New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-12-10
THE TRIBUNE.

with illustrations by u. HUNTINGTON.
Carey & Hart, Chesnutst- lS45
Poetry is not superhumon or supernatural gift.
Its on the contrary the fullest and therefore most
completely natural expression of what is human
hi that of which the rudimens lie in every human
breast, but developed to complete existence
than the Instructions of daily life permit clothed in
an adequate form domcsticatcd in nature by the use
ofapt images, the perception of grand anaogies,
and set to the music Of the spheres for the delight Of
all who have ears 10 hear. We have uttered these
remarks, which may to many of our readers, seem
trusms, for the sake of showing that definition
Of poetry is large enough TO include all kinds Of ex-
ceence. 1t includes not only the great bards, but
the humbes minstrels. The great bards bring TO
light the more concealed treasures, gems which
,uries have been employed in forming and which it
is their office to reveal polish and set for the royal
purposes of man; the wandering minstrel with his
lighter but beautiful Office calls the attention ofmen
to the meaning of the flowers, which also is hidden
from the careless eye, though they have grown and
doomed in full sight of all who chose to look All
the poets the priests of Nature though the great
est are also the prophets Of the manhood of man.
For, when fully grown, the life Of man must be all
poetry each of his thoughts will be key 10 the
treasures of the universe; each of his acts revela
ton of beauty, his language will be music, and his
bsbitua presence will overflow with energy
and inspire with nobcr rapture than do the fullest
strains of lyric poetry now
Meantime we need poets; men more awakened
10 the wonders of life and gifted more or less with
power to express what they see and to all who pos
sess in any degree, those requisites offer and we
owe welcome and tribute whether the place Of their
song be in the Pantheon, from whicbissue the grand
DEGREES of immortal thought. or by the firesde,
where hearts need kindng and eyes need clarifying
BY occasional drops Of nectar in their tea.
But this-his alone claim, and can welcome
none who cannot present this title 10 our hearing;
that the vision be genuine, the expression sponta-
neous No imposition upon our young fellow citi-
zens Of pinchback for gold they must have the true
article, and pay the due intellectual price, they
will wake from a lifelong dream of folly TO find
themselves beggars.
And never was time when satirists were more
needed 10 scourge from Parnassus the magpies who
are devourng the food scattered there for the singing
birds There will always be good deal Of mock
poetry in the market with the genuine; it grows up
naturally as tares among the wheat, and, while there
is fair proportion preserved, we abstain from Sc
we're wedding lest the two come up together; but
when the tares have almost usurped the field 1t is
time to begin and see if the field cannot be freed
from them and made ready for a new sced-time
The rules of versifcation now understood and
used by those who have never entered into that soul
from which metres grow as aco-ns from the oak,
shapes as characteristic of the parent tree contain
ing in like manner germs of mitess life for the tu-
ture And as to the substance of these jngling
rhymes and dragging stumbling rhythms, we might
tcllof bombast or still worse, an affected simplicity,
scky sentiment or borrowed dignity but II is sut-
fcien 10 comprise all in this one censure. The
writer's did not write because they felt obliged to re-
lieye themselves of the swelling thought within, but
as an elegant exercise which may win them rank
and reputation above the crowd. Their lamp is not
libby the sacred and inevitable lightning from above
but carefully fed by their own will 10 be seen OF
men.
There are very few now rhyming in England not
obnoxious to this censure, still fewer in America.
I For such no laurel blooms May the friendly poppy
soon crown them and grant stiffness to hear the
silver tones of genuine music for il such there be,
they are at present almost siiied by these flies and
| gongs.
! Yet there is middle class, composed of men O:
little original poetic power, but of much poetic
taste and sensibitv. whom we would not wish 10
have senced They do no harm but much good
ut only their minds not conlounded with those OF
higher class, by educating in others the faculties
dominant in themselves. In this class we place the
writer at present before
Wemusi confess 10 a GOODNESS toward Mr. Long
fellow, in consequence OF the exaggerated praises
that have been bestowed upon him. When we see
apeTson Of moderate powers receive honors which
should be reserved for the highest we feel some
what like assaing him and taking from him the
crown which should be reserved for grander brows.
ana yet this is, perhaps, ungenerous, 1t may be
Aat the management of publishers the hyperbole of
Pa'o or undiscerning reviewers, some accidental
4 cause which gives temporary interest to produc
u Mons beyond what they would permanently com
fnahd have raised such one place as much
sooSe his wishes as his claims, and which he would
rejoice with honorable modesty, 10 vacate at The
approach of one worhier. We the more readily be-
Neve this OF Mr. Longeiow as one SO sensible to the
beauties of other writer's and SO largely indebted to
Them, must know his own comparative rank better
'haa bis readers have known it for him.
And yet so much adulation is dangerous Mr.
collect his poems which have circulated so widely
IN previous editions. and been paid for so handsomely
oy The bandsomest ANNALS in this beautiful volume,
Illustrated by one of the most distinguished OF our
Younger arists-has found flatterer in that very
1a'' The portrait which adorns this volume is not
e'eiy battered or deaized but there is an attempt
.g i, by expression thrown into the eyes
",~ luss that which the original does not possess,
"1e'heF IN faceor mind. We have often seen faces
usually coarse and heavy lneaments were
4oaized al times into beauty by the light that
e - fOn the soul into the eyes The intention Ma
,...n "Aa with regard to the face and its wearer
- ay echpsed beneath bad habits or bad educa-
~ . 'uen disclosed and We see what hopes Death
=. ~ sore for that soul Blu, here the enthusiasm
b., INTO the eyes only makes the Of the face
MS, more weak and the idea suggested is the ano
'Ns one ola Dandy Pinder.