[Rarebooks] FS: Oliver Wendell Holmes Letter to a 15-year old author: "there is no such utterly superfluous and profitless production as ordinary verse"

[Charles Agvent]

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HOLMES, Oliver Wendell. AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED (ALS) to a 15-year old 
author: "there is no such utterly superfluous and profitless production 
as ordinary verse" Beverley Farms, MA, 3 August 1882. A fine four-page 
letter on both sides of a 9-1/2" x 6" sheet of paper folded into fours 
and SIGNED at the conclusion "Oliver Wendell Holmes." Addressed to a 
"young friend" regarding verses submitted by that person and carefully 
read by Holmes. In part: "They [verses] do not show any extraordinary 
faculty of verse-writing or other positive gifts. Great numbers of young 
persons can and do write verse which like these, show some knowledge of 
language, some knack of rhyming but nothing more. Most of them stop at 
this stage, and wisely, for there is no such utterly superfluous and 
profitless production as ordinary verse. There is no harm in it so long 
as it is kept private and written for the author's amusement. But the 
writer is flattered by friends begins to think himself or herself 
exceptional, neglects study or the duties lying before him or her, gets 
into the corner of a village newspaper, sends a copy of verses to the 
'Century' or the 'Atlantic' which are glanced at and thrown into the 
waste-basket, and while he or she is dawdling with rhymes, sees the 
so-called 'dull' schoolmate or companion take the pirzes in life.... You 
seem to be a bright sort of youth and being only fifteen years old 
nobody has a right to say you may not succeed in anything - poetry - 
history - essay - novel - whatever you may undertake.... I advise you to 
give your energies to fitting for college--that will keep you busy 
enough. But you are bright and honest and I hope good things of you." 
Matted with a floating mount and framed at an early date to an overall 
size of 14-1/4" x 11". Creases from folding, otherwise Fine, the 
floating mount exhibiting the letter slightly askew. (#017263)        
$1,250.00

http://www.charlesagvent.com/shop/agvent/017263.html?id=xNhupoAg&mv_pc=974

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