Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-01-07

Like ane Arkansas gentleman close 10 the .hoc'A"
line. - = -
The author Of the above ''funeral notice"
Captain ALBERT PIKE, of Arkansas, has been
"spread out' and sfxed for the tomb" by
nearly all the newspapers in the Union. We
neither gave currency nor credit to the obtu-
airy, being impressed that, ike "ine Arkan-
sas gentleman" as he is, he would "bounce
mp" on his return from campaign against
grouse and deer on the Western prairies, and
ego twenty" to "make good' his ''tbree score
and tenu-uot in the spirit OF "bluff.'' but
"for the excitement of the thing" We noti-
fed our readers. few days ago, that he had
"turned upD safely in Washington. where, If
all accounts be true, (which considering the
universally of American genius, it would
profane Truth to doubt,) he can "hear the
rafting of the checks" without the uncom-
Portable housings of the grave. But the re-
port of his ''untimely death" If it did moth
ing else, has ELECTED many sympathetic no
tees, and some eulogistic accounts Of his life.
The following sketch which we clip from the
Philadelphia Inquirer, though deprived of its
main fact, the death of Capt PIKE, will be
IedQ VIII ReucIti lutGiSos, 80 Aso oeA~A Se>.S~
ments are truthful:
He was horn, says the Inquirer, in Boston,
d C. goth, 1902 and passed his early years
chiefly at birmingham and Newburyport.
He was poor and friendless, hut his brilliant
talents and genius brought him into notice
while he was in his teens. He was admitted
into the Hartford College. but was too poor
to pursue his studies there, and Taught school
at Newburvport. 1t was while there that be
published his early prose and poetical pro-
ductions. nearly all of which after that time
were confded to our hands for publication,
through various channels.
In 1881 he wrote and published the Hymns
to the Gods of which second edition with
additions appeared in Blackwood's Magazine
in the spring of 1889. The code to the Mock
ing Bird " was first published in Philadelphia,
about 1886. "ArieI' was published in 1884.
in Boston. 1t was poem of singular fancy,
with most felicitous richness of expression,
and was written in the open prairie. while
the poets horse was feeding by his side. In
1885 he published an Indian romance illus
trative of the habits of the Camanche and
Navajo Indians, and Of Mexican life at al
early period of the incursOns by the Span
iards. From 1881 to 1910 his chief poems
were produced. LOS Tiempos." part of
which is in our possession unpublished, is the
longest of them. 1t is eminently patriotic
and full of subjects; through which the poet
has largely developed his real feelings and
op Mons.
In 1854 he issued, for private circulation.
collection of the works on which he was Will
ing to rest his fame. The volume was entitled
"Nugn.' 1t should be added. also. that he
published a volume of prose and poetry about
1885. 1t gave an outline of his pedestrian
tour To the Rocky Mountains, and To Santa
Fe,upon which he started in 1881. lie left
Newburyport in disgust, put compass in
his pocket and started next morning "due
west" He Joined trappers in The Rocky
Mountains, where he was nearly frozen, his
horse perishing of cold at his side. and even
tually arrived at Santa Fe; undertook to in
terf,re between the judges of the courts there
and the public. This gave him taste of law.
and he went to Little Rock, Arkansas. where
he became the owner of the Advocate; married
wealthy lady, and applied himself to the
law.
In 1886 he was employed to supervise the
publication of the Revised Statutes of Ark
ansas" and in fulfilling that mission he
visited Boston. where he remained several
months. Politics afterwards engaged HE at
tnntion, and he was well known in New York,
PHILADELPHIA and Washington, as well rs in
other cities. for his earnest labOrs for what he
deemed right and Justice He distinguished
himself here in the American National Con-
vention of 1855, and advocated the 18th sec
ton of the platform of that meeting. Being
Grand Master of the order of Masons in Ark
ansas, his position was everywhere high one
Yet he was a man who had so much nobleness
of character, was so brilliant with his own
genius, that nothing was needed but oppor-
tun'tes TO distinguish himself. He was a
poet, a philosopher, a scholar, and a soldier.
AS captain of Company &c" of the Arkansas
cavalry in the war with Mexico, he took an
emine II position; and, indeed. In every rela-
ton of life his noble and commanding form
marked externally the spirit that animated
It.
We think that had circumstances been
more favorable to him, Albert Pike would
have b,en one of the most prominent orators
and statesmen the country. He was witty,
poetical, studious, and gifted with all the ele
meuts necessary TO make great man. He
never did half what he might have done. be-
cause he was not placed in positions where
his talents were called forth. He was natu-
rally modest and reserved, and needed the
highest order of intellect in antagonism with
him to bring out the real depth of his char
acter and genius. The country has lost in
him noble aud chivarous spirit, and the
world of letters poet. who, bad he devoted
himself TO the art that enriches all but the
posseessor of it, would have known no rival.