Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 August 1902 — CONDENSED STORIES. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CONDENSED STORIES.

How the Poets Differed In Judging Their Own Art. Among the late Aubrey de Vere’s reminiscences of the poets whom he had known there is one passage so characteristic of the different tastes of great writers that it is worth recalling: “Tennyson was enthusiastic for Burns. ‘Head the exquisite songs of Burns,’ he exclaimed. Tn shape each of them has the perfection of the berry, in light the radiance of the dewdrop. You forget for its sake those stupid things, his serious pieces!’ The same day I met Wordsworth and named Burns to him. Wordsworth praised him even more vehemently than Tennyson had done; as the great genius who had brought poetry back to nature, but ended, ‘Of course I refer to his serious efforts, such as “The Cotter’s Saturday Night.” Those foolish little amatory songs of his one has to forget.’ 1 told the tale to Henry Taylor one evening, and his answer was, ‘Burns’ exquisite songs and Burns’ serious ef'forts are to me alike tedious and disagreeable reading.’ So much for the infallibility of poets' in their own art.” Fools’ Prosperity Disgusted Him. Shaw is the story teller of the administration, lie illustrates most of his propositions by anecdotes. A visitor was complaining of a man out west who had made a lot of money by accident and at the expense of worthier men. “It seems a shame that such an ass should get so rich,” said the visitor. “That reminds me,” said the secretary, “of a man 1 heard of out in lowa. He was playing seven up one night with some friends, and, although he was a good seven up player, he could not win a game, lie sat for two hours and stewed and fumed and lost steadily. Finally he threw down his cards in disgust and said, ‘The most alarming tendency of the signs of the times is the enormous prosperity of doggone fools,’ and walked out of the room.” —Washington Post.

His Lordship Was Smuggled. Sir Barrington Beaumont’s memoirs, recently published, tell the- following: “I recollect a discussion between a Scotch lord and Lady Clermont as to the merits of the other side of the border. ‘How is it,’ said she, ‘that the Scots who leave Scotland are usually men of more ability than those who remain at home ?’ ‘Ah, madam,’ he responded, with an effort at persiflage, ‘the reason is obvious. At every outlet there are persons stationed to examine all who pass, that, for the honor of the country, no one be permitted to leave it who is not a man of understanding.’ ‘I suppose, then,’ murmured George Selwyn to me, ‘his lordship must have been smuggled.’ ” A Pupil of Sousa. One morning after the hand organs got hold of his “Washington Post March” John Philip Sousa ran across an Irishman playing the march at a dirgelike pace, which set his teeth on edge. Snatching the handle of the organ away from him, Sousa exclaimed angrily: “My heavens, man! Why don’t you play it with a little energy? There’s no-

body dead on this block!” The Irishman stood by, open eyed with wonder, as Sousa dashed through the measures of the march at a rattling pace. “And who are you anyhow?’’ he exclaimed at length. “I an} Mr. Sousa,” explained the bandmaster. “I composed that inarch. Don’t mind my giving you a friendly pointer.” The Irishman retired with his features wreathed in smilgt,, Next morning an enormous placard appeared about his neck. It f Hinted in red ink and ran as fM> ows: “A pupil of Sousa.”—Chicago Nets.

"WHY DON'T YOU PLAY IT WITH A LITTLE ENERGY?"