New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-01-26
DR.. LATHAM on LONGFELLOW
FroN The London Leader.

FroN The London Leader.
We have received letter from DIR. Latham on the
subject of "Hiawatha" and LongfeLows supposed
p!a aris ms. Writing, do, in complete ignorance
of " Kalcwaa," and consequently unable to form any
opinion OF the amount of resemblance actually tracea-
bic between il and " Hiawatha," we are at disad-
vantage which DIR. Latham will appreciates but,
nevertheless cannot alter our present position IN
the controversy. The question raised has two points
one of fact and one Of literary morals The question
of fact is: Dill Iongfellow know the poem OF = hse-
waa," and ignore ii The question of morals u; Can
the roet be Justly blamed for not naming the work be
has initiated To both our answer would under pre-
sent circumstances be negative. We do not believe
Longfeow knew "Kalewala;" or If he ever read that
poem, it had escaped his memory we should imagine,
at the time of writing the notes to tiiawatha. Vur
reason for this statement Is that we have entire iah IN
Longfelows integrity. He says nothing OF " Male
wsla" simply because he felt no obligations 10 IT, On
serve he does not claim originality. lie freely
tions sources from which all his legends are derived;
and we cannot conceive a reasonable motive for his
conceapg his obligations to "kaewala, had he fet
any, However let DIR. Latham be heard:
SIR: I see that The AhheaGKm is not the only
uaper that has noticed the relations between Long
fellows Hawatha' and the fine poem Of kalewaa.'
II is matter upon which have always been certain
that ink would DC spilled; and have looked out for the
frst spirtings of with some some little interest.
1.-The writer Of the notice in The National fafes-
Hgencer IL. 81 quoted in your literary column OF
last week. says that Longiellow has transferred from
the 'Kaewala to Hiawatha the entire form, spirit,
and many Of the most striking incidents Of the poem
Ills il, in the InaD, true statement; indeed H. In
stead of many We wrote some, IT would be unes-
ccgiCnabe, . ,..r;,.. one. .ioO;doo,., HI. view i.
perfectly compatible with the fact that Longelow on
nounces in his notes vz That the legends are taken
from Mr. Schoolcralts work on The American ind-
ans No one doubts this The question IL az to the
fom and spirit and some incidents, the iorm ana
spirit being the more important.
hIIow far the suggestions from kaewala' ought ~
have been acknowledged by the author OF iliawstba
land that under any point of view they are very con
siderable is matter upon which there can scarcely BE-
two opinOna) u another matter.
"Suppose that, ten years after the inst publication
of 'Ossan, French poet, cognizant Of English, had
written a poem Ossianic in form and spirit but
Breton or Basque in respect to It's legends, what should
be the contents Of his preface notes suppo-ng be
had them) in the way Of allusion TO, or ackaowledg
ment of his source.l Would he be justified in referring
only TO the writer from whom he got his legends
wholly ignoring Ossian
81 ask this question without answeringit IL; but aid
that saniafis B1aiaRds this is the with the rea-
tons between iliawntha' and the 'Kalewala.'
remain sir. YOUR. most faithfully, r. o. LATHAM
Dr. Latham's illustration il excellent; but we should
the question respecting the Osslanic imitation
by saying that il depends entirely on the amount
obligation, and the nature OF the points initiated.
Longfellow's legends are not his own invention; the
meter il not his invention; but the poetry s and
in poem this is the prnc pal matter Goethe did MOI
invent the story of I" Hermann und Dorotbea; nor
did he invent the meter nor did he ever, IN note or
preface allude TO the origin OF the story, or 10 Ills
predecessors in German bexsmetersi yet we have
heard none Of his yiruent critics accuse him OF playa
Iism on poetical dishonesty In L%gieiiows case the
obligation TO "Kalewaa" is assnrned It N very pos-
siby no direct obligation at all but, granting the
obligation we entirely absolve the poet for not having
mentioned il.