Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1845-1851, 1846-01-01

Criiici' m.
We have been much edited and amused this week,
by reading two criticisms on Reds Guzar. The one
by Perkins. of the Jclersonian the other by Clark
son, Of the Indiana American, which, by the by, are
perfect antipodes another
The critique of Mr. Perkins, if not all praise, ap-
pears to have been written with the pen of friendship
and gives an accurate and honest description of the
leading incidents of the work. as therein found.
Carkson opens in seeming cnndor, and attempts TO
give his views of the quality of the production but
he writes with pen dipped in gall.
Perkins declares his esteem for the author-quotes
the opening stanzas Of the poem-says that the verse
is graceful and fowing-the imagery rich, and the
sentiments delicate and beautiful and suggests that
the lovers Of song, least, ought patronze it for
Its own excellence and from local pride that so fine
work is produced among them, &c. &c.
Clarks0n, on the other hand, ridicueS the poetry
laughs at the claracters-sneers the plot and Incl
dens-decares that the taste and style of the work is
bad-and asserts that his was panied by the harsh
lines and ill-rhyming examinations with which it
abounds, whilst his fingers would involuntarily tin
gle to count the irregular sylables, as they came
rushing upon him. He also quotes from the poem
several coupets to prove his assertions, and to show
that is neither prose poetry, sense nor nom
sense and then very obligingy leaves his readers to
decide for themselves what it is, after telling them
what it is not.
Either the one the other Of these critiques must
be unjust which, we think the public easily
Judge, from the feeling that is evidenced in the diff
ferent criticisms.
But let US enquire, what is poetry! Does it con-
sst only, as Mr.. Clarkson would have it, in plot, in
incident IN beauty of style elegance of diction, and
in the exact number of feet which TO make
plete rhymes !! Most assuredly not although these
necessary, in great measure, to constitute a
poem of the first order. The Novelist, and Drama
fist, look to their plot as the chief object Of their
piece; the Historian to the accuracy of his facts and
perspcuity and elegance of his narration but Poetry
has It's language, its imagery, its own
thoughts and diction; for it is universal maxim,
that the chief qualification afforded from this kind of
writing, arises from the beauty of the thoughts; and
the true test is that which, competent Judges af-
fords the appropriate pleasure of Poetry.
Ungrammatical expressions, in a book, NAV or
may not be the fault of the author but although thew
are still they do not destroy the poetry. They may
pain the accurate grammatical ear, like the irhym-
ing examinations but these are faults which all po-
cts have been less charged with, and are the
faults which Horace, in his Art of Poetry" says he
is not angry with, they only tend to show human
frailty or careless hand, and ought to be excused,
when the beauties are more in number.
poet of the present day, and one of no small
fame, writing of the duty of poet says that is to
keep alive the eaty of the heart, and to rouse the
despised, even when it has been banshed by the
usurping intellect and with the sweet persuasion of
song awaken all the hottest feelings of the soul
which had their existence in the days of our YOUTH
the cold world had, with the breath of winter
nppcd them in their bloom. leaving in their stead the
frozen flowers of intellect brilliant and beautiful it
may be the eye of the stranger, but cold and ur-
feeling as the winter palaces of the Gar.
Such the action of the world on the heart of
Napoleon making it almost as cold and feellnglecs
the polar iceberg; yet the evening bell Of ms
tive village, its simple sounds fell mournfully on
the of the worlds conquerer, awoke in his bosom
the early sympathies of his youth, and made him
weep like child.
Docs the heart then feel any of those holier emo
tons in reading the Gulzar of Reid Does the work
lnculcate virtue and discourage vice! Does it speak
of the beautiful in the language of beauty, and appeal
to the heart for the truth of its affections Is the
tear of sorrow found from its fountain at
the recital of the wrongs of innocence or does the
feeling of anguish thrill the bosom at the triumph of
crime
If they do, then the work has accomplished what
poetry intended, and although as a finished produc-
ton, it may not compare with the Lalla Rookh of
Moore, yet the Gulzar is poem Of no mean order.
and the future will award it that place the rank of
DQnius which tlp IreS sent NAV rpfitSa IN 1ovu
The critique of the Journal accords more with our
opinion of the merits of the poem when they say that
. 1t much resembles Laila Rookh in STYLE and in our
judgment much inferior to that the best of Moores
productions n-A-
OF An attempt was recently made to rob the Bank |