Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1825-05-11
For the Massachusetts Spy.1
THE BLUE STOCKING CLUB.
No. II,

THE BLUE STOCKING CLUB.
No. II.
Swan of the Nth thy wing was light.
Thy pumes were whitest of the white,
But wild ?nd Maynard was thy flight
From wave to wave;
One course was thine-headstrong and brfbt
Even TO the grave.''
SCOTTISH Paper
| was amusing myself, the other day. lin
turning over the volumes of the British Poet
and as my eye rested on the long catalogue bf
names which were once upon every lip, bit
which are now almost entirely forgotten, nv
mind was forcibly impressed with tie uncel
tainty OF fame. Men who were the pride anR
the honor of the age they graced; who toiled
their lives away in the pursuit of name
which they hoped should live long after they
had gone down to the grave, and who fondly
deemed that they had won for themselves. a
garland which the lapse of ages should not be
able to fade, and a crown which the rust of
time should not tarnsh nor corrode, are now
only known to the dull and pressing book
worm, leaden and mouldy, and ponderous, as
the huge tones, whose brass hinges he I'M
locks. 1t is an humiliating thought, that. TO
such as these, there should be nothing left
but ''green grave and forgetfulness,'' and it
strongly reminds us 1'what shadows we arc.
and what shadows we pursue.n The name
of the bard. if it lives at all, must live in the
affections OF the many. 1t is no consolation TO
him to be read and admired by the learned
lew. His words must be on the lips of all.
and his memory must be cherished in the
hearts OF the great multitude
After INDUCING in these aad similar refce-
tons, turned with pleasure from the long list
OF the nameless and forgotten, to contemplate
the character Of the 6 Swan of NTH" the son
OF love, patriotism and poetry Rober,
Burns. He is one of the few who are remem-
bered, not only to be admired for their talents,
but to be loved for their virtues. Though at
times his open and confding disposition. the
warmth of his feelings and the impetuosity OF
his passions, may have betrayed him into &C.
tons which, in moments of reflection. he would
| condemn as unworthy the character of man
and Christian still, when we consider the
| natural fire of his genius, and the uncontrola-
BILE independence of his spirit, we cannot but
| cover these blcmishes in his character with the
mantle of mercy. The cool and calculating
designs OF habitual vice, and Of mean and des-
picabe duplicity, will always be detested
hut the occasional falings of noble and gen.
erous soul, will always he forgiven.
There is none of that artificial gloss-that
fascinating, bat cold and cherries lustre.
either in his character or writings, which may
frequently excite our admiration, but car
never win our affection. All is warm, and
glowing, and unsophisticatcd nature. In read.
ing him, you feel that the entrances TO his DO.
som are thrown open, and that you can freely
commune with him in the deep recesses of hi:
heart. / would rather be.the writer OF song
such as Bannockburn, or .4uH Lang SINE
which should be chanted in mus c, by the
lips prince and Of peasant, from one end OF
the continent 10 the other, than the titled au.
thor of thousand gilt-bound volumes, which
grace the shelves Of library.
Who would not envy the reputation oil
Burns: His memory is cherished, with re.
gard, almost sacred, by a generous and high.
minded people. 1t is impossible to estimate
the influence which the poetry of Burns must
exercise in forming the Scottish character
His writings, believe, have come nearer in
their effects towards forming "A national char.
acter, 10 those of Homer, than any others since
the days of the Prince OF poets. The Grecian
youths passed no uncomfortable port ion OF
their time, in learning and reciting the poem.
of their immortal bard; and that mistaken
love of country, which attached them SC
strongly to their home, and taught them SC
| gloriously TO- defend it, in the hour of peril
that quick and keen perception, and enthusi-
astic admiration of the beauties OF art G. OF ma
turc, for which they were so prominently dis
tinguished, rnay he attributed in no small de-
gree to their intimate acquaintance with the
writings Of Homer. Theyrepeated the nara.
tive songs Of the great father of Grecian poet
ry, " cmbodying the faint memory Of fahu-
lous an,iquity--thc achievements Of heroes and
ofgods-thc origin Of nation, and the crea-
ton Of the world" till their feelings were
wrought up TO that pitch Of enthusiasm SO
srilSingly illustrative of their character. Thoir
minds caught kindred colouring from the
glowing pictures of the poet. What the writ
ings of Homer, united with martial hymns ard
choruses, effected in forming the character oil
the ancient Greeks, the songs Of Burns,
moulded TO the soft gushing music Of Gale
DOMAIN airs, have doHe and are doing for the