The Williams Fortnight very justly and creditably takes exception to the disparaging remarks made by Mr. Howells in Harper's Monthly on "amateur rhymsters." Mr. Howell's remarks probably affect men in college more than others, for most "amateur rhymsters" are usually college men also. The work of amateurs in the poetic art he would discourage by means of "most brutal" criticism. Why amateur verse should receive brutality any more than the most professional verse that has ever been written, we find it hard to see. On the contrary, we think that young poets should have encouragement, not discouragement. If poetry is worth writing at all, it is worth the attention of amateurs. True, "poets are born," but they are born with the poetic genius, not with the poetic art. The genius needs the art for its perfection, and the art needs experience, if it is to aid the genius at all successfully. Moreover, the matter of genius aside, as long as poems by young writers are readable, and, as they often are even very creditable, such poems are worth writing and publishing. We believe that to-day the poems in college papere are among the most attractive features, and do not expect than any but such severe critics as Mr Howells can wish the young writers checked in their writing. No art can afford to be without an apprenticeship.