The daily Gate City., 1855-10-30

as this, we first met with an extract from
Locksley Hall We were but child then
and to us il was new era in our intellectual
life. It's lofty cadenced verse oftimes came
between us and our lessons, and made glad
melody in our heart long after.
We have loved its author SO long that
Maud comes 70 Us like q lovers gift. W.
welcome it as such, and give it a warm place
in cur hearts.
Many Of the critics are very feroeionsly
inclined against this poem, the ontpourng
Of passionate. strong nature. Every true
poet strives to portray characters rs they
really exist in the world, not merely crea-
lures of his BRAIN We cannot dislike the
poem because the hero is misanthropie and
| has feryent admiration for war. There ~
enough Of feryent, generous love IN the 20
EN- to neutral2e much worse philosophy than
is here given. To rs the bitter Remuneration
of the sins of this bartering age seems not
whit too severe, and the feeling that leads
youth to the battle field, hatred to an
oppressor, love Of his Fatherland and OF
glory,-is surely more noble than that eager
pursuit of wealth for its own sake that de-
files the hearts of thousands, who will en-
dure every insult under heaven rather than
that their trade should be injured.
There nre many different specimens OF
yersifcation contained in the poem, all OF
which are felicitous. We would love TO read
it now in the gorgeous forests, where the
ripe brown nuts are dropping in soft beds q
leaves. and the little brook, not yet chilled to
silence, glides murmuringy along.
To lovers, Maud Will prove ncw and glo-
rious revelation of their own blisSful life.
They will murmur it to each other rs they
walk beneath the stars. To other less for
tunate individuals il will be also Joy. and a
| wellsprng Of gladness, for the sweet love
language needs no Interpreter. but finds an
echo in every heart.
We make the following extract, because
il contains something Of the bitter melan-
cholv that has been SO much condemned, and
because il contain, much that We dearly love:
20 lei The soid ground
No' faiI beneath my feet,
tutil my life hath found
What some hnye found 50 sweet
Then let come wha, come may
What matter if 80 mad,
/ shah have had may day
Let the sweet heavens endure,
Nor close aud darkeu above INK,
Before ! am quite sure
That on IL left ~ love ne;
Th.u IT. come wat come may
T. a life that has been SO sad,
| .hall hasl had my day.
The lines commencing, ..Come into the
garden, Maud, /" have been often quoted, and
are exqusitely beautiful. But as ut this
time Of the year more than At any other we
feel the want expressed iu the following lines,
we venture 10 extract them
"0h God for 4 rnau With head heart hanl,
Like some # the simple grea, ones gone
Fer ever and ever by.
0ne ,tll strong man in tbi, hattere3 land
Whatever they cali ism. uhat ear
Aristucrat, democrat, aHtocfat--oLe,
" ho can rule an1 dare not ls
Some complaints have arisen in regard to
the obscurity Of the story. We see no rca-
son for this, although many beauties escape
is 81 il first reading. Tile hero presents his
sad story to us with great distinctness. The
FIRST terrible memery Of childhood that left
, its impression on the young heart forever !;
the lonely hoyhood and early manhood; the
one brief dream Of love, happiness, and
Maud and the terrible awakening to mad
ness and despair, until the war trumpet
reused him TO action All rice wildly be-
! fore rs.
| The short poems contained in the volume
have many of them appeared ia print before.
/ The ode on the death Of Wellington alone
reminds Us that TennySon is Poet Laureate.
We do not admire this lengthy efusion. 1t
may be because the subject was never ia
yorte Of ours We like the lines to Rev.
! F. d. Maurice far better aud We rejoice that
the poet has not found it necessary. like
southey, TO disguise every principle Of truth
| and freedom.
n" The New York Herald saws the choice
Of Speaker Of the new House Of Representa-
4 tives will turn upon the question Of admit
TING Reedpr ar Whitfn3d nc dnlppatp from