The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. XX. No. 1023, August 5, 1899

A warm, early‑twentieth‑century essay invites young readers to see poetry as a living companion rather than a classroom obstacle. It argues that true self‑culture springs from feeling the cadence of Wordsworth, Shakespeare and Browning, letting verses echo in the heart instead of being dissected for examinations.

The writer sketches two contrasting students—one who memorises every scholarly footnote, the other who simply lets a poem’s music linger in her mind. While the former may ace a test, it is the latter who carries the poem’s spirit forward, enriching imagination and moral sense. Gentle and conversational, the piece encourages girls to balance knowledge with love of art, promising that a genuine encounter with poetry can both beautify daily life and broaden one’s view of the world.