I SUDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1921 THE MICHIGAN DAILY MAGAZINE s inition. It is not a science and can- tions into another language form a 7 unot be conveniently tagged. Even art test of true poetry. The French en- 1 ook s a n d Aeay are still withot stis- joy a prose version of "The Raven" I~%5~I'VI~)factory definitions, athoogh rhetori- as mch as we ejoy the original. cians, philosophers, and critics since Mr. Mordell also finds an uncon- SHERWOOD ANDERSON RECEIVES the stories of "Winesburg" are linked the time of Aristotle have been trying scious rhythm in emotional climaxes. THE "DIAL" PRIZE together while Drbiser's stories in to find comprehensive labels for them. This may or may not be true. O. "Twelve Men" are apt to be torn from The only result is a contradictory Henry once wrote an interesting story (By G. D H.) each other in the course of time, and mass of verbosity. Perhaps George on the subject. This, as some of Mor- Word has just came to me from B. hence lost, because in the latter vol- Moore approached the truth as closely dell's psychoanalytical conclusions, W. Huebsch, the publisher of Sher- ume, the stories are separate and dis- as any of them when he succintly may be open to question. Anyone wood Anderson's books, that this au- tinct. stated that "Art is Nature digested." who has read his "The Erotic Motive It may be asked why Dreiser did not Ahough he is dissatisfied with most in Literature" will understand that he receive the price instead of Anderson. of the previous attempts to define is a thorough Freudian. Fortunately prize of two thousand dollars. This, The question is fair enough. The poetry, Albert Mordell is not content he devotes but one chapter to Freud's to my mind, is very encouraging, answer is that Dreiser has not been to let the matter drop. In his "The theories in his present volume. When In the first place, in a country that active for two or three years. His Literature of Ecstasy" (Boni Liver- he says that "the poet relieves him- furnishes no subsidies or grants to last good book, "Twelve Men," came right) he brings forth still another self of emotions that are bursting its artists, it is distinctly encouraging out in 1919. Since then he has pub- theory as to the basic element of within him and cures himself of in- lished only "Hey Rub-a-Dub-Dub!f" poetry. He believes that it is depend- cipient neurosis," he is on compara- that this sort of thing be done pri- which is by far his worst work, sev- ent upon neither rhyme 'nor' meter, tively safe ground, but when he talks vately. It is probably better this way. eral hundred pages of exceedingly nor even rhythm. One thing and one of "wish fulfillments" and the "Oedi- If the government gave it, it would amateurish Great Thinking. Ander- thing only, he says, determines wheth- pus complex" he enters into rather probably go to the relatives of the son, on the other hand, only last year er a piece of literature is poetry; and dubious speculation. or to such goniffs as published "Poor White," a wonder- that is ecstasy. This book propounds an interest- congressmen,flly good novel, and this year, a col- The word "ecstasy"'is derived from ing hypothesis. Its case is made con- Harold Bell Wright; in short, to the lection of stories by him under the the Greek words meaning, "to make vincing by the detailed mass of evi- most popular author. This is, after title "The Triumph of the Egg" has stand out." Mordell further defines deuce corralled by its author, who has all, the people's country. ' just been published. I hope to re- ecstasy as "any emotionthat grips a made an exhaustive study, not only of In the second place, it is gratifying view it next week. man strongly," accenting ecstasy of poetry, but of critical, philosophical, that such a magazine as the "Dial,, Sherwood Anderson easily leads the a universal appeal. It is, however, and psychological writings on poetry. active field. He has only Willa Cather not without an intellectual element. But, after all, Mr. Mordell, like his above reproach from a literary stand- and Joseph Hergesheimer as rivals. It "represents a form of monomania predecessors, is trying to clamp down point, free from fossilization, pro- I congratulate Anderson, and I con- connected with certain ideas. It is a poetry within the limits of a single gressive in its ideals, should do this gratulate the "Dial'." rapturous state in which the person definition. Granting that he is right thing. It judges materia'l impartial- is governed by preoccupation with a and that ecstasy is the determining ly for, its pages, and I have the ut- definite viewpoint." factor of poetical literature, how is most faith that it will bestow its year- The author points out that ecstasy one to determine ultimately the pres- ly award in equally impartial fashion. WHAT IS A PQEMI cannot be attained when dealing with ence of this factor? - A definition. to One of the proofs that it will is that it (By R. D. ) ,commonplace or trite ideas. To achieve hold, must be more or less universal- picked Sherwood Anderson. true ecstasy the writer must have a ly accepted. Will there be a general That brings me to the third point, When J. C. Squire spoke here re- "great idea," he must be ahead of his! agreement as to exactly what com- and the most important, namely that cently, he very skillfully dodged giv- time. Ibsen and Nietzsche are two prises, ecstasy and what does not? Anderson received the award. He, has ing a definition of poetry by quoting flaring examples. While Mordell comes closer to dis- inevery degree, deserved it. HisMr. Chesterton on elephants, "I don't Having stated his thesis at some closing the fundamentals of poetry book, "Winesburg Ohio" is an Ameri- length, Mr. Mordell goes op to show than any critic I have ever read; I can classic, one of the few that wili know how to define an elephant, hot that much prose is really poetry. He fer his theory will be a difficult one live. It rivals "Twelve Men" by Dreis- I know one when I see it." Poetry, gives as examples the prose poetry o to apply. The appreciation of poetry er, and has the added advantage that like all aesthetic subjects, eludes def- the Bible, the Arabs, and the ancient is more or less a subjective affair, as Egyptianss; and also some of the prose witness the perennial controversy writings of Goethe, Taine, Heine, Haw- over the writing of Whitman. When thorne, Poe, Emerson, and many oth- all is said and done perhaps Mr. Chest- es. In fact, he considers prose a erton's method of identifying ele- T tTA 7 natural medium for expresiang ec- phants is the best rule for deciding IN ') VYstacy, claiming that meter often dis- what is a poem. tracts from emotion. Literal transla-, (Continued on Page 6) - is the time to buy your lamps for the Holiday Season No iatter-- how disappointed or disheartened you may be -one Just Received! -OF_- A newsassortment Besimer's Grilled Steaks of lamps at will make you smile with joy. Get reasonable prices them upstairs across from the D. U..R. Station. The Detroit Edison Co. Cor. Main and William Sts. iumuinnuu m Phone 2300 r.'