THE POETRY SOCIETY.
(TO THE EDITOR OF THE SPEOTAT01.1 Sre,—I am encouraged by the two most instructive reviews of recent poetry which have appeared in your columns in the last two weeks to ask you to let me make an appeal in your columns which I havd already made elsewhere. There are many signs, indeed it is generally recognized, that the stress of the struggle in which we are engaged has been accompanied by a deep and general stirring of the human soul and spirit, and has led both old and young to turn with a renewed and more living interest than before to the things of the mind, and among them to poetry. There is reason to believe that poetry is being more generally read and written, and that it is both fresher and more real than it has been for a long time. May I be allowed to say a word on behalf of the Poetry Society, the object of which is to assist such a movement ? Founded to promote, in the words of Matthew Arnold, adopted as its motto, "a clearer, better sense of the best in poetry. and of the strength and joy to be drawn from it," this Society seeks to bring together lovers of poetry with a view to extending and developing an intelligent interest in, and proper appreciation of, the art. This it attempts to do by encouraging meetings for public recitation and reading, with occasional lectures and addresses, and also through its organ, the Poetry Review. May I in particular invite all who care for poetry and believe in its influence as one of real value, national and personal, to make themselves acquainted both with the Society and with its Review ? Already during this year, notwithstanding, perhaps on account of, the war, the number of subscribers has increased. Its friends believe that it only requires to be more widely known to receive yet more support and extend its influence still further. Besides dealing with poetry generally, the Review aims at providing periodically a representative selection from, and also critical appreciations of, the poems of the hour, and so at giving a brief and reasoned presentment of what is going on in the world of poetry, and in particular it has already become a recognized channel for what has been called "the poetry of dig' trenches. It further contains full information as to the personnel and workings of the Society and accounts of the meetings of its branches in London and in the provinces. The ordinary member- ship subscription is 7s. 6d., and subscribers receive the Review free of charge. Any who desire to become members should address them- selves to the Secretary, Miss V. E. James, M.A., at 16 Featherstone Buildings, Holborn, London, who will gladly supply any further details. —I am, Sir, he., HeesEar WARREN. President of the Poetry Society,
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