Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1845-08-16
INDIGENOUS SONG.


following as specimen In rummaging over
the old communications Of the IIerald-slfting
the wash dir,--we discovered this sparkling
gem. We pounced upon It as we world up
on the lost books Of Livy-or one Of Cicero's
unpublished letters to Plny, eahumed from
the ruins of Pompei. The chief merit we
claim. however, 10 that Of ,ranslaliDg. As a
translator we now rank ourself with Champo.
lion who deciphered the byerogliphics of f.
gypt. II we have sacrificed by translation
some Of the beauties. we have at least not sac
riiced The sense Of The author; whoes name
appears 10 be Sprague--a name belonging TO
same brood named Poleg. We leave that in.
quiry 10 his biographer. If we have made a.
ny error, i, is because the verse occasionally
hais aud stamners. We canaot do peIfec,
justice to the author, because ,oe cannot make
our igpe ,futter. But now for the poetry:
"You will not publish ausht write,
You viii aoi help me into light;"
Here is a lameniaiion OF geLius! The i'm
mUr'ar vmn"-"-s -...bod h,,;ad
smo,hered in darkness. The author complains,
that the scinllations Of bis electric mind have
been drawn down into the Herald's communi.
cation box and there confined 10 darkness
much as Dr. franklin robbed thunder clouds
and imprisoned their electricity in the Leyden
minor poet said
"Full many gem is born 10 blush unseen"
Bullet our author proceed:
Is ! on will not help one low to riss
As you tower on TO tho skies"
Now tho former Of these lines clearly means,
that the editor Of the Herald has refused to
publish any Of the authors former commune
caIions--and tha, said editor would not boost
tho poet into ba,hos--or as tho poet elegantly
and paihe'caliy expresses il, "help him TO
rso low" Tho modest poe, never asked for
apuG zap, bu, only for n plunge do'cn. JUS
ice, though tardy is sure; he shall DO graiif-
ed. The second line takes truly Homeric
flight; and compares Mr.. Spalding. then editor
Of the Herald, 10 an eagle towering in the
pride ofplace; who might if he would conde-
sceRd to sioop. bear tho uniledged bird Of song
upon his strong Pinions heavonward. The
poet continues.
" But puff mate, n kindiod bee
Who even signs the letter g."
How common for impotence and cil'roniery to
eclipse modest merit! Now c. prepare to
take some gall-for The poe, dips his pen in
NORWOOD stronger Than decoclion of Iludi.
bras, Pope. Swift and Junius, all boiled to-
gelher.
"Whose skin though let IL once be told
il common ,place-nW rare but hold.
Who has a knack nf biting quick
boYish slyle-nor stand kick
Hut he has thoughu--ani So have all
Sons shot aud thick aud some quite tall,
And having gained favor there
Can now and then show mp : n Fare
We wish him well but 10 admire.
Is what We claim right OF, S,r;
And think that years with some rebuff
VIII bring from him quite better stuff"
Never before has critic so stung. since that
literary hornet Pope unsheathed his sting in
Grub stree, and dar,ed his venom into poor
Blaokmore. But il this is death, here follows
absolute dnnihilafion!
"When grim visage and quitking look
Will be Withdrawn into u nook.
Laugh and grow fat, be then the rule;
Not ape so sharp, 'Just oct from SCHOOL,
ontssli though small, OF working class
Which is e'et termed but an old ass
Whose ears long in spite OF like
And oiiea temtd old Jake or Mike,
Would lake TO fnd one competent,
Who would belriend no, prove dsflne,,
To trim eut name, our ears crop short
Aud Try to make the iackass snou"
Here ,he author modos,ly compares himself
10 donkey. Let no reader sneor a, this
whether as fact OF poetry. As for the fact i,
is rule Of evidence tina, ones own admissions
ere TO be taken most strongly as against him.
sell. II examined 10 the light Of poetic sim
lie, LEI il be remembered that old Homer com
pares one Of his heroes who figured in the
siege OF Troy-perhaps Aiax-,o laekass. Il
is therefore classical.
II the above gem Of literature has los, any.
thing 10 polishing. il is no, the faOit OF the lap.
diary; for we found /, buried 10 conerelion
Of houid hieroe,yPhles-as unin.elligible as il
it had been dog on, Of the ruins OF the lower
Of Babel. after all human languages had there
been Knocked into pi. Seven cities of Greece
claimed the honor Of giving birth To old blind
Homer-'he Hurricane claims Mr.. Sprsgue as
all It's own.