New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-01-13
BOSTON.
LITERARY NOTES.

LITERARY NOTES.
THE "ATLANTIC MONTHLY" FOR FEBRUARY
ENGLISH FOIK-SONGS-HOW ROBERT DALE
OWEN TRIED TO CONVERT MS FATHER TO
CHRISTIANITY, AND DlDNT-WAs DICKENS
pAuuRFf-A NEW POEM BY wHIrTIER-LEE
SHEPPARD AND THEIR NEW BOOKS.
,FRoN A REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBuNEl.
BosroN, Jan. 1.-THE Atlantic for Feb
ruary will open with paper on English FolkSongs,
by b. Blake One learns from 1t, with surprise that
England particularly its peasantry Of the olden le
was assuredy one OF the foremost musical countries in
the world" is truethat you taste beef and ale III the
melodies, and that England has no high art no srea'
composers but still she renowned for music oeio'o
German genius suspected its own riches anu Der %
steal annals contain the first example OF secular inus'
parts. yet foundliD any country saxon hnsdiu VIC"
by no meansa stranger minstrelsy and It's wandering
yotaries But after the Conquest anu uiuer 'ne
rule of the Normans that mnsrelsy ana mihsc's oS'
Abounded-the kingdom, indeed, farly sWarmeu WIN
1hem They were favored with many privileges-were
sacred in time of war we're welcomed IN crowds ~ 'e
houses OF the great and could enter even the royu
presence without leave OF introduction Not only
so-ereigns but great barons and ears supported un
Gently these wandering singers and took them in their
trains when they travelled But too much prosperity
proved bad the bards. They grew arrogant anu
greedy and beset in great numbers the houses Oh the
opulent 50 that in the reign of Edward H. law hau 10
he PASSED to restrain Migrants from intrudng under
and exacfipe gifts IL was ordained that none but true,
profesed minstres should resort TO the great houses
nor OF these than three or four IN Jay
and that they should not go unasked 10
the dwelling Of any person below the rank
OF baron After another tcentUry, fresh complaints
arose and from that time mnstresy rapidly declined,
both in favor and character The invention Of printing
fastened its downfall; and the minstrels found COM
retitors in the baladsngers, who sang their songs
gratutousy and sold printed copies for penny Soon
the MINISTRIES into utter cOntempt and when one
Of them Richard shiae, 70 whom owe the pTeserya-
ton of the heroic ballad Of Chevy Chace,"-was
robbed on Dunsnore Heath, Of eco, he could obtain
neither redress sympathy because hecould not per
suade generation Of scoers that lhe had ever owned
EC0 He bewailed himself in ragged rhyme, as follows;
"Imay well say that had but evil hap,
For TO lose about threescore pounds at clap.
Bsrt the tax 81 the people did ereve much
Some sand was not roDbed, was but lying knase,
IL not possible for Minstrel so 1nuch money 10
have"
The downfall Of minstresy. however, does not count
NJ IA against the English love OF music; and Mr.. Blake
gives various specimens OF the English folk sOngsthe
music as well as the words-a OF which are quaint and
some really dainty and charming Witness one little
version of the old song "The Hunt is Up:
"The hunt Is up the hunt is ZIP,
The sun hath risen. from out his prison,
Beneath the glstening sea.
THE hunt is up. the hunt is up,
Awake, my lady bright.
Tie morning lark Is high, TO mark
The coming OF daylight
"The hunt is up, the hunt is up,
Awake my lady fair,
The kline and sheep, hut now asleep
Browse IN the morning air
." The hunt is up, the hunt is up,
T5 Aw si4: I Iy lSy 70 s@ ne ocean bed,
And 10 is now broad day.
1.-The hunt is up, the hunt is M,
Awake, my lady sheen, "a, -.
Are dTest IN lovely green.
"The hunt is mp, the hunt is up
Awake, my lady dear,
morn IN spring is the sweetest thing
Ccmeth in AL the year.
The HINT is up, the hunt is up.
come 20 thy bower at this loved hour
Ny own true love TO greet"
Robert Dale owen goes on with his entertaining Chap
tiers Of Autobiography the subject OF the present
being Boy Life in Scottish Country Seat" You dis
cover from little Robert obstinate baby,
with Scotch gilt for holding and capacity for cry
ing hours at n time, If could get his way.
As a boy he was an enthusiastic partisan.
friend and fierce enemy. His mother was Jealous
PRESBYTERIAN and his father freethnking Unitarian,
who naturally enough, lett the early religious training
of his children his wife. Robert accordingly became
rampant baby Cllvnist; and OF the richest
Imaginable his attempt to convert his father lie
had been taught that Of the mouths of babes and
suckiues" wonderful things had been uttered; he had
told of missions why should it not he his mission
save his fathers sOuli He would not even toll his
mother beforehand her joyful surprise in his
should De complete. But must give you the account
Of his missionary efforts in his own words:
Grecoect, this day, the spot on which commenced
ny Oug-prQectcd undertaking. IL was on path which
skired on the farther side the lawn III 'front.' of our
10 the garden. could point out the very
Tree We were passing When--With misgy ings
that Zoe put to the testI sounded my father by
frst asking nn what he thought about Jesus Christ.
reply the effect that would do well to heed
lat
loving one dmother This was Wen enough, as Tar as
% wenUs nut II dd not 40 al satisfy me. 30 with some
trelldatlO pas tie question direct, whether father
diSUeieved that Christ the son OF Cod He looked
little surprised ana did not answer Immediately.
Why DO yOu ak that question, my son Z" ne said at
BECAUSE am sure began eagerly
Thai be is GVds son - asked my father, smiling.
" Yes, / am"
"DId YOU ever hear Of the Mahometanslo said my
father, while had paused to collect my proofs.
Ireped that had heard Of socn people who lived
somewhere. FAR on.
No."
they believe that Christ is not the son Of Cod but
that another persOn, called Mabomet, was GOds
DO hey not believe the Bible ~ asked l. somewhat
gghasL
No MahOmet wrote a book called the Koran and
MahOmetaus believe IL TO be the word OF God. That
book tells them that God sent MahOmet 10 preach the
gospel % them and 20 save their SOULS
Wonders crowded fast upon me A rival Bible and
rival SAVIOUR! Could II be! asked, " Are you quite
TINS II true. papa r.
Yes. my DEAR am quite sure"
% Bat suppose there are very few Mahometans not
neaT-near 80 many OI them ds Of Christians"
DO you cali Catholics Christians, BObeTtl"
''Oh, papa. The Pope IL Anti-ChrIst."
Ny latAer smiled. Inen by Christians you mean
ProSest4nts y
"wen there are many more Mahometans than Prot
estants IN the world about hundred and forty mil