years circle slowly and solemnly around its low white walls1 and clothe it in a mystic veil of unseen tears4 ,and many marvellous stories could this quaint little old house tell1 many weird and cryptic stories of him of the ,raven hair1 and high1 pallid brow1 and sad1 sweet face1 and melancholy mien2 and of the beloved ,virginia1 that sweet child of a thousand magic visions1 child of the lonesome1 pale-gray latter years1 child of the soft and happy ,south4 ,and how the dreamer of the spheres must have loved this strange little house4 ,every night the hollow boards of its porch must have echoed to his footfall1 and every morn the great rising sun must have sent its rays through the little window1 and bathed the lovely tresses of the dream-child in mystical yellow4 ,and perhaps there was laughter within the walls of that house--laughter and merriment and singing4 ,but we know that the ,evil ,one came at last1 the grim humourless spectre who loves not beauty1 and is not of this world4 ,and we know that the house of youth and of love became a house of death1 and that memories bitter as the tears of a beautiful woman assailed the dreamer within4 ,and at last he himself left that house of mourning and sought solace among the stars4 ,but the house remains a vision out of a magical book2 a thing seen darkly as in a looking-glass2 but lovely beyond the dreams of mortals1 and ineffably sad4 ,transcriber's ,notes3 ,minor typographical errors have been corrected without note4 ,significant amendments1 author's corrections and further notes have been recorded below4 ,american and ,british forms of typography1 in addition to variant1 dialect and archaic spellings1 have been retained except where obvious errors exist4 ,author's ,corrections3 p4 #ad1 see p4 #cj for details3 'long' corrected to longer4 p4 #di1 see p4 #fj for details3 'sublime' corrected to sublimer2 'star's' corrected to stars2 'father's' corrected to fathers2 'hollow'd' corrected to hallow'd4 ,transcriber's ,amendments3 p4 #g1 'insanity' amended to inanity3 'triteness and inanity'2 'permissable' amended to permissible3 'permissible clause'2 'breath' amended to breadth3 'present moderate breadth'4 p4 #h1 'woud' amended to would3 'would do much'2 'editorials' amended to editorial3 ',mr ,stokes' editorial'2 'istincts' amended to instincts3 'in our instincts'2 'amateurs' amended to amateur3 'in amateur circles'4 p4 #i1 'from' amended to form3 ',credentials form the'4 p4 #aa1 'scacely' amended to scarcely3 'but scarcely equal'2 'colums' amended to columns3 ',coyote's editorial columns'4 p4 #ab1 ',sappo' amended to ,sappho3 ',to ,sappho1 by ,olive ,g4 ,owen'4 p4 #ac1 ',morrish' amended to ,moorish3 'old ,moorish ,spain'4 p4 #ad1 ',houghton' amended to ,haughton3 ',edna ,mitchell ,haughton's'4 p4 #ae1 ',,derartment' amended to ,,department3 ',,department ,,of ,,public'2 'witheld' amended to withheld3 'merely withheld from'4 p4 #af1 added is3 'no praise is needed'2 ',niagra' amended to ,niagara3 ',visit to ,niagara'2 'wormth' amended to warmth3 'and genuine warmth'2 ',weeks' amended to ,week3 ',history of an ,eight-,week-,old'4 p4 #ag1 'advantage' amended to advantages3 'advantages 444 are many'4 p4 #ah1 'pronounciation' amended to pronunciation3 ',new ,york pronunciation'2 ',mrs4' amended to ,mr41 referring to ,ricardo ,santiago4 p4 #ai1 'phenomerally' amended to phenomenally3 'phenomenally pure'2 ',hennesey' amended to ,hennessey3 ',james ,j4 ,hennessey'4 p4 #bj1 'bestrown' amended to bestrewn3 'is bestrewn with slang'4 p4 #be1 'away' amended to way3 'giving way to'4 p4 #bi1 'techique' amended to technique3 'plot and technique'4 p4 #cc1 ',heindall's' amended to ,heimdall's4 p4 #cd1 ',heindall' amended to ,heimdall2 ',sehrimner' amended to ,sehrimnir3 'the boar ,sehrimnir'4 p4 #ce1 ',jordon' amended to ,jordan 7#c instances72 'inconsistancy 444 is' amended to inconsistency 444 it3 'inconsistency1 but it seems'2 'a' amended to of3 'rank as a poet is of very high tone'4 p4 #cf1 'beautful' amended to