"Regular", or "English" Modern Italian form form English (Petrarch): (Shakspear's): 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 3 2 2 4 2 2 3 1 1 4 Two or three 3 5 rhymes; any 4 6 arrangement 5 5 3 6 4 7 5 7 There are good reasons for preferring the regular Italian form created by Petrarch--who knew a thing or two; and sometimes good reasons for another arrangement--of the sestet rhymes. If one should sacrifice a great thought to be like Petrarch one would not resemble him. A. B. [Washington, D. C., May 2, 1901.] MY DEAR STERLING, I am sending to the "Journal" your splendid poem on Memorial Day. Of course I can't say what will be its fate. I am not even personally acquainted with the editor of the department to which it goes. But if he has not the brains to like it he is to send it back and I'll try to place it elsewhere. It is great--great!--the loftiest note that you have struck and _held_. Maybe I owe you a lot of letters. I don't know--my correspondence all in arrears and I've not the heart to take it up. Thank you for your kind words of sympathy.[2] I'm hit harder than any one can guess from the known facts--am a bit broken and gone gray of it all. [2] Concerning the death of his son Leigh. But I remember you asked the title of a book of synonyms. It is "Roget's Thesaurus," a good and useful book. The other poems I will look up soon and consider. I've made no alterations in the "Memorial Day" except to insert the omitted stanza. Sincerely yours, AMBROSE BIERCE. [Washington, May 9, 1901.] MY DEAR STERLING, I send the poems with suggestions. There's naught to say about 'em that I've not said of your other work. Your "growth in grace" (and other poetic qualities) is something wonderful. You are leaving my other "pupils" so far behind that they are no longer "in it." Seriously, you "promise" better than any of the new men in our literature--and perform better than all but Markham in his lucid intervals, alas, too rare. Sincerely yours, AMBROSE BIERCE. [Washington, May 22, 1901.] MY DEAR STERLING,