"A PSALM OF MONTREAL."

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 657, 6 November 1909, Page 9

"A PSALM OF MONTREAL."

-L A correspondent asks (says " Elzevir " ih the tfelbourne "Argus") whether I have ever ica.rd of a poem about Montreal by the late iarmiel Butler, . author of " Krewhon," and fhether I can toll him whero it is to be fouhd. Certainly I havo heard of it., Thero was even i -timo when I could have written it out from nemory for my correspondent's benefit; but, ilas! senility creeps on. apace: I find, to my ihagriri, : that I have forgotten all but .a few itanzas, r and have forgotten, also, where it' is ;o bo.fouiid in full. It was certainly printed n.the during the period of Hutan's editorship; but to go through 40 volumes ir so of the " Spectator" in search of. it vere. an enterprise, to, appal the- boldest.- I lave an - idea that it has been reprinted re:ently ;iii: some • magazine.:or other. .Perhaps iome courteous reader..will come to our aid? The poem was called " A Psalm of Montreal." Sutler, recited it-'to? Edward Clodd,. and Clodd tsked him to write it out. The copy thus Ob;ained;passed into the hands of Matthew -Arlold, who v showed it ■ to E. H. Hutton, who vrote "to Butler ...for.i permission .to ■ print -it. h.the "Spectator." A poem which' could ,apjeal to. three such diverse'minds as Clodd, Arnold,"aM Hutton must, have; remarkable qUalr ties.' The way,, it came to bo ' writtenwas ;his'.. : ' 'Butler : was : in\;the Montreal . Museum, m'd: in' avlumber-room' .at the back he 'came, icross s'omef plast'er-.castsjamong them .the Dissobolijs.' ~ln -th'e.'sami} an;-old . man mgaged ' in 'stuffing: an' owli' ,-Butler observed,' a the' : old -man ■ that it was-strange■ to. find jeautiful antiques stotfedaway'where the,pubic'could; riot see the man 'explained that they.'wereconsidcred; vulgar. They lad a': : loiiß>- : coHversation,;' and' the • old . man Mentioned that his 'brother did -all Mr; Spur;eon's: printing.' Whoroupon' Butler wrote' 'his ' Psalm."- -With true poetic instinct' ho turned Mr:: Spurgeon's - ( printer into:. a haberdasher, fhe poem began thus:— ' Stowed'.away.n. a Montreal lumbor-room, rho Discobolus c'andeth, and turnoth' his face to the wall; - • Dusty,; cob-web - covered, maimed, and. set at naught, 'V*'-.o Beauty cneth m an : attic, and no man- re- | ■ gardeth. ■' 'V 0 God' 0 Montreal'" rho.last three stanzas are. as follow:—, ■ ' 'The' Discobolus is. -put hero because -ho is . vulgar, •: ' ■ . ■ He has neither vest not pants v tb cover..his limbs;-,;' \ [, ■ sir,, ampa-person ;of most respectable. connections, v-V, ■- V 7., ■ - j/f.' 1 ;', My brother-in-law is haberdasher to Mr. Spurgi'On.' , ■ 1 0 God! ;0. Montreal!"' 'Then I; said,.>' 0 brother-in-law, to .Mr;. Spur.goon's ;habordasher, ■' .-i'- ■/ , Who ,-seasonest ] also . the..- skins .lofCanadian ■ '' V^6wls,,';'v!'' 'v, - ''. - ' '■ rhou callest trousers * pants,: whereas il, call ''.^'themc/trouser^\V' ■ Iheroforethou ' artj' : in ,; heU T fire,-Und>the;■ Lord pity thee!' ''.v.: k-.v'S- • O Gijd! - 0 -Montreal!" v " Trcferrest though the'gospel of Montreal to ■ the gospol of Hellas? , rho "gospel of thy .connection .with',Mri, Spur- '.. E°on s' habe'raashery. to the gospel of the; ■ Discobolus?- ..„ . . '■ ret . none the less .blasphemed; he beauty, say- ; ing,' ' The o >Dls9obo)is hath no gospel— : »■:. But my • ftr^e£jji-lgft-; • to- » That is all; I can remember, of admirable' sermon,- which- rieeds.'jyeacMtig- occasionally -in' ot.her cities besides Montreal. - 'y/._ : i -4 i - —i-—