EXTRACT FROM -LETTER
"A MAN'S DAY ON EARTH." Mr. Wixiwr PLATT (4 Hallswelle Road, Golders Green, London, N.W. 114 writes : "Your critic, in reviewing my book, A Man's Day on Earth, accuses me of 'almost unparalleled egotism' because I have frankly stated that a few representative poems of mine should find their place in every anthology that claims to typify the poets of to-day. Let me take advantage of that fine tradition by which the Spectator allows authors to reply if they respect the bounds of courtesy. At the beginning of my book are printed the opinions of eminent critics upon my work. Surely a perusal of these will prove to my critic that I have some right to claim that at any rate a few of my poems deserve the larger publicity which I ask for them ! Unless, of course, he is going to be guilty of the egotism of supposing that the extremely favourable verdict of these critics is nullified by his unfavourable one. Again, let us consider what goes to make up the average anthology of modern poetry. There will be in it a few poems of first class, poems worthy of a long sur- survival. There will be in it many poems of second class ; some of third class ; and (may I whisper it ?) a few certainly of not more than fourth class. So that as a practical pro: po- sition all that I suggest is that a few of these fourth-elass'poems may be dropped, while a few of the poems of a man whose work has been very highly praised by certain critics of reputa- tion may be substituted. Is this so much to ask ? "
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