New-York tribune., 1873-05-05
BOSTON,.
LITERARY NOTES.

IN A FRENCH COURT-A MAN WIN WAS i'Aiep
SINNER AND HALE SAINT. AND WOMAN WHO
KNEW IN WHAT SHE BEIEvED-" AMONG THE
rHrs OF sHoNs," PROSE POEM BY CELIA
TlIANrTA
IrroV REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRlbUNEI
Bo,roN. ''syg.-Tne issue of a new poem by
Rohe-t Hr Gag is literary event Of such
ms. Get that have made haste
20 early proof-sheets from Messrs
Oseool o. the American publishers, in order
to give son some M h forctstc Of the pleasure in store
~Red Cotton Nehcap Country, Turf and Towers" is
the fantastic title Of this powerful poem. 1t dedicated,
or should rather say addressed. 10 Miss Thackeray,
compliment. indeed % make a woman proud since II is
one which must be immortal she It seems, had driven
over from "JoycuN" whore she staying, to "sahV
Rambert." ON the sca-coast Of Normandy, where was
BrownmCs own hired house." And, pacing together
ON the sands they talked as well Imagine the
poet OF poets aud the tender story-eler would 'aik
and In fash he told her the tale WHICH aiVc'""iu
he elaborated into this book. IL is strange story,
which ne has here wrought out with al 1he suoue1 VI
his poetic art but one which even the most proS"c
rendering could not dospol Of interest They talked
nrstbe and his friendof the quiet Norman country,
which he liked because It was not obruSive Ike some
more pronounced landscapes but left him 20 make its
seauty with his adornmg fancy. For, he SAYS:
If we have souls know how to see and use,
One place performs, like any other place.
The proper service every place on earth 80
Was framed to furnish man win serves ahke
niqcc is Siqnidcd he nsrcr sqt-,
Bat II he lack not soul, may learn to know.
There was indeed, place and TO spare for fancy since
"ute Saint Ramhert touches the sea-" on which
a. many ships registered IN port Of earth sailing
Theyspoke OF the s landscape the quiet, patient people.
and she called il the White Cotton NghtCap Country"
He said Excellent at rst bat a'tcrward he took IL
MP as matter OF symbolism. White signifies purity;
well then even In this quiet land not al the nghtcaps
were white; plenty were red with the wild, strong color
Of sin. Did she dOubtl Al ne would tell her story
was Of Ia RdrSsGitc where lately they lad crowned
the famous Bacssante virgin with crown fabricated
by Miranda, tie great Paris ieweer' whose personal
munifcencc
Contributed the central end supreme
Spentor that crowns tho crown l>clt. The stone
koi even Paris rsnsackcd could supply
That gem: Ae had 10 forage ~ Ne"-fOFR'
THIS iUwelcr. aud cOunrr-gcnteuID,
Aud most uudOubtcd dcvOtee besidel
Bcstowed with friendly hand" hett,ing phrase
Tne lace which trims the CUrOnatOnIOHe-
STIFF wear-a mint Of wealth on the hrOcade.
Two miles away is the country seat of this same
ewe.er Miranda and there the poet pledges himself to
prove that uightcap CLEANS OF Wis Onary Red, not
white. for once!" At the first blush mis- undertaking
seems hopeless They walk toward the place, and see
the gray OF the Quiet mansion with its great tower
Its name Carvaux and it was built, OF old, TO be
prory but after the Revolution it became a national
domain, and finally purchased by Miranda, the
father OF present Miranda The father had been con-
tented with for his Summer place, as il was but when
the L%Jnce Miranda, luutfleu H. ne
into bright and graceful modern dwelling. For two
yea now he had been dead but his wife ruled there in
his stead and looking at all the peaceful brightness,
his friend must see to hard thing the poet has
pledged himself when he promised TO find a red night
cap II is in the stopping of the jewelers. open
handed hemdceuCe perhaps, that tho tragedy mheres
BY no means, for
DYING, ms last bequeathment gave, land, goods,
Cash. every stick and silver, 70 the Church.
And notably 10 that church yonder, that
Beloved OF his soul, La RlVlsSaute.
We'll then. perhaps he wronged his ehdrenf But no.
he was chidless. His wife, then Further than ever
from the mark. His love for her exceeded all bounds;
and II was for her sake turned his back tempting
Paris and chose 10 live with her in solitude. She shared
all his heavenward ambitions and it who in
Bsted that he died first should be, thereafter, but
his steward and az her death the House should become
RHOsptal and all his wealth, lands, goods, cash. should
alike 20. for its use, TO the holy guardianship Of the
church, La Ravssante. And then he, the poet. tells
how he saw her yesterday-this fair widowed Chate-
kine-walking in her grounds, followed by her maid
and by giant white goats, and two milkwhe sheep
Bhe had soft and white engaging dress, with velvet
stripes squares severely black, yet scarce discourage
Ing" How looked she
Her figure somewhat small and darlinglike,
Her face 2 well, singulary cOlOress,
For first thing: which scarce suits blond, you
Pretty You would not call her, though perhaps
Attaining 10 the ends OF prcttiness
And somewhat more, suppose enough OF soul.
Then she is forty full you cannot judge
%nat oeaSty was her portion cdeIias at eIgia5een'
I stick to- and II featureless add,
Your notion grows cOmpleter: for although
noticed that her nose was aqmhne, , .
The whole effect amounts with me to-blank!
/ never saw what could less describe
TIE eyes, for instance, unfOrgetaOle
Which ought 10 be, are out OF mind as sight,
YET is there not conceiyably face.
A set OF wax-hke features, blank at first,
Which, as you bendingly grow warm above
Begins TO take impressInent from your breathi
Which, as yOur Will itself plastic here
Nor needed exercise Of handieraft
From fOrmloss molds itself to correspond
With all you think and feel and are-in fine
Grows new revelation OF yourself,
Who know now for the first tune what You want
Here has been something that could wait awhile
Learn your requirement, nor take shape before,
But by adopting H. make palpable
Your right 10 Importance OF your own
Companions somehow were 50 slow 10 see!
Surely this fair woman's nght-cap must be white
virgin white, once; and the white which widows
wear Wait Til you hear the story Of a case they tried
not long ago Wire. To understand the "snistrous co
Fou must mind the nature Of the whose his
tory is tOld
THIS son and heir then Of the ieweler,
Monsieur LsODce Miranda, at his birth,
Mixed the Castilian passionate blind blood
With ansWeIable gush, ms mothers RlIt5
OF spirit French and critical and cold
Ending A. faith doubt gets uppermost;
Then will has way moment, but no more
SO nicey-balanced are the adverse strengths,
And victory entails reverse next time. =
In this strange combination traits you will perceive
the material for reckless of the world and also
tse material for passionate and superstOus devotee
Prom his boyhood, L6oDce Miranda had believed In tho
miracle working, Delivering Virgin Of the La RayssaDte
Church but this did prevent him from wasting his
fathers francs and his young manhood Partisan
Iorettes until at last his hour for a real passion
He went on New-Years, to that happy-named theater
THE Varieties" and
No sooner was he seated than behold
Out burst pOlyanthus He was ware
OF young woman niched IN neighbOrhoOdi
And moment nlttcd last was nc