THE POET AT THE EOOR
Sus,—If Mr. Patric Dickinson proclaims from your columns that Humbm Wolfe's poetry was an appetising and temporarily fashionable draught whose mere effervescence it only needed a little time to show, I believe that I am not alone in suggesting that he speaks for himself. Where in Wolfe is this defective ear and this " heady " quality offered with astute showmanship? If Wolfe found it unnecessary to pin his faith to perfection of form, we can at least say that his verse is never ungraceful and always adequate to his purpose—and in potry, adequacy of expression should surely be the ultimate aim. To me his poetry is marred only by occasional use of a repulsively biz*ire Browningesque rhyme. But this is beside the point, for I am not intending to write a defence of Wolfe. Iz is easy enough to tear holes, phrase by ill-advised phrase, in what a man writes. I have not, chosen to dissect Mr. Dickinson's article ; but if he, as a man of spirit, wishes to pour vitriol on this pretest, he will doubtless find it easy prey. As Massinger's actor said, " We cannot help it." But my point is this: Even lvtlton has been intellectually debunked " with remarkably little fuss." Thus if we do not keep wide awake, what are we to expect to befall lesser men, under the sweeping pen of such cocksure critics as Mr. Dick nson? The vigil is
ours.—Yours faithfully, J. E. Houtsraom. Riverdale Croft, Ranmoor, Sheffield, so.
Previous page
