The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-12-18
JOHN G. SAXE'S LECTURE.

The Fourth Lecture of the Course, before the
Library Association of the Charles street Methodist
church, was delivered last evening, by Mr. John c.
SAKE, OF Vermont, the subject of his lecture being
" Poetry and Poets"
lie commenced by saying that a witty French
writer observed that next to prose- poetry was the
hnest Kind OF writing. Many eminent men have
written their contempt of poetry and their observa-
lions have been the result, sometimes of ignorance
sometimes OF cynicism, and sometimes because they
have failed in that way themselves We NAV de-
termine the cause, by our knowledge of the man.
and the occasion which called forth the remarks
Plato depised his own poetry, because it initiated
that OF Homer. Pascal complained of poetry be-
cause it had no object, like the Mathematician who
asked of Paradise lost, ''what it proved?' Frcde-
rick William OF Prussia had great antpathv to
poets, as DR.. johnson had to Scotchman CARLYLE
denounces poets as so many fddlers, and out of
place IN this unitarian age Poetry has never
been Defined all definitions offered have been un-
satisfactory. Metaphysicians and poets alike have
been at fault. good enough definition is,
g Beautiful thoughts in Musical Words"
but rythm is demanded As an art poetry is the
property OF few only; a sentiment, it belongs
to many. The poetic sentiment is almost as uni
versal as the human mind 1t has been sought in
all ages. Grief has claimed its low and melan.
choly cadence. joy has sung her raptures to its
strains But love, among all people, has been the
great source of inspiration alike TO the Bard and
his wor Id audience. The poet differs from his SYM
utterance, which the latter has not. The number
IN the United States, who die without uttering
poetry, is small. We are at once the most poet
ieal and the most imaginative people in the world.
The best poets of England find most of their read
ers here. DR.. Griswod, the great dry nurse of
bards, counts up hundred who entitled to the
laurel, In quantities varying from single sprg to
whole basket of greens. Add to these the thou
sand poets of the Magazines and Newspapers An
immense amount of time and stationary are CON
| sumed in vain; sentimental sonnets are written to
the moon, and much very blank verse dedicated
| ITO -, yet upon the whole the general eff
feet is beneficial, rather than injurious as express
sion often relief to the writer and the public
taste could not be deprecated by what the public
never read. Poetry is the oldest of the Fine Arts
the rarest and most excellent. 1t existed before
history in letters, music in melody, and painting
in description. 1t transcends all forms of compost
tion in harmony, beauty and grandeur of-style.
humorous poetry, by canon of modern criticism,
is condemned 1t must be decidedly good or it is
unequivocaly bad. Medocrity in poetry is intol-
cradle. The lecturer here recited his poem of
''The Proud Miss Mcbride" for which, he said, he
had the affection of the mother for her child. 1t
was his own, even if illfavored. The lecturer then
| spoke of poets and their habits and morals. They
are not all inhabitants of garrets. He cited a
Der OF instances by name, and among others, paid
high tribute to Holmes. He thought that no great
poem since Homer has been positively immoral.
| Even in Don Juan the Objectionable portions are dull
and unpoetic Poetry fills the universe with fair ideal
forms. 1t leaves the actual for the possible, bringing
all beauty and loneliness to man's earthly tabernacle
The lecturer closed with glowing eulogy upon
poetry. OF the illustrative anecdotes, puns and
witicisms, the humorous comparisons and the spirit
of genuine poesy which entranced and amused the
audience by turns, we cannot here give an idea.
One thing is very evident, Mr.. SAKE does not be-
lieve in that dolorous, whining poetry by which
many seek to make themselves appear interestingly
wretched. He stands up stouty in defence of that
warm and genial spirit which enters so largely into
the composition of humorous poetry. There were
many excellent things in reference to this part of
the subject-many illusions to poets, ancient and
modern, and thoughts on the nature and mission of
ing the attention of writers and readers of poetry
generally OF course the lecture abounded in genli-
inc humor-it would not have been Sore-on, had it
not. Mr.. 5. has true idea Of the emission of
poetry, and discriminating taste in detecting the
counterfeit from the real metal and his lecture while
it embraced much that was amusing was instructive.