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vative" is not unduly disturbed. He will linger on in his "play world", delighting in the pleasures of the imagination, calling up the shades of his beloved eighteenth century at will, and being as childish as he chooses, till second childhood itself overtake him. He may grow grey with years, but he will not accept dull "maturity", save when some pacifist, Anglophobe, or simplified speller shall provoke him too far, and compel an occasional excursion into the bleak regions of unimaginative actuality! We are all much too serious, and too little disposed to promote the comfort of society. One refreshing zephyr of naturalness, whether in the primer-like and humour-lacking form of a "Pollyanna" or in the subtler shape of a "Symphony", is to our weary spirits worth an hundred laboured essays on the art of correct thinking or the science of being wisely miserable. Wherefore, though Reason may goad us on in our sterner search for Truth, let us not condemn the happiness which blooms by the roadside, nor cast aside unthinkingly the protecting cheerfulness of the Symphonic Ideal.
Among the Amateurs
Mr. John Russell of Florida, whose satirical and other verses have formed such a piquant feature of amateur letters, has recently accepted a position with the "Tampa Breeze." He will be in complete charge of the advertising department, besides having duties of an editorial nature. Mr. Russell will be pleased to receive literary contributions from the more experienced amateurs, which he will accept for publication in his paper.
"The Conservative" has not infrequently pondered in perplexity over the persistent use of the expletive "do", "does", or "did" by various amateur bards. Vere these versifiers professed disciples of Dryden and his predecessors, there would be less cause for wonderment, but in view of their largely modern tendencies it appears highly peculiar that they should employ an archaic device censured and ridiculed ever since the reign of Queen Anne. No stigma of poetical puerility or lax scholarship is so patent as a line wherein we are informed that the poet "does sigh" because his Phillis or Chloe "did cast" him aside. Exceptions to this rule of abstinence may be made in certain cases of imitative archaism, but for the average amateur writer, total abstinence is the safer course.
The attitude toward our Association recently expressed by members of the Pedroni "United" is very regrettable. These worthy amateurs see fit threateningly to demand that we abandon our name in favour of their society, which they arbitrarily assume to be legally entitled to the designation "United". Whatever may be the advantages offered us by a more comprehensive title, we are certainly not to be frightened into a change by those who have at least no more right to the name than we.
