BEHIND THE VEIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18843, 18 October 1924, Page 6 (Supplement)

BEHIND THE VEIL.

We know the ships that come with streaming pennons into the immortal ports; we know but little of the ships that have gone on fire on the way thither—that have gone down at sea. Even with successful men wo cannot know precisely how matters have gone. Wo read the fine raptu-- n of the poet, but we do- not know into what kind of being he relapses when tho inspiration is over, any more than, seeing and hearing the lark shrilling at the gate of heaven, we know with what •ffort it has climbed thither, or into what kind of nest it must descend. The lark is not always singing; no more is the poet. The lark is only interesting while singing; at ether times it is but a plain brown bird. We may not be able to recognise the poet when ha doll's his singing robes; he may then sink to the level of his admirers. We laugh at the fancies of the Humourist, but he may have written his brilliant things in a dismal inough mood. The writer is not continually dwelling among th« i roses and lilies of life he 13 not continually uttering generous sentiments and saying fine things. On him, as on his brethren, the world presses with its prosaic needs.-— 'Alexander Smith.