Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1870-11-30
Our Poets I'm England.

The day is last when friendly criti-
c;sm, IN British periodicals, of American
works is rarity to excite especial won
der As rule, our authors find an ap
probation in England, which is at least
gratifying to them, and somewhat credit
able 10 the country. That the English
people snd critics. with their peculiar
idiosyncrasies and associations, should
look upon our productions, to any great
extent, rs we do ourselves, is of course
not to be expected. Their standards Of
excellence End grounds of appreciation
must inevitably differ from those that are
produced under conditions so diverse as
are our own. This very difference of
stand point. however, makes their views
all the more interesting to us, and while
we insis, strongly on whatever is good IN
our possessions, independent of foreign
sanction, we may safely listen to the
criticisms Of our neighbors. granting a
little rational indulgence to our amour
propre when they praise, and weighing
their words when they dispraise. The
October number of the Westminster Re
view contains long paper on Am rican
literature. which is written in the main
in friendly spirit. 1t will interest many
American readers at the same time that
it disappoints them in not showing that
fuiness and accuracy of information, pro
found insight. and pure critical thought
which we look for 10 one of the first lit
erary lumirares of the kingdom. From
the illusions TO the poets, We quote a few
passages:-
LoNGFELLow
Longfelow's name is n household word
in England. Not one of his contempor
aries here has bad wider or longer
supremacy on this side of the Atlantic
aud for this we may account chiefly by a
reference to the verv dIffusive nature of
bis genius, and generally TO his near as
sanitation to everything English. He is
German 10 a different sense from that
/ which we ascri5e 10 Emerson. The
country, more than its poets, influences
him. although his translations of the
poetry of Europe lead us to expect a
varied and active principle Of borrowed
thought. His sight is neither feeble nor
restricted reaching from the splendor
of the East to the midnight SHOWS and
frosts of the northern Yields. Yet there
is the limpid glide of virtue, serene and
beautiful, everywhere manifest. Long
fellow Gignifies and adorns charity; and
both as poet and scholar he is supreme
in bis modesiy. He is the saunterer.
(in strict sense among the poets Of
the New World. His fancy is not new
ed up in the back woods or on the loamy
shores Of the Potomac He is far trav.
eled. and in bis wauderings be aas di-
vested himself of many Yankee pre-
objections which find no favor out of the
parent States Every line be has written
is silvered over with thought CLEANED in
the affluent realms of foreign literature.
There is a finish and polish about mos
of his works quite unusual in conlempor
airy productions; aud the tone of hi,
poems is unexceptionably chaste and ele
waited. With all his ad nitted shortcom
ings, Longfelow must be pronounced til,
chief of American poets. The compass
of his power is not great; but il hi
pitch does not reach the diapasop, hi
variations attract and win perhaps bet
ter and more approving audience.