beautiful3 'delicately beautiful'2 'posessive' amended to possessive3 'possessive case'2 'ungramatical' amended to ungrammatical3 'by the ungrammatical'2 ',harington' amended to ,harrington3 ',william ,t4 ,harrington'2 'abnorman pschology' amended to abnormal psychology2 'letre' amended to metre3 'tuneful metre'2 ',chrismas' amended to ,christmas3 ',christmas number'2 ',jordon' amended to ,jordan3 ',winifred ,v4 ,jordan's'4 p4 #cg1 'propertly' amended to properly3 'be properly welcomed'2 'throught' amended to through3 'recording thought through'4 p4 #ch1 ',buterfly' amended to ,butterfly3 ',to a ,butterfly'2 ',jordon' amended to ,jordan3 ',winifred ,v4 ,jordan'2 'con-conception' amended to conception3 'his conception of'4 p4 #ci1 'classoical' amended to classical3 'more classical myths'2 added by3 'also by ,mr4 ,cole'2 'beautful' amended to beautiful3 'many beautiful passages'2 'physhological' amended to psychological3 'a psychological as'2 'dignnity' amended to dignity3 'humility and dignity'2 'gramatical' amended to grammatical3 'of grammatical or'4 p4 #dj1 ',emile' amended to ,emilie3 ',emilie ,c4 ,holladay'2 'ocasional' amended to occasional3 'the occasional metrical'2 ',jordon' amended to ,jordan3 ',winifred ,v4 ,jordan'2 ',willam' amended to ,william3 ',william de ,ryee'2 'technicly' amended to technically3 'are technically no'2 ',canvass' amended to ,canvas3 'the ,canvas ,wall'2 'but is' amended to is but3 'novel is but a'4 p4 #da1 'mosiac' amended to mosaic3 'skillful mosaic of'2 'unaquainted' amended to unacquainted3 'totally unacquainted'2 'embarassed' amended to embarrassed3 'a little embarrassed'4 p4 #db1 'staza' amended to stanza3 'first stanza might'4 p4 #dc1 'pharse' amended to phrase3 'the awkward phrase'2 'ryhthm' amended to rhythm3 'swinging dactylic rhythm'2 'uder' amended to under3 'coat under the wayside'4 p4 #dd1 'develope' amended to develop3 'all develop naturally'2 ',macauly' amended to ,macauley3 ',george ,w4 ,macauley'4 p4 #de1 'pratically' amended to practically3 'for practically all'2 'amatuer' amended to amateur3 'professionalized amateur'2 'happly' amended to happily3 'happily extinct tribe'4 p4 #dg1 'apearance' amended to appearance3 'the appearance of'2 'incongrous' amended to incongruous3 'a rather incongruous'4 p4 #dh1 'reminiscense' amended to reminiscence3 'pensive reminiscence'2 ',haaughton' amended to ,haughton3 ',ida ,c4 ,haughton'4 p4 #ej1 'unamimous' amended to unanimous3 'absolutely unanimous vote'2 'sustined' amended to sustained3 'and sustained his'4 p4 #eb1 ',kliner' amended to ,kleiner3 'the ,kleiner type'2 ',henrietta' amended to ,henriette3 ',henriette and ,florenz'2 'thoughfulness' amended to thoughtfulness3 'for thoughtfulness'4 p4 #ec1 'essays-writers' amended to essay-writers4 p4 #ed1 'prosed' amended to proposed3 'the proposed alteration'4 p4 #eg1 ',statess' amended to ,states3 'the ,united ,states'4 p4 #ei1 ',mathew' amended to ,matthew3 'by ,matthew ,hilson'4 p4 #fa1 'ancesters' amended to ancestors3 'of my ancestors'4 p4 #fc1 'ancesters' amended to ancestors3 'ancestors had met'2 'told' amended to tolled3 'clock 444 tolled off'4 p4 #fd1 ',godfry' amended to ,godfrey3 'son of ,godfrey'2 'particularily' amended to particularly3 'most particularly'2 'gastly' amended to ghastly3 'ghastly radiance'4 p4 #ff1 'rhym' amended to rhyme3 'nobility of the rhyme'2 'bouyant' amended to buoyant3 'joy and buoyant'2 'tireomely' amended to tiresomely3 'tiresomely commonplace'2 'savour' amended to savours3 'savours too much'4 p4 #fg1 'solesisms' amended to solecisms3 'such solecisms as'2 'avoid' amended to avoided3 'should be avoided'4 p4 #fh1 'awkard' amended to awkward3 'not wholly awkward'2 'copmlete' amended to complete3 'more complete'2 repeated line removed3 'sentiment1 deriving much force from the'2 'poplarly' amended to popularly3 'are popularly supposed'2 added a3 'it is a comfort'4 p4 #fi1 repeated line removed3 'ology4 ,in the third line of the third stanza'2 'hypocricy' amended to hypocrisy3 ',the