Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-07-25
ALEXANDRIA, ID. co.
THURSDAY MORNING. JULY Is. 1888.

THURSDAY MORNING. JULY IS, 1888.
POEMS, BY A CoLLEoIAN.-This is the title
of q small volume Of Poems recently issued from
! the Charlottesville press, which but short time
since we had an opportunity of seeing and briefly
Noticing, and copies Of which we observe are now
for sale at Morrison's Book Store The work IS
very neatly printed on good paper, and its me-
chanical execution altogether creditable. We
desire, now that it is fairly before the public, to
say few words as to its merits.
There is nothing which gives US more real and
unaloyed pleasure, than to observe the efforts OF
genius and intelligence. To watch the "eagle
flights" Of the mind through the regions OF ina.
pination, is relief to one who has for the most
Dart to gaze intenty only at the dull and plod
ding concerns of every day life with its thousand
cares and anxieties. 1t is with these feelings
that we omen the book before us, and follow the
author with delight through the shady and Ho".
ety paths Of poesy along which he treads, and
where. young as he is, he has culled some OF the
choicest and sweetest f1owers.
The severity of criticism, with those disposed
to use it, ought to be disarmed, when it is stated
that nearly all the poems in this little volume
were written between the ages OF sixteen and
nineteen. Without the benefits, therefore. OF
age or experience, the adventurer In literary Ia.
5ors always deserves every courtesy and kind
ness. The candid reader will however, in the
present case, be willing at once to accord this,
not from the fact that we have mentioned, but
from the intrinsic beauty Of many OF the poems,
and the evidence that they all give OF talent and
genius.
We have not room, nor indeed would we wish
to extract many passages from these poems, TO sa-
tisfy our readers Of the correctness 0 the favor-
able opinion we have expressed. We desire ra-
Their that they should purchase the volume them
selves, read it, and become convinced In that
way. We may however mention that we were
particularly pleased with the Lines occasoned by
the anticipated fall of Constantinople in 1929,
commencing, with spirit
Thy pldmes are ruf1led now, proud bird
Der land and ocean, forest, solitude,
The echo of Thy las. sad shrek Is heard!
The glance of majesty
Is quailing now from thy fierce eye,
And the deep wailing of thy scattered brood
Is dying to murmur. Sadly dark
is thy soiled plumage, and thy gilded crest
Has fallen.
We find sprinkled over the poems thoughts
f'1A Of the true spirit of poetry; such as
love to see that moons pure beams,
Like NEntninR SHOT upon Tue WutSEy WhstSs
Which like mine of living diamonds CLEANS
Each sparkling but an instant-as in haste
To hide its liquid lustre in the wave
A jeweed bathing place. starlit home.
Again
There is spell
In all the untaught hsrmones of earth,
charm in natures simple melodies,
whether of bird, or bee, or lesfy songs,
Or noise of running waters than can bring
Man to his noble bearing bark and cheer
The SOUL as moisture does \ desert plant:
And this
The crested waves as they dash on high,
And dissolve in pearly beads,
Appear as a carpet spread gaudily, &c.
But we will not continue such random quota.
tons They do not do justice to the merits OF the
puems from which we have thus hastily wrested
them.
In conclusion, we again bespeak the attention
of the literary public to this volume, which will
be found more worthy of their notice than many
now pulled into favor by those interested in their
publications. To the author we can only repeat
the expression of the pleasure and satisfaction
that we have experienced from perusal Of his
poems, and our hearty wish that, 10 after life. his
talents may be justly appreciated and happiness
and success every where attend him.
DANIEL WEBSTER
Mr.. Webster's tour through part Of the
Western Country, has, it would seem, been most
gratifying to him and pleasing to those who re:
ceived him with SO many marks of kindness and
respect. The complete annihllation Of party
spirit, in those public demonstrations of feeling
which met him In every town and village through
which he passed, has impressed US most fayora.
bly, as to the patriotism and generosity of our
fellow citizens in that section Of country. They
acted upon the honorable and American p'nci-
pie, that Mr.. Webster's fame is identified with
that Of his coantry-that he is truly great man;
an ornament to the Bar and the Senate; a States.
man and an Orator: and, disregarding the petty
political prejudices Of the times, they hailed him
as belonging to them in common with the rest OF
their cOuntrymeD.
We observe a speech Of Mr.. Webster's deli
vered at Pittsburg reported in the newspapers.-
1t is full of those patriotic sentiments which he
ever cherishes, and contains his views on the
subjects Of Domestic Industry, Internal Improve.
ao1 NultiGcat;nn