Dec.
Although it must be admitted that posterity has not been able to perform the impossible by' doing anything for the present generation, there is a tendency to give it an excellent opportunity of doing those things which are now being left undone, Poets share with pro-Phets, occasionally, lack of recognition in their cwm country, and an instance has just come to light of a distinguished poet, Sir William Watson, being left, at the age of 72 years, to grapple with poverty at Bath, In that city, associated in the minds of many people with Beau Brummel and Mr, Pickwick, the man who was hailed by Tennyson as an "authentic poet" has been struggling along on the pittance of £100 obtained for him from the civil list by Lord Rosebery.
Whatever may be the contemporary condition of Denmark, it must be owned that a revelation of this kind suggests that there is something radically wrong with the state of Grea' Britain in at least one respect—giving honour due to the living. With a casualness, which is only apparently the result of indifference, the British are apt tu remember too late that there is a wealth of wisdom in the old saying "While the grass grows the steed starves." If someone had not accidentally stumbled upon the somewhat discreditable fact that a man whose contribu: tion to our literature was of far greater value than those of any of the producers of "best. sellers" who enjoy annual incomes greater than Watson's Pecuniary recognition would amount to ina decade, in all probability he would have died unnoticed. And then? Flood: of publicity in the "stunt" loving press; a costly mausoleum to show how readily in death is honour paid to that which was neglected in life, Fortunately there is no tragic ending to this little contemporary story. Early in-November, directly it became known that Sir William and Lady Watson, his devoted help-mate, were waging a desperate and unaided struggle against penury, Great Britain awoke as she always does when the call comes, toa sense of her duty. A-committee consisting of Mr. Las-les Abercrombie, Mr. Arthur Machen and Mr. Wallace B. Nicholls was immediately formed, and am appeal on behalf of the poet issued. This appeal was signed by practically everyone of, importance in the British literary world of to-day, and it is beyond doubt that there will be a prompt and adequate response. The signatories of the appeal say:
We have accordingly decided to! inaugurate a testimonial fund in recognition of Sir William's magnificent contribution to the poetry, of our time and race, and in spite of the abnormally difficult conditions now. everywhere prevailing.' we' do not doubt that cur appeal will_meet with an immediate and
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.