As Talked in the Sanctum [pp. 459-464]

Overland Monthly
VOL. XXIX. (Second Series.)-May, I897.-No. I73.
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THE Poet came into the Sanctum and carefully closed the door in the Office Boy's
face. The Contributor's feet sought the floor. There was something in the
Poet's eyes that demanded attention. He turned sharply on the Reviewer.
The Poet. " As a poet and a protector of poets it occurs to me that there is an
apology due from the writer of this paragraph in the March OVERLAND to a brother
poet and a member of the journalist fraternity. Listen to an unkind review: "It is hard to tell whether the author of Thle Hermit of Siskkyou meant his mixture of bad grammar, bad rhyme, and bad meter, to be heroic or simply amusing,- and it is not worth while to solve
the problem,. in spite of the fact that the verse is written,'With all the amplitude
Of one who in earnest strives
To be well understood.'
"Now, before a word is said, I wish further to place on record the prote st of
the author, exactly as it appears in his sterling journal, Tle Crescent City News, of
March I2th, and then I will call your attention tund sr o the beauties and moif of the book
itself. It is a d uty I owe to my prof ession, to you, and to California. If the OVERLAND means to live u to o it s mot to, "De voted to th e Development of th e Country,"
n ow is the time to place itself right before the public."
WOULD SOAR IF THEY HAD WINGS.
It is sometimes interestingly disgusting to note the bigoted self assurance of a blatant ignoramous when he attempts to make himself appear brilliant by the lampooning of others. Such individuals ought to learn the lesson set forth in the old apathegm respecting the casting of dangerous
missiles from a frailly constructed habitation. In fact he who would assume the role of critic - delighting himself by talking or writing flippantly and petulantly of bad grammer - ought first to fortify his position with a little personal acquaintance with that science.
(Copyright, I897, by OVERLAND MONTHLY PUBLISHING COMPANY.) All rights reserved.
Commercial Publishing Company, S. F.