HOW PROOFREADING OF POETRY SOUNDS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5874, 12 March 1887, Page 4

HOW PROOFREADING OF POETRY SOUNDS.

Some writer has produced n poem called " Sounds from the Sanctum." It reads just too pretty, and gives readers the thought that the author never visited the sanctum when business was in full blast. If he had called about midnight, for instance, he would have seen two saints, one poring over a proof-slip, the other holding the copy, and the sounds would have been something like this — Proof-reader: "As flowerH without the sun shine fair — comma — so — without you — comma — do I — full stop — breathe a dark and dismal mair " Copy-holder: "Thunder! Not mair — air." Proof-reader: "I breathe a dark and dismal air — comma — of flowers — comma," Copyholder : " Shoot the comma." Proof-reader: "'Tia done. Ab flowers without the sunshine fair—semicolonconfound slug seven, he never justifies his linea — no joy life— comma — no worms " Copyholder: "Warmth." Proof-reader : "No warmth I share— comma— and health and vigorous flies " Copyholder : " Blazes ! Health and rigour fly. Proof-reader : " Health and vigour fly — full stop." That's about the sound of it when poetry is on deck.