The New World, by Witter Bynner. Published 1918.

A long poem by the well-known American poet and cultural leader of Santa Fe.

The Rose-Jar, by Thomas S. Jones, Jr. Published 1906.

A small collection of sentimental poetry.

Cobwebs from a Library Corner, by John Kendrick Bangs. Published 1899.

Bookp(h)ile

MODESTY

“What hundred books are best, think you?” I said,
    Addressing one devoted to the pen.
He thought a moment, then he raised his head:
    ”I hardly know–I’ve written only ten.”

SOME ARE AMATEURS

Shakespeare was partly wrong–the world’s a stage,
    This is admitted by the bard’s detractors.
Had William seen some Hamlets of this age
    He’d not have called all men upon it actors.

From: Cobwebs from a Library Corner by John Kendrick Bangs. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1899.

Nothing to Say; A Slight Slap at Mobocratic Snobbery, Which Has “Nothing to Do” with “Nothing to Wear,”, by QK Philander Doesticks [Mortimer Neal Thomson]. Published 1857.

“Nothing to Wear” was a long poem that featured a young woman (Flora M’Flimsey) who shopped and shopped and had “nothing to wear” while people were starving.

“Nothing to Say” is a response which points out that rich people donate money for hospitals, libraries, and rescue missions. It’s not particularly convincing.

Bookp(h)ile

“He Giveth His Beloved Sleep”, by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Illustrated by Miss L. B. Humphrey, engraved by Andrew. Published 1882, ©1880.

One of my oldest clearances — it took a while for us to figure out that the best way to present this heavily illustrated book is the simplest way: as illustrations.

Bookp(h)ile

Graded Memory Selections, by SD Waterman, et al. Published 1903.

Bookp(h)ile

Heart Utterances at Various Periods of a Chequered Life., by Eliza Paul Kirkbride Gurney. “Not Published” after 1875.

I’ve seen “Printed for the Author” on title pages before, but seeing “Not Published” on this one was a first.

The “preface” is rather appropriate:

In this book I have scribbled some innocent rhymes,
In various moods, and at different times;
Some grave and some cheerful, some merry, some sad,
Though none may be good, there are none very bad.

Typical of mid-19th century (written from 1811 to 1875) self-published poetry, this is full of “Bereavement” poems and “Bible story” poems. What is surprising to me is there are few (dare I say no?) poems specifically about Mrs Gurney’s husband or any children, nor any youthful “friends forever” verses. It could well be that Mrs Gurney wanted only to commemorate her “serious” poems, or she did write about such things but couched them in religious tones.