hypocrisy of'4 p4 #gj1 'occuring' amended to occurring3 ',a rhyme occurring'2 'colum' amended to column3 'editorial column of'2 'techinque' amended to technique3 'old-school technique'4 p4 #ga1 'unsual' amended to unusual3 'rather unusual'2 repeated text 'of' removed3 'pen of of ,mrs4 ,w4 ,v4 ,jordan'4 p4 #gb1 'accentuaton' amended to accentuation3 'accentuation of the'2 'hsould' amended to should3 'word should be'2 'citic' amended to critic3 'the present critic'4 p4 #gc1 'denizon' amended to denizen3 'or denizen is'2 'year' amended to years3 'eighty-six years ago'2 'contents 444 is' amended to contents 444 are2 ',mc,gavach' amended to ,mc,gavack 7#b instances74 p4 #gd1 added is3 ',education in ,trinidad is another'4 p4 #gg1 'revails' amended to reveals3 'but scansion reveals'2 ',gallenne' amended to ,gallienne3 ',richard ,le ,gallienne'4 p4 #gh1 'vesy' amended to very3 'a very pleasing'2 'gartifyingly' amended to gratifyingly3 'metre is gratifyingly'2 'hypocracy' amended to hypocrisy3 'anti-prohibition hypocrisy'2 'earsest' amended to earnest3 'are more earnest'4 p4 #gi1 'propertly' amended to properly3 'cannot properly be rhymed'4 p4 #ha1 'posses 444 conspicious' amended to possess 444 conspicuous3 'possess both deep fervour and conspicuous merit'2 ',mc,gavach' amended to ,mc,gavack 7#c instances74 p4 #hb1 ',parke's' amended to ,mr4 ,parks'3 ',mr4 ,parks' brief sketches'2 ',mc,gavach' amended to ,mc,gavack 7#b instances72 'irresistly' amended to irresistibly3 'irresistibly delight'2 'metriacl' amended to metrical3 'metrical effort'4 p4 #hd1 'ocurrences' amended to occurrences3 'obscure occurrences of'4 p4 #he1 ',authour' amended to ,author3 ',author of the'4 p4 #hh1 ',ecstacy' amended to ,ecstasy3 ',ecstasy1 a poem'2 'imporant' amended to important3 'number of important'4 p4 #ij1 'rtaes' amended to rates3 'at reasonable rates'4 p4 #ia1 'cooperateion' amended to co-operation3 'closer co-operation'2 ',asociation' amended to ,association3 'out of the ,association'4 p4 #ib1 'productons' amended to productions3 'literary productions'4 p4 #ic1 'twilght 444 unpanted' amended to twilight 444 unpainted3 'through the twilight1 some grey1 unpainted'2 'pronounciation' amended to pronunciation3 'pronunciation of'4 p4 #id1 'dsplaying' amended to displaying3 'displaying an enviable'2 ',medum' amended to ,medium3 ',medium of ,education'2 'it' amended to in3 'picturesque in atmosphere'4 p4 #ie1 'wth' amended to with3 'compared with many'2 ',reiseberg' amended to ,rieseberg3 ',harry ,e4 ,rieseberg'4 p4 #ih1 'adminstrative' amended to administrative4 p4 #ii1 ',lindquqist' amended to ,lindquist4 p4 #ajj1 'insuffcient' amended to insufficient3 'is insufficient to'4 p4 #ajc1 'it' amended to is3 'and it is a source'4 p4 #ajd1 'rhetorican' amended to rhetorician3 'as a rhetorician'4 p4 #aje1 ',namantius' amended to ,namatianus4 p4 #ajf1 'corect' amended to correct3 'most correct age'4 p4 #aji1 'similiarly' amended to similarly3 'the similarly spelled'4 p4 #aaj1 'psuedo-anecdotes' amended to pseudo-anecdotes2 'gratfying' amended to gratifying3 'great and gratifying'4 p4 #aab1 'persual' amended to perusal3 'perusal of standard'4 p4 #aac1 'demonstrate' amended to demonstrates3 ',a glance 444 demonstrates'2 'econium' amended to encomium3 'evoke encomium with'4 p4 #aai1 'gorss' amended to gross3 'gross violations of'2 repeated text 'and verb' removed3 'noun and verb and verb'2 'ues' amended to use3 ',ambiguous use of pronouns'4 p4 #abb1 'versimilitude' amended to verisimilitude2 'qualiy' amended to quality3 'prosaic quality'4 p4 #abf1 ',deinos' amended to ,deimos3 ',deimos and ,phobos'4 ,further ,notes3 p4 #af1 ',dempsey' and p4 #dc1 ',dempesy'1 conflicted spelling3 ',caryl ,wilson ,dempse_/esy'4 p4 #da1 ',frazer' and p4 #ea1 ',frazier'1 conflicted spelling3 ',john ,w4 ,frazier'4 p4 #gc1 ',acyion'1 possible misprint of ,alcyon or ,alcyone3 ',edwin ,gibson's ,sonnet to ,acyion'4 p4 #ic1 ',dionondawa'1 possible misprint of ,dionondehowa3 ',to the ,falls of ,dionondawa'4