The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-05-08
Southern Poetry or tho War.


We frequently see references in our exchanges
to various collections Of War Poetry, either COM
! piling or already published; wo have not as yet
| seen any of these books, and, therefore, cannot
speak OF their merits or shortcomings. The task
| Of forming suoh collection is one OF extreme
delicaoy requiring, it does, talents and qualif.
| cations Of no ordinary character. The Judge who
holds the balances shouldS be himself a poet, a
| scholar, and critic. These requisites are rarely
found combined, and we know oronly one man in
the Southern States who can lay am undisputed
claim to these distinguished qualities, ,>snd who
moreover enjoys the necessary reputation, 10 pro-
nounce with authority on the respective meriSs OF
the claimants We heed scarcely say that HS1.
aIIMoRE ,s1hIMs, LID, is this acknowledged
high priest in the fame Of literature" 'a h1 "'
1t is well known to our readers, that DR.. srl1Ms
has for some time been engaged; in this patriotic
work. he has already received numerous contri-
buttons from every State Of the late Confeder-
aoy; and more are still pouring In. Much Of the
material will be found good, some excellent, and
oil Of It will be q pleasing proof Of the mental
activity Of Southern mind. We hail these various
srivings after the ideal, and look forward to the
day when the South will havo poets, painters.
sculptors and musicians, worthy OF the fair land
OF their birth, The raw material is abundant,
and needs only the necessary art-training to pro-
duce the most brilliant results, Much, we know,
has already been accomplished, but we are jealous
for the honor OF our mother, and desirous Of see-
ing many more Of her sons and daughters In the
foremost rank OF the illustrious.
DR.. SIMMs' volume will be limited to $50 or 900
pages. As q matter OF course he will exercise the
discretion which must discard very large num-
ber Of the verses receive d. We trpst he will not
again, from an excess OF modeesy, exclude his
own poems, as he did when he edited the ttChares.
ton Book" On the contrary, we hope that he
will suffer his own Muse to take her appropriate
place in the gallery.
"The Southern Poetry Of the War;" aa arranged
by DR.. S1MMs, we feel assui ed will afford rich
feastto the cultivated mind and patriotic heart;
and we sincerely hope that the labors of the ao-
complshed editor may meet with suitable &C.
knowledgment. o And by the way, having spoken
Of the Charleston Book let us ask OF the publish
er OF the first series, Mr.. SAMUEL HART, Sen'rf.
1.-THE JOHN MURRAY OF Charlestonl, why he should
not give US q companion volume to the former.
There are numerous young writer's among f us who
have succeeded to the old, who are not unworthy
to wear their falling mantes; and subscription
opened for the publication of a second volume.
would, we are assured, meet with prompt patron
age throughout the whole State. The experiment,
at all events, is worth the trial Or, as the old
book is outlof print, and many Of us have never
seen it, how would it do for Dr. SIn6s to give us
new collection, incorporating 80 much of the
former volume as is worth preserving thus fla
voring the new with the choice vintage OF other
and better days. ~ 'ias s,i.!o !.'.,lr ~