Page:Facts and Fancies about Our "Son of the Woods", Henry Clarence Kendall and his Poetry (IA factsfanciesabou00hami).pdf/18

xiv. to get a sufficiently wide circulation of the poet's works to give some (then much-needed) pecuniary assistance to the widow and the fatherless.

The reviewer's final words seemed rather contradictory, after his scathing criticism of Henry Kendall, both as a man and as a poet, for he wrote, in concluding: "But, to his honour be it said, that the work was a noble work; and none beside has yet dared to attempt it as he did. He has been the pioneer to point out the way; others must follow in his footsteps. Though in time to come other Australian poets may arise, men wil yet hold his memory in honour; for he is truly, in a sense, the "Father of Australian Poetry."

The late P.J. Holdsworth was most sincerely attached to Henry Kendall as a man, as well as appreciative of him as a poet. I had a somewhat singular demonstration of that the first time I met him, on the occasion of his acting as chairman at the Kendall lecture. Mr. Holdsworth was introduced to me by the Secretary as I was about to go on the platform. His keen anxiety lest anything should be said that would be hurtful to the poet's memory made him forgetful of all formality, as if absolutely sick with fear; and, breathlessly, he informed me that there were present in the audience those who would be much pained by any unkind allusions to the poet or his poetry, and he hoped I would say nothing disparaging. This was delightful to me, and I remember I smiled up to his anxious face and quite reassured him. The relieved look that succeeded the absolutely black cloud of anxiety made such a comical contrast that I had some difficulty in suppressing a peal of laughter; for it seemed so very ridiculous to be afraid of me. And once the ice was broken he seemed to see the absurdity of it himself, for his face became illumined with the most purely happy, almost joyously boyish smile I have ever seen irradiating the face of a man.

This was just the little episode necessary to help me to feel happy and grateful in my work, having the consciousness that I had the moral support of a kindly nature near me who would be pleased that I had nothing to say against Kendall; and that I was enthusiastic when