New-York daily tribune., 1866-01-11
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
MRS. HOWE,S LATER LYRICS.


years ago Mrs. Howe has been constantly gaining
fresh assurance Of unique position in American
letters. The work just alluded to bore tho stamp of
unmistakable genius; its bold and vigorous ongi-
nality produced deep impression On al lovers OF
genuine poetry although its frequent obscuritles
ef thought, o certain want of mellownoss Ill It's
versfcation and its character Of intense subjective
~ were obstacles to popular success In her later
productions Mrs. Howe has evnced greaterfa facility
Of expression, higher degree Of smoothness and
finish, and more efiectual application of the lyric
al element without losing the deep and thoughtful
self-consciousness which finds the mos. exquisite
materials OF poetry in the most subtle recesses OF
personal experience During the late national con-
fict, she has opened new sources of inspiration IL
the suggestions Of patriotism. Her poems OF the
var, with their clear, musical ring, have awakened
an echo in the hearts of her countrymen, and exert
Cd a wide influence in eIkndlirg the sentiment Of
vslor and seli-devotion IN our youthful martyrs.
The principal of these reproduced in the present
volume, and will long hold the place which they
have Justly won among the most precious jewels o.
American verse. April l9 is an indignant ap-
zeal called forth by the Baltimore massacre, IN
which perhaps the spirit Of the "Avengins Fury
might have been somewhat tempered by the soft
xraceof Christian charity. "Ihe Flag is a noble
assertion Of the duty Of patriotism, and burning
expression ofwTath against the craven souls whose
blood does not bound at the sight Of their countrys
banner. "The Battle Hymn OF the Republic" in
It's march Of stately majesty and It's solemn terrific
denunciations, sounding Ike the wall Of Hebrew
Prophet bears title TO perennial life among
Istional lyrics.
The poetry 0: Mrs. Howe, in general, is charac-
xIzed by the union Of intense emotion with pro-
found reflection. Hers is no holiday muse, sing
ing in "soft, Lydian measures" and lapplng the
scui in Elysium by the enchantment Of dainty
rhymes. She is always terribly in earnest, agi-
sated and torn by some fiery sentiment, or siren
uously graphing with some thorny problem in The
mysteries of life. With her, poetry is not the pas
time Of an idle hour, nor the amusement Of fes-
rive scene, the harmony of vo!uptuous sounds,
nor the procession Of gay and brilliant images nor
Rhe soace of a transient superficial gIief; but the
expression Of the deep burden Of the SOUL the
vital offspring of thought and passion, matured IN
the lonely vigils Of contemplation, ard brought TO
light not without agony GId tears. Her hyellest
hncies always TepOse on o bass OF profound
thought, often so Tecondite as not 10 touch the
sphere of popular sympathes. They serve as the
solution OF intricate questions, rather than the IL
lustration Of gentle or romantic feelings which TO
10 largo an extent form the staple Of favorite po
etry. Her habit Of thought, moreover, is Of ape
euhar character. Her mind does not run IN the
groove of habitual or casual suggestions; but is
creative logical sequenceloving in its processes;
~, ,1--o 10
suN Of reflections nor are the traces Of reflection
saways sufficiently concealed for the purposes OF
at. She attaches value 20 an idea, il Las grown
and Iipened with her own intellectual being, and
% it throws light on the inveterate problems Of her
individual development. The imagination Of the
poetess is haunted by the questions Of the
philosopher. She devotes herself 70 the study
Of systems with no less zest than 10
she enjoyment of Nature. AS rule, it il
she function Of the poet to contemplate tie Uni
verse as series Of beautiful and majestic effects,
and TO record the impressions Of its influence il
melodous numbers; 10 her, on the contrary, The
Universe as a spectacle is eclipsed by the problem
OF its origin; the poetical phenomena which IT
presents grow dim amid the binding splendors Of
the mystery of its causes and its laws. Nor DO her
reflections as yet appear 10 have gained conclu-
sion which satisfies the heart. Hence certain
vagGeness, and consequent obscurity, il many Of
her most characteristic poems. Their meaning
Rrows upon the reader however with careful study,
and it would be unwse 10 hatter ourselves that we
had mastered their complete Significance upon an
Idle and shallow inspection.
Rarely ha We any poets in our day given more am
pie proofs of generous and profound culture. The
fruits of extensive reading, personal familiarity
with the best products of culture and art III foreign
lands and ennobling social iItimocies are visible
On every page of her volume. But her most cher
ished study is the ethics of ife To her the world
is scene Of toll, the duties Of which are 10 bt
oravey performed "a school of suffering whose
lessons ere written in fiery lines the naked
heart,-a mystery to be poudered, if possible to be
explained at all events to be endured-and not &
theater Of trivial joys OF rapturous enchan;ments
except as they spring from strenuous performance
and inward triunphs. This is the key note to
her poetry, and especially in the present volume as
compared with her earlier productions in which
the ories Of wounded spirit and Of baflled hopes
louder than the expressions Of noble resolution
and earnest seli-cOntained acqueserce. Somewhat
&. tie austere, fae-defyng spirit Of the Stoics is
blended in her mind With the serene devotednoss OF
fichte and the sweeter but not less lrm and lofty
soli-reliaIoe OF Emerson. With this deep ethical
vein in her poetry, look for the free and
Careless graces which lend charm 10 the illusions
Of many far inferior poets. She does not sing as
'he bId sings, in happy, artess, unconscious spon
taneityi but thought gradually takes root and
"opens in her mind, not without creative pangs, and
IL due time, finds meet expIessiolin LeE grave and