The Poet\'s Poet
THE POET'S POET Essays on the Character and Mission of the Poet As Interpreted in English Verse of the Last One Hundred and Fifty Years By ELIZABETH ATKINS, PH.D. Instructor in English, University of Minnesota TO HARTLEY AND NELLY ALEXANDER
"It really does, and I think, as you do, that shows progress. We can
all enjoy better fun than that of afflicting the innocent. Of course
we still have to have some ceremony or the young 'uns wouldn't think
they were really in college. I just wonder how it will strike our
rebel Shirley?"
"That interests me too, Dinksy. Let's go and see. We have some
lovely little babes this year. That ivory blonde, the timid one with
a most atrocious name, Sarah Something, I just love her, don't you?"
"Sarah Howland, I saw Inez marking her card. Yes, she is sweet in
spite of her name. Rather a pity sponsors cannot show
discrimination. Here is your sweater. Better take it; the wind
whistles. I'll pull my riding cap down as a disguise. It takes in
most of this-wig," Jane was struggling to stuff her bright tresses
into the pocket of her black velvet jockey cap. The effect towered
like a real English derby and Judith danced in delight.
"I'll try that with my tarn," she declared. "One's hair is always
the surest give-away. Here are the masks--hanging neatly on the nail
of last year's tenants. I call that thoughtful."
Mysterious calls and whistles were now creeping in under doorways
and through transoms. The sophs were ready to initiate the
frightened little freshmen. Tales of "they will do this and they
won't do that" had little effect on the individual candidate, but
THE POET'S POET Essays on the Character and Mission of the Poet As Interpreted in English Verse of the Last One Hundred and Fifty Years By ELIZABETH ATKINS, PH.D. Instructor in English, University of Minnesota TO HARTLEY AND NELLY ALEXANDER