The daily republic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1853-1853, 1853-08-15
THE REPUBLIC.


quet-the perusal of "a Life Drama and other
Poems, by A. Smith.
The rise of this writer in the world OF song has
been almost unprecedented, the volume before us
having been hailed with enthusiasm throughout
this country and Europe, raising it's author from
an unknown obscurity to place among the stars.
He has thrown on these leaves fragments OF
poetry of such singular vitality and power that in
their circulation they will preserve like the Jews
their existence and integrity unimPaired Though
scattered like seed from careless hand they will
not be lost. Mr.. Smith has laid the foundation
of deathless fame, and his name is linked forever
to the music of sweet sounds. Whence is this
All he has written as yet is contained in this little
volume of 100 pages. 1t IS not quantity Of pro-
duction, therefore, that so exalts this writer
These poems, in every point of view, are truly
wonderful productions. We are at a loss which
most to admire. His Tyre necessarily changes it's
tone, and in every change it throws forth u flood
of new inspiration. We have sublime thoughts
glowing with Imagination and dazzling in bril-
ancy; images the most delicate, with rapid sue
cession of tropes, scarcely to be found elsewhere.
To every shade of sentiment and affection he has
given voice of musical and energetic utterance.
which has not an expression in his poetry-from
the gentlest whisper of feeling to the agonies Of
every passion. His poetry is thoroughly human.
He speaks to us as beings whose hearts are OF the
same substance as his own; and the auditors give
to his words as true response as poetic enthu-
siasm could desire. He gives them his thoughts,
and they pay back the trust with priceless adj
miration.
Great indeed is the task to give poetic and con-
densed expression to those thousand impulses that
ever heave within us, and are evanescent as the
ocean wave; to furnish fitting words for the ideal
and fervent longings which millions feel but can
not utter for themselves; to embody in lasting
form underlined desires to touch chord after chord
of memory, and to awaken the divine music that
slumbers in the soul; in word, to give melody
and speech to the heart of man. great is the task,
but the writer before us has accomplished it, and
in accomplishing it he has proved himself man
of uncommon and splendid genius
Mr.. Smith is one Of bright constellation, for
Scotland has given to the world host of glorious
names. Ferguson, simple and full of music; Al
len Ramsey, the very genius Of pastoral poetry;
Tannahill, a lowly spirit of melody and pathos;
Hogg, the glorious wizard of the mountain, comes
down from his shepherd wilderness, his memory
peopled with all older legends, ind his fancy tenn
ing with all fairy dreams; and that startling phe-
nomena, Burns, one of the world 'ssweetest poets,
who gave us his mortal songs without money and
without price-whom in all his follies and his suffer-
ings, we behold true to a manly nature, and loyal
to noble principles, and however scanned and de-
formed may have been the surface of his life,
virtue remained unshaken in his soul
These illustrious names bear Mr. Smith COM
pany; while Scotland, her history and her religion,
are all such as to give poetic expression, variety,
and strength
1t is limited that this new author is Tor has been)
obscure, and is now poor. With such wealth of
mind there can be no poverty. If his spirit is
harassed and goaded with the vulgar cares Of
poverty, it is glorifed also with conscious genius
He can retreat from the vexations of the world to
the sanctuary of his enriched imagination, and
there, amid all the evils of his outward condition
he can find in poetry its own exceeding great re-
ward. Through all the sorrows that overshadow
tho child of poverty; amidst all the clouds that
hang heavily over their PATH glimpses of joy will
ever and anon burst on his enraptured eye-joys
which it is given only to the true poet to behold.
And who would not, if he could, have soul
so adorned with the beautiful, rather than without
il be over-burdened with the load of external for
tuner The high-born and wealthy of his own
country will recognise in Mr.. s. the presence of a
greatness superior to their own; and the mobiles Of
Scotland will become poor before this aristocrat OF
Heaven.
IF happiness find resting place in noble poet
ry-in an eloquence that never fails-in an imagi-
nation bright as the stars in Heaven; ifhappness
can be brought down from the sky by lofty and
aspiring sentiments then it will be the lot of the
author before us. The grandeur of his ideal, the
innate love that he has for the beautiful-the to-
nacity of his memories-all conspre to elevate
him above the sordd cares of this life
For ourselves, we anticipate the timo when this
new author will como before the public i'll a ma
turc and finished work
We must explain to our readers the cause OF
the abrupt breaking of the thread OF our subject
We have had for the last hour two visitors An
African nurse standing by our side like statue
of dazzling ebony, and in her arms young gen
tleman in long clothes, whose golden hair and MY
skin forms striking contrast to his sable COM
panion. Had we been gifted with the power OF
babv mcsmcrism, we could not have found moro
attentive and adnirng auditor than our little
chubby friend, who seemed quietly delighted with
the honor of watching the rapid movement OF our
pen, as it glidcd along the smooth surface OF the
paper. Suddenly, however, one OF the dmpiod
hands grasped the nkstand, and in another instant
our unfinished sketch was submerged in river OF
black fluid We shrieked in horror. Baby hxed
his round eyes in astonshmcnt on our face as II
not knowing what he had done to call forth such
an unearthly sound, while the nurse was deeply
mortified, for she had great pride in having II
said at the springs that she had a peculiar talent
in managing babies, the one under her caro- being