The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-02-03
Wsts@ fer ~ 81 RsI Riess~:1
a Reviewer RevievveA.

W'ds~ tbr ~ 81 PAD Rs.s~.1
"A Reviewer Reviewed.
We do not know whom We havs been
more interested than in reading the rsvisw
Of Poets and Poetry " vAieh APPEARED In
the DAnHP 1oxxn Of the istb. The vii
ter, who signs hinself & GORDON REVERE. y
evinoes talent indeed, but not that tslent.
in our judgment which giSss 70 criticism
lis inst weight; Tor We 10, it that no
reader Of taste and disoernnsut can lAa
to Observer this reviews want Of ala.
elimination and appreciation Of the beau
tiful and the true. We must extend the
courtesy Of accepting our reviewers pro-
testations Of tmpartia1ity, a. ven as his
assurance Of his familiarity with the
writings of Homer, Horace, Dante. Long
fellow, and-other great names in the
realms of poetry But when he informs
his readers that he has Judged he tnearifs
Of the poets Of MINI sota grouped "a TrsaI.
Arnolds book BY thess standards, " must
be permitted To- put in 4 demurrer. Val
with as much gpod!! natufe and patience ID
the nSture of the caSe win permit. sl1' DC
Judged ~ gsdoh standarsisi what "a Z
comes Of such lines as ttese, which be ia.
PRODUCES a. evidences Of High posticsl ex. :
oeelle a : H. They ase from f! ,YGdleysi
writing: 2 u % E5'@ .5 phil 81 nom" IN
Slowly the smoke column sll shape ax,. ..suin ~.
Creepe upward Though the cleaning, to the
AndItic fair shaffs, ell peassed, illumfng,Dd %
The vaulted architrsNes. stand slor;;0ssS. qGIGSt
Call youq this poetryp 9 Or a3 sound Of
words meaning nothing {. If It does not
belong to ethat class of poetry which we
are told neither men nor gods approve.
We should lkeytoa know what does. n Can
" Gordoh' Reyiere" tell usfa 80 .a3:gG;
yWeodxillR dc, Mr. Ystdly' the justice.
however, to nay, that our sslf.Complacenf
reviewer hss, selected the least meeitoriodsd
stanxas Of Ibis entire contributions, and
that several nof his poems possess real
merit rod 119jod % YelI{r9 ad1 l919l
He has done Injustice to every writer.
in Mrs. Arnold's book, as well those whom
he praises, as those he condemns. GW adt
We will not stop here. Nor do We ask |
the reader to take our judgment. We will
not use1iany weapons Of our own, but
those which ssGordOn Reyiere'has himself
given u.s. Read the following lines and
cay what you think of them3 9tfr n
Baby, still / call the baby, 1aa "-f
Baby, set adrift 30 soon, III ati. ,1.a
..o, Pushed right ont into the daylight &c.
Mr.. "Gordon Reviere' tells u eravely
that the four stanzas Of which the above
is . fair sample " is as fine q gem as can
be found in the language" Do you zee
anything approximating to the charming
oadences of Longfellow, or the measured |
lines of Pope-those masters our erudite |
critic processes 30 much to admire?
But this win do. These are they whom 4
according to Gordon REVERE y, the Nine
have favored with precious incense. No
others in Mrs. Arnold's work are worthy
Of special mention, according to his pecu-
liar standard. How widely We differl but
We cheerfully submit this difference to the
Judgment Of the intelligent reader. s,'l
According to our Judgment, the
poems OF Minnie Mary Lee-Ars. Wood
whom our critic passes with scarcely
q single paragraph are with q single
exception, the very best in the book.
Poetry is the language of the heart,
gushing over with deep feeling whether Of
Joy or sadness It is an inspiration which
comes not at ones bidding, but comes
when the soul is full and must give utter
ance. If this rule be a correct one, Mrs.
Wood judged BY it, takes first rank
among our western writer's. 400
We mark the following taken from
|" Bertha to her Child" as beautiful not
only for the truth and deep feeling express
ed, but for harmony of versiication and
elegance Of diction.
Alas have learned the heart can bear
How much Of grief how much Of care;
Can bear, and still the world not know
bow hard it throbs beneath its woe,
So in q short piece entitled "Some-
times, " true feeling is combined with q
chastened and cultivated imagination. The
fourth and last verses we copy:
Oh, loving voice, and form, and hand
Oh, vision from the shadowy land!
S0nsstisse, DER the silent sea,
God shall wait me unto thee. ,'rl
In sweet pastures ever vernal -.-E- 4.
Meath soft skies that are eternal,
he WIN give me back to me
Child Of my idolatry.i !' /
sslEs . . UU .
Weary, hoping or repining.H a'a
Comes this light through darkness shining,
How rough score the hither tide, o.
She's safely on the other side. n e.t.r
There is Q sweet fow and tremulous
beauty in these lines seldom surpassed, and
can only be properly appreciated by read
ing the entire poem. i,ae .raf-tg r.a.atel
..Her Birthday" is full of poetic beauty
and purity. "A
Our reviewer, however, who processes
love for true poetry, sees nothing in this
ladys writing particularly meritorious. /"
We had intended referring to Others, but
space win not admit We close by re-
minding Gordon REVERE" that reviewers
Is well a. poets need often to be admon.
ished Of their "errors and shortcomings. !"
and that have devoted this hour TO re-.
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