Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1851-05-29

EoeHs ny JoHn cooper NdlI, WIN WHosc
name, "a n poet, the public have been
familiar for some years past, through
the pages Of the most popular maea-
zines, and literary papers Of the coun-
try. This volume contains some very
beautiful poems,-poems that are mark
ed by an originality and vigor OF thought
and expression which is not common IN
these days, when versitiers are almost
AS numerous as flies in August. We
speak of ihs book not merely for the
purpose of rendering assistance TO Mr..
Vail, bu, because some OF the poems
are truly beautiful and powerful; and
we are confident that our readers would
be glad to peruse them. Mr. VANS
mind appears to be singularIy con titu-
ted, if we may Judge OF it by his wri-
tings, which we think a toIerably fair
test, even in poetry, allh' ugh many con-
tend that poets do no, believe half which
they write,-and that poets produc-
lions are no evidence of his real thoughts
and feelings.
The author seems to live mostly, as
far as his poems are concerned, in an
ideal world he sonrs on the wings Of
imagination entirely above the engross-
ments earth, and revels in that ideal
realm which is spread with gorgeous
drapcry. In the first poem Of the vol
ume, emitted the "Phantom City" our
idea is fully illustrated. We quote the
second verse:-
"There are gardens never equalled where the
flowers "Trip the breeze,
When it murmurs music softly to the whispe, ing
forest trees;
their lives in rhyme,
Like the melody of angels in the old forgotten
time;
Eden's thrilling with the thrilling Of their echoes
to and fro,
Lie the cleaning, silver streaming, Of a rivers
ceaseIess how,"
We should like to copy the whole
poem, but have not room for it,
The next poem pleases us equally
well. 1t is The Voice of Deity" lis
style is solemn, grand and melodous,
and peaIs forth like a great organs
thrilling tones. We quote single
verse and We know that this will be suf-
ficient to induce many of our readers to
perusc the whole poem. We take the
first verse;
"There was darkness all supcrnal,
And the Deity eternal
On the wilderness Of waters moved his sririt TO
aud fro;
And the waves, to silence moulded,
Lay like Deaths broad pinions folded,
As they casped his heeting shadow in their aw-
iul depths below,
The hleless waves in ocean graves could feel it
come and CO."
This poem alone is worth the price of
the book; and it will be fully apprecia-
ted by every lover of poetry. "The
Lost Star" is another of those wild pro-
ducilons for which we have an cspe.
caI fancy. But the Redemption oil
i Luciier" is the widest and the strong
est poem In the volume I; we cannot un-
derlake TO give even an idea Of it, but
recommend il to the careful perusal OF
our readers. They may rest assured
tina, it is most decidedly II marked pro-
duction.
We will quote the last verse of no
bic poem, Flower Of Thought
"Deaih ID Dark the future shroudcd,
| Every soul must win its prize.
And these golden thoughts uncloudcd,
Are not blanks in Paradise
When the mould Of life is broken,
In which God his shadow cast,
Then the soul, HIS lofty token,
H Will review the Truth at last"
We do not think that any one will
deny :he power and beauty OF these
lines,-and they are fair specimen Of
the whole poem.
We might particularise many others
Of grea, beanly, such as "The Frozen
Ship" MARY MagdaIen," "Paradise,' ;,
Hearts Echo," "The Bearing of the
Cross" &c, but we have not room to
extract from them. We most cheerful
lily commend the volume TO all, especial
the ladies. as we are quite confden,
thai they will find much IN it to admire.
The author is now in town, soliciting
subscriptions for some of the best liiera-
ry papers in the country, particularly
the Boston Museum and he has few
copies of his poems with him which he
will be glad 10 dispose of. The book is
got up in beautiful style, on fine white
| paper, AID is admirably printed on new
| type. Mr.. Vail offers it at an exceeding
| ly low price, and it is richly worth the
money.
FEMALE GALLANTRY.-It is seldom
that we have an opportunity Of record
ing a more noble and gallant feat, than
that noticed by the suhjoined account
and which took place on the b rning oI
the steamer Webster, on the Mississippi
river:
/ Cone incident is particularly worthy
Of notice. a young woman named