Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 January 1905 — The One Thing Lacking. [ARTICLE]

The One Thing Lacking.

Emperor William 11. wrote a poem once which he submitted to a great literary man who dined at the castle for that purpose particularly. The eritic read it and found his dual duties In conflict. He had to advise an amateur poet with an exceptional power for resenting a hostile comment He yielded only a very little to the exigencies of the situation. “This verse, your majesty,” he began, “seems to require alteration in certain respects.” The author took the manuscript and conned it thoughtfully; then Ms brow cleared. “Why,” he cried, as one seeing a sudden light, “I have actually not signed the poem! Give me a pen!” And the only fault he saw in the work was forthwith remedied.