Out of the Garret.

This is the age of the populariser. America has proved superior in salesmanship—does she sell literature? Poetry in particular hardly lends itself to popularisation. In Russia art is the people's art, and artists gain their living from the state. Does the artist in the West starve in a garret?

[The artist in America is not starving. The hundreds of little reviews with parochial circulation have been mentioned. There are courses in creative, writing at every University, and one poet at leant on the staff. Much money is spent to bring world-famous people to address interested Americans. Poetry la supported by private business and wealthy patrons.]

This art may not reach all the people all the time, but what art would, and would all the people want it? To aim at all means to limit and simplify aims. Louis Johnson said he would object to Professor Algie like directions.

In England there is scarcely a journal of any size left to-day. And here? "Private and esoteric coteries." A poet might make £7 to £15 an edition; he must pay for public readings out of his own pocket. One does not go in for poetry for money.

Johnson suggested that criticism was not enough, and writers do not spring out of thin air. In America there is a great pool of mediocre talent: but one exists at the higher level if supported by talent beneath. America will have poetry far greater than we who live in isolated contentment.

—B.D.