MR CASTLETON'S POEM.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 2985, 1 September 1891, Page 3

MR CASTLETON'S POEM.

TO THU KIIITOK. Si!!,—Just a line or two nnent the critique on Mr Castleton s few lines of poetry, which appeared in your issue of the 18th nit. Honest criticisms, no matter from what source, devoid of personalities, are healthy, but even so, should not be administered in drastic doses, seeing we have in this new country poets and literary characters in embryo, who aspire to fame through the columns of the Press, but whn-e laudable ambition is very often snuffed out through a severe critique. Ido not want you to infer, Sir, from this that Mr Castleton is a poet in embryo, or that he is likely to be studied out by anyone wishing to air his talent as a reviewer. Or tics, whether male or female, should be educated, and it is a sine qua mm rule that they should certainly have some knowledge of the subject they review. As a ein-s, they are supposed to be totally devoid of feeling, and suffer to a large extent from enlarged spleens and kindred ailments : are looked upon as a necessity amongst the community, as literary scavengers. I was led to these thoughts, Sir, by the very illiberal critique, as before stated, on a few lines of poetry, contributed bv Mr Castleton. Who "Liberal'' is, Ido not know, but as far as the characteristic is concerned, "Tho hands may be those of Esau's, but the voice is that of Jacob's." As I read the critique, the following quotation came to my mind, which I thought peculiarly appropriate :— The devil's own craft, A pen dipped in call ; A malice-winged sbaft. The worst trait ot all. Reading between tho lines, tho writer of the critique has indicated plainly that he has little grasp of poetical rhythm, and still less a conception of the grammatical construction of true poetry, his faultfinding with the words "snowy hands" or "stretch hands of snow" in the sixth verse, is an indication that his critique is weak here. The conception of true poetry, lies as much in beautiful imagery, as in rhythm, hence the successof so much blank verse. Again, his (" Liberal's ") Joe Millerisnis, in trying to bo funny with that vers?, which opens thus : Sweet's labour's broad when bread is won, stamps him as one who would adorn the clown's station in life, it requires no great elfort after reading the whole of the strictures to see why the second verso should be obscure and enigmatical to one of "Liberal's " calibre. Were he at all versed in the rules of grammar he must know that the pronominal adjective " such " qualifies the word " labour" and does not leavo it an open question as to whether the " labour " or the "king" is a "curse." With regard to the opening of the sixth verse — Our heroes now, All! who are they Monopolists and drones? I contend the note of interrogation is in the correct place, as the question is not finished, until the two lines are completed. Without taking notice of the gross personalities contained in the review which no doubt gave pleasure to the reviewer, but which Mr Castleton can afford to pass hy, I should strongly advise " Liberal" the next time he feels a fit of critique coming upon him, in the words of Saui Weller to his son, " D in'i," unless you are well posted in vour subject, for, although according to you drones may be necessary for the beehive, there is no necessity for them in the human hive, turn your talents to better account. —I am, etc., Xenofhon. TO THE KIHTOU. Sin,—Just a few words, with your permission, upon " Liberal's" review of Mr Castletoii's poem. I have only met Mr Castleton once, and had a few moments conversation with him, and am therefore almost ns unacquainted with him an " Liberal " is, but he did not strike me as a man whose literary productions it was necessary to hold up to ridicule as "Liberal" does at the outset and throughout his review. But to " Liberal's " criticisms— hts remarks upon Mr C's statement in the first verse of having " gleaned pearls " from the poem written by the sweet singer of the Thames are insulting, then with regard to the secjnd verse being enigmatical and the meaning obscure — " From Labour comes the majesty Thar makes a man a king. Such never could have been a curse Until it was abused-" A little further on " Liberal " thinks very probably Mr C. is ignorant of the rules of punctuation : 1 do not only think, but am sure, that "Liberal " is ignorant of the rules of grammar, otherwise he would not have got into such a fog over the meaning, or rather the grammatical construction of the lines, Probably it is a long time since "Liberal" left school; therefore let mr enlightep him. The w.ird " such " in the 4fMra*nne"ls a pronominal adjective, referring to the noun "labour," "understood' which becomes the nominative to, or subject of, the verb "could have been," and thus (to an educated mind) makes thtmeaning very plain, and not at all "left an open question, as to what it is, that is a " curse." Then upon the line, " Sweet's labour's bread when bread is won," " Liberal's" remarks are puerile, it strikes me that it is a long time since he enjoyed a toil earned meal. For the definition of n "true nobleman," I refer "Liberal" to Lord Tennyson, and he will find that the poet laureate docs not exactly describe him as a " tin-pot " individual; then with regard to the two lines. Our hcros now, Ah ! who are they Monopolists and drones ? "Liberal" says, "Why Mr C. should imagine these parties to be specially capable of answering the question is puzzling." Mr Castleton does nothing of the kind ; he then goas on. As I said before, to accusr Mr C. of being ignorant of the rules oi punctuation, and by misplacing the note of interrogation has put a different con struction on the first two lines of the verse to that which he intended. Tho note of interrogation is not •' misplaced," and Mr C's intention of the construction to be put upon the first two lines is very plain to an unprejudiced reader ; what ho did do was probably to leave out a note of interrogation after the word " thev " at the end of the first line, if he had affiled that, his moaning then would have been slightly plainer, but by a censorious cynical individual like " Liberal." any meaning can be distorted. 1 leavo " Liberal's " lengthy strictures upon Socialistic views, the Labour question, Henry George's Land Nationalization, the Property Tax, Land Tax, etc., etc., unnoticed, and advice him the next time he has an itch for writing to your valuable journal and airing his talents as a reviewer, not to indulge in personalities, but to confine himself strictly and impartially to the subject he is reviewiug.—I am, yours faithfully, Lothair. TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—l am sure the bulk of your readers will have been sorry to notice in your issue of Tuesday last the bitter and uncalled-for attack on Mr Castleton under the guise of a review of his poern. Tho contents of the letter referred to are both as to the malevolent spirit and ignorance displayed simply beneath criticism. With regard to Mr Castleton's latest poem, whether we agree with the particular views held by the author or not, few will deny the graceful style and poetic power with which he is able to clothe those ideas ; and this, after all, is perhaps the most material point in poetry. Every district has its poet, with a privileged co.-ner in the local Press. I trust Mr Castk't.m will accept the assurance of myself and many others that his poetic productions will always bo read with pleai euro, even although wo do not, if I may use the words of the immortal Tigg, " grind ourselves."—l am, &c., E. C. SHEI'HKKLI.