Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1821-06-26
FOR THE SPECTATOR.
Mn. EpITOR,

FOR THE SPECTATOR.
Mn. EpIToR,
1t is pleasing to see the efforts Of men
OF genius in the western country, strug-
Cling to place themselves on the same
plane of elevation as the great men of the
east. Such objects deserve encourage
ment, and it is with pleasure we hear Of
the liberal subscription of the people of
Illinois and Missouri to the original
poems of Mr.. Umphraville, lately pub
iished in ST. Louis The list, we have
been informed, is ten yards in length,
containing several hundred names. Some
few observations on this work will,
perhaps, no, be unacceptable to your
readers, as there are many subscribers
TO the work in Edwardsvile. The au-
thor has evnced great deal of excel
lence, and considerable want of poetic
merit. His Anacreontics may be classed
with those OF the old Grecian poet of
love, to translate whose works admirably
have immortalized Mr.. Thomas Moore.
These beautiful pieces are the flowers Of
this volume, and merit all the common
dation bestowed upon them by the par
TALLY of a generous public. The citi-
zens of Missouri now consider them
selves an immortalizcd race of beings,
and cite the work as a proof of their H.
terary proficiency. 1t must be owned
| that gratitude or self-intcrested motives
have induced the author to demonstrate
an undue and overweening desire to rate
Missouri above the rank she holds in the
union. The enconiums he pronounces
on Illinois are very faint, and he seems
paying an involuntary compliment to this
state; indeed his Setchea Of Illinois
abound with satirical remarks on our le-
gislative bodies, as for example,
Hark! its the woodman's axe, the forest falls,
Lo! by fairy hands ascend Vandalia's walls
Town Of day where rulers take their seat,
Talk of the public good, play cards, and treat ::
| Oh how unlike the senators of yore,
| Whose pay their country's plaudits, ask'd no
more.
Serious lawmakers of an infant state, }
Joumeymen Legislators, good and great,
Wisely receive their pay and legislate. }
When on the hreling statesmen of the age,
Looks down indignant Bond like an old Spar
tan sage;
Thanks to the artist (IIardng) if he can
Live on mere thanks he must be more than
man,
He gave this portrait of patriots face,
The hall of represe natives to grace"
1t appears to us that his Satire in imi-
tation of Horace is one of his best pro-
auctions; another entitled .AhoHo's Weice
is partly satirical and partly otherwise,
and abounds with humor. The Indian
Reclusc, Richard and Emma, written in
the style of Goldsmuth's Hermit, II SIM
ale Elegy ON Goldfnch, The Vesher
Howe, and some others, might challenge
the eastern states to present their equal.
The ludicrous piece entitled TIE Old
Maid Of st. Louis, tale, is an attempt
at broad humor which might properly
have been omitted. In fact, that Mr..
Umhhraville is a man of genius is obvi-
Gus, but he deserves for his numerous
faults, that the rod of criticism should
be exercised on his work. His compli-
| ment to Edwardsville is short and sweet,
and his lines to the Mississippi will be
read with pleasure in our state. The
editors of the Missouri papers will, no
doubt, puff their poet, until his vanity is
monstrously elevated; let therefore, this
salutary advice be not i'll received. That
there is ample room for great improve
ment, and the poet of the west has not
yet obtained the ne plus ultra of poetic
excellence. HOMUNEULUS.
|
| INDIAN OUTRAGES.
| An extract of letter to the Editor of