The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-09-15

THE PREsDIoDE, poem by ]. Dunbar
Hylton, M. d. One of Keats reviewers. at
the conclusion of slashing criticism of his
''Endymion," advised him to go back to his
gallipots. If we took the same course with
the author of 'The Prasidioide" he might
revenge himself upon us by some day becom-
ing famous, and thereby contounding us with
that large class of critics who are unable to
appreciate rising genius. Let DR.. Hylton,
therefore, continue to write verses, but let him
not print them until he has obtained a more
impartial judgment than his own that they are
worthy Of the honor of being placed before the
reading public. The scene of the-the-well,
poem, for the want of better word, is
laid in the barn to which Booth made
his escape after the murder of President Lin
coin, and it endeavors to give the most strik-
ing events in the history of the conspiracy
down to the night when Booth and his associ-
ates set out on their march of murder. DR..
Hylton has chosen the octo-syllabic verse as
the medium of his narrative, and few speci-
mems culled at random will give better idea
of his poetical abilities than any description
tation.
"Ho Hol what form was that saw
ALI clad in robes OF white!
That just now crossed this dlsmal floor
Where came yon flash of light?
Was IL, indeed human form,
Or spirit OF the dead?
His stature was tall and stately,
And wide his shoulders spread,
And his eyes they shone like fire,
Yet noiseless was his tread.
But have seen that form before,
And that bold, open stare,
Yea, a hundred times and more
Just as l saw 1t there.
They're the features and the form
or the noblest man on earth,
More than Washington and Cesar
In glory and In worth"
The spectre works on the feelings of the
assassin, and he gives vent to his emotions in
the following language, which indicates the
medical training of the author more than it
does his possession of the divine aflatus:-
"Hell and devils what thoughts are these,
For one 80 stepped in crime?
One who must bear the curse Of man
Until the end of time?
Hell ell and hends what strange thoughts Ill
The mind of one so low;
What care for spirit or for man,
What care l If his arteries,
Capillarles and veins,
Be countless as the painting streams
or Basras spacious plains?
What care how the crimson tide
throughout their winding flows?
Each thew and sineW shows?
For have slain the noblest man
That eer the sun shone on;
he who in worth and hOnor's path
guiding meteor shone."
And considerable more to the same purport.
The following pen-portrait of Mrs. Surratt is
unique of it's kind, and we give it as con-
oluding specimen Of DR.. Hylton's verse;
"There came knocking at the door,
ANA Dame Surratt walked in
AL blooming like a morning rose
That in some well-watered garden blows,
And every eye might win.
She was a hearty buxom dame
AS ever trod the earth,
AS full of spirit, wit, aud game,
AS any yet who smiling came
From scenes of spirit and mirth.
She was that st amp of woman-kind
Ihat seldom in this land we find,
VINO wear their youthful bloom
en- When they grow old in years,
And are not crowned with hosry hairs
, When Vergtng on the tomb;
The very stamp for which old men
CROW young, and warm and frisk agen,
And burn with guilty love,
Fired with passions wild and keen
Like those old twain who once were seen
Emerging from the grove,
Lusting for fair Susannah's . charms;
Burning to clasp her IN their arms
Ahougn weak with age they strove."
The peculiar appropriateness Of the last
ailusion we do not exactly see, but we would
be the last to hedge about genius with undue
restrictions, and we therefore take our leave OF
''The Prasidicide" by reminding the author
of Ovid's aphorism "Poeta nascituy. non I'll. {"
and that Pegasus cannot be driven in harness
like dray horse, unless a skilful hand holds
the ribbons.
II. W. Beecher has become member Of a
int