LITERARY GOSSIP

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18343, 28 March 1925, Page 11

LITERARY GOSSIP

Tom Moore, says a correspondent of the New York "Bookman," is as much poet laureate of the Bermuda Islands to-day as if he were living and such an appointment existed, with an annual perquisite of a butt of Bermuda milk punch. It matters naught that the coral isles are a loyal colony of the British Crown and that said Crown has a regular laureate in the quick. The spirit of the sentimental Irishman and his lays are established in the affections of the Bermudiaris for good and all, though he spent less than four months there in the post of registrar of the Court of Vice-Admiralty, or, as they describe it now, "a sort of Customs man." . . . "Tom Moore's houso" is a tavern now, with an American holding the concession; nor can the conversion Be'em an altogether profane one to the wraith of the author of "Mil the Bumper Pair" and "Wreath the Bowl." Few modernisations mar the venerable structure. Wooden pins instead of nails still serve it for joinings and oaken benches and a Dutch oven survive. Upon the walls of the taproom hang woodcuts and engravings of the' poet, and his more familiar verse. . . . Darky tapstera answer ,your call. They are willing —and competent—to talk of Tom Moore. Their knowledge of the poet, his life and works, is apt to shame that of the visitor. And they deny, do these dusky litterateurs, that they were forced to cram on Moore to hold their jobs. They ' '"knew Mbout him befo'," they insist. "You know," they, remark easily, "Tom Moore wrote 'Believe Muh, If All Those Endearin' Young Chahms,' 'Luv's Young Dream,' 'Thuh Last Rose nv Summah,' an' 'Thuh Time' Ah've Los' in Wooin' "j what'll you have to drink, suhf"

Thwe are, or were' (the New York "Times" observes), many marrowy names in American geography, though the progress or prudery of the newer generations is gradually changing the more picturesque and profane specimens of pioneer nomenclature. The names of English villages are more stationary and at least as queer. Indeed, one wouldn't be surprised to find Gilbert's Asses'-Milk-cum-Watcr. The British Stationery Office has just published the "Index to the Census of 1921." This is an alphabetical enumeration of the place-names in England and "Wales. American village Parises and so on are frequent enough in kind in the United ELingdom, which contains, for instance, Canton, Nineveh, The Hague, two Washingtons, three New Torks, New Zealands, Nova Scotias, two Jeriehos, five Scotlanda, and eight Calif ornias—oh, saint-seducing gold! Primrose Hill is familiar, but why should there be eleven other Primrose Hills'?

And not one Primrose Path! Hi& tbry accounts for 175 Kings, bnt a certain want of gallantry is evident in the fact that there are but twenty-one Queens. It is the eccentric solitary names that one seeks and sees with pleasure. We refer Mr Arnold Bennett to Odd Wives Leas, Mud Bow, Poverty Bottom. Arthur Morrison and George Gisaing ought to have found the Middlesex Starveall, the Hertford Nasty and the Essex Ugley. To Mr Michael Arlen are recommended Bachelor's Bump, Love street, Rogue's alley, Paramour street, and Fivehead with SwelL Mr D. H. Lawrence should have the option on Chilley Green, Muddler's Green, Nine Ashes, Maggot's End, Goitre Hamlet, and Gobbley Hole. Sir James Barrie is entitled to Scot's Hole, in Lincolnshire, and Quality Corner, iu Cumberland. For Nightingale Valley let all the 10,000 poets and the Sitwell Family contend in song. For Mr Alfred Noyes is reserved until further notice Mavis Enderby.

Those who sife in the seats of the scornful say that the crowd submits to being led by the nose. Well, if there is one thing noticeable about the elect of literature it is the ease with which they are beguiled by a reputation. Let it once be heralded with trumpets that So-and-So is a writer of distinction and they accept him for evermorA