The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-01-26
A POET WHO is TO LIVE,
BY DIR. CUANNISC.

BY DIR. CLAIMING.
The great poet of our times, Wordsworth,
one of few who are to live, has gone to
common life, 10 the feelings of our universal
nature, 10 the obscure and neglected portion
of society, for beautiful touching lbcmes.-
Nor ought it to be said, that he has shed
over these the charms Of his genius; as if in
themselves they had nothing grand or love-
". Genius is not creator in The sense Of
lancymg or lcigning what does not exist
lis distinction Is. 10 discern more Of truth
than common minds. 1t sees, under digui-
ses and humble forms, everlasting beauty.
This ii is the prcrngalivc Of Wordsworth to
discern and reveal in the ordinary walks of
life, in the common human heart. lie has
revealed lie ovelincss Of the primitive feel
ings Of the universal affections oil the human
soul. The grand truth which pervadcs hls
poetry is, that Il!c beautiful is not confncdto
the rare, the new, the distant, 10 scenery and
modes OF life open only 10 the few; but that
it is poured forth profuseIy on the common
earth and sky. that it CLEANS from the lone.
lIcsl flower, that il lights W. the hunblest
sphere, that the sweetest affections lodge i'll
lowly hearts, That there is 4 sacredncss, dig
nifty and lovclness in lives which few eyes
rest upon, that even in the absence OF all
intellectual culture, the domestic relations
can quietly nourish that disinlcrestcdncss,
which is the element of all greatness, and
without which intellectual power is splen-
did deiormity. Wordsworth is the poet Of
humanity; teaches reverence for our uni
vcrsal nature he breaks down the Fictitious
barriers between human hearts.
The same is true in an inferior degree Of
Scott whose taste, however, were more
arislocralic. Scott had childish love of
rank, titles. shows pageants, and in general
looked with kcencr eve On the outward lle
than into the soul. Still he had human
heart and syrnpalhlscd with his race With
few exceptions, he was just 10 all his human
brethren. A rcconcilmg spirit breallIs
through his writing. lie scizcs on the inter-
of life; gives. lis bursts of tender and noble
feelings even from rude natures; and con-
llnuaIly knltS some new tie between the rca.
der and the vast varieties Of human nature
which start up under his teeming pen. lie
delighted indeed in highland chiefs, in border
thieves and murderers, in fierce men aud
fierce encounters. But he had an eye to
catch the stream of sweet affections, as it
wound It's way through human life. What
light has Jeanne Deans shed ON the path of
the obscure lie was too wanting in the
religious sentiments. to comprchc nd the sol
cmn bearing the stern grandeur of the Puri-
tanS. But we must not charge with mar
rowncss writer, who embodcs in the Jew
ish maiden his highest conceptions of female
noblcncss.'
Another wlcr, illustrating the beralizlng
all-harmonizing tendency of our times, -
Dickens, whose genius has sought and found
subjects of thrilling interest in tho passion,
sutlerIngs, virtues, Of the mass OF tho people.
lie shows, that life in its rudcst forms may
wear tragic grandeur; that amidst folies
and sensual excuses, provoking laughte and
scorn, tho moral feelings do not wholly die;
and that the haunts of the blacklist crimes
are sometimes lighted up by the presence
and influence of the ntblcst souls He has
indeed greatly erred, in turning so often
the degradation of humanity into matter of
sport; but the tendency Of his dark pictures
is TO awaken sympathy with our race, to
change the unfeeng Indifference which has
prevailed towards the depressed multitude,
into sorrowfuI aud indignant scGsibility to
their wrongs ami woes.
WoMAN's I.ovE-"Oh, how cruel to val
uc love rs L piece Of common merchan-
disc. it Is the only thing on this rounded
globe that suffers no purchaser bu, ITSELF
Love is the equivalent of love; the inra'ua-
bc Jewel that must be- either freely given,
or forever uncnjoycd, bc barred.