The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1865-01-05
maw,hore. and Mhll,l.r.


some Of tho most truthful aud dis.
eliminating dclinealiuns of his chArac.
I ter that we have seon. Tho genius Of
Hawthorne was ota high intellectual
order. Few writer's have mado d
sgreatcy mark on our literature. His
| sketches and more elaborate works OF
fiction are among the most striking of
the age. Bat with all his high intel
lcctuaI qualities and power OF imagine
alton he fails In the lottier moral ele-
nsrs. llc is mastery diesecior Of
human passions lie can analyzc and
describe the various wipdings of the
human heart, and portray tho dark
ness and more tragic fcatnyes of the
soul with skill that finds few superb
ors, but he fails to introduce you to
the higher and more heroic struggles
of humanity. lie seems lacking in
deep and lofty faith, and his writings
will not make heroes, prophets or
iapcstles. L.
The reason of this will be found in
the character Of the man. lie was
hesitating in his convict ns. He lived
in IN age when the greatest strtgsles
for humanity were going on before
his eyes, and yet kept himself apart
from them. lie went TO Washington
when the hearts of his country fneii
were stirred by tho beating of an cx-
aitcd patriotism, and under its inspi-
ration We're pouring out their blood,
and yet W. have froa him no trumpet
sone--no word OF holy, patriot ardor,
no recognition OF the sublime moral
grandeur d countrys uprising. AS
ho walked over the battle-fi fields Of Ma.
nassas, his opinions we're so halting
that hc was drawn to foreigner, and
found in his companionship more SYM
pathy than he could from his own
cmntrymrn, and made him the reeipis
ent ofhis private thoughts.
We recur 10 these features of Haw-
thorne's character because they Illus
trate the detect Of his genius. H6
could stand in Washington when his
fellow-citzcns were glowing with ALI
intense patriotic fervor, and describe
events and scenes as if they were Of no
personal concern His writings paTI
take OF tho pecuIiarities Of the men.
lis Genius lacks the throbbing human
heart. 1t can portray the workings
OF our mysterious nature. 1t can draw
ont with wonderful minutepess tho
heaving passions Of the breast, bat he
does not give us creations that are full,
rich and lofty in tie noblcst features
of humanity. We have from his pen
no grand individuals Of noble moral
quality. touching tenderness and high
resolve, whose lives are rich in the
lofticst aspirations OF go&ike souls.
In this we think lie is in striking
contras. with the Quaker poet. Whit.
tier is rich in the tones OF moral inspi-
raticn. His writings help mould and
shape the most enduring thought Of
the age. lie lives in his times SYM
pathizcs with its noblest forms Of life,
helps 20 breathe into it fresh hope,
faith and courage. Ills genius is till'
ed with. the hoIiest spiri. Of the ago
Hence the name of Whittieris wrought
| into the tibres OF the nation 8 thought,
and his genius represents its highest
ideal. All that is truest, best and NEST
vital in the hour, is ideaIizod by tho
subtle tuuch OF his imagination, ana
comes forth in songs that will ring and
thrill in Tho hearts OF unborn genera
tions. No one can read his poems
without feeling his better nature stir
red. lie is the apostle of liberty, truth,
love, and lofty moral hcroism.
In these two writer's we see illustra-
ted different ideas of the proper aim
and functions OF literature and the lit
crary man. Whittier is the truer ex-
ample Of what shogld be the aim Of
genius. The advancing spirit Of the
world demands that the literary man
shall make his power tell on his age in
the direction OF its highest and best
thought. The question is not, docs the
man write works Of fiction which arc
distinguished for their charm of de-
scription, the graces Of style, the anal
ysis of emotion, the portraturc OF pas
sion. Fiction fails ofits highest purpose
cnly /, charms and pleases. Pocty is il
insipid which is empty Of the sap OF
lofty sentiment. Genius is faithless 10
| its most sacred trusts if it is not STIR
red to use its gifts for noble ends
Whittier in a remarkable degree an
swers this test. Hawthorne does not.
Powerful as works of genius, as the
Scarlet Letter, Marble Faun and Blithe-
dale may be, there is an unreality
about them. The characters are NOR
bid, morally, and mentally unsound-
A generation who should depend on
such reading for its food would not bo
fitted to do tho noblcst work OF life
Far otherwise with the readers of
Whittier. The lowliest would grow
strong and rich. Woman in her daily
struggles would be Drawer and truer;
human love moro sacred and holy;
man more loyal to duty and with
grander moral Inspirations. Life
would be better in all its FORMS
In the deep, unwritten, unspokeh
chapters OF sentiment and motiy,
there would grow purer idea. In
the outward struggle with poverty,
wrong, sin and sorrow, thcre would
be greater fidelity and a truer faith.
In Whittier we have the exemplihca-
ton of the Christian poe. His wri-
tings are pure in sentiment, abound
ing in. the wealth Of mOr&i beauty,
full of sweet Tenderness and the truest