The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1873-11-20
PEN WANDERaHCA BEYOND TINE
AAPLEA.

Editor Times:
The tide of human cventr il onward, and
although the r.y S.l.ions Of nature are GLOW,
We find ourselves showed from the sofl |
dreamy days Of autumn into the first faint
vhisperings Of winter, for November comes
to Us with the look, and the touch, and the
freezing hauteur Of her eteruer sister d.
cember.
Did che come to US thus tear-laden, and
frost jeveled in response to the stricken
children of the South, How they have
lonsed and prayed for the cold weather.
hoping to find in it . relief from the terrible
scourss that for weeks has been stalking
through their cities. gathering into i,s poi
souous folds it, hundreds Of victims. Those
anxious ones who have watched unseathed
the progress Of the fell destroyer, hail - .
risen saviour these "chill airs and vintry
winds."
Wandered under the NAPLES to-day. osly
to mark the ruin. Bare tres, rave hand
full of brown leaves, " and the birds' nests all
deserted. But o. I remembered the heart
sickening appeals that have been made to 10
daily for those sufferers, too felt thankful
for the cold weather.
There il compensation everywhere, and in
everything, and although we lose the pleas
ures Of our season, We receive the good Of
the next, and 20, thought, it Is all through
life,
"There are gains tor all our losses.
Balnis for all our palma
1 have gathered shout me tonight
my best friends. My books are
friends that never desert, never grow cold
never shrink within themselves, and can
hardly tell which of their good words yield
the most comfort. There il LoDgfellow, Who
has always been my favorite among Ameri-
can poets. ] have liked him for the spirit,
the music, the healthful air Of his mystic
songs. Here we find no undercurreot Of
sadness, disappointment, or hopelessnes run
ming through the sweet measures, but
''touched with our infrmities" he sympa-
thizes, soothes, and while he knows how ''to
weep with those that weep, his tears fall with
smiles. Into his saddest songs rings the
sweet lutte, like the voice Of hope.
The purest etreams flow from among the
hills, and there is where Longfellow drank
in the water that invig0rated his brain and
gave grace and beauty to its workings. Per-
haps he il not 40 true . delineator Of nature
a Bryant or Whittier, but the magic Of his
coloring surpsspes both. He throws silvery
sheen over the cOmmonest things in life, and
BY his love for it he elesates the common
mind to his own standard.
Who OF US has not listened ITO the Old
Clock on the Stairs" counting of it, mystical
tickinRs of "Never forever, forever never
or repeated to himself the "Psalm Of Life"
20 trite, 40 practical In subject, but 70 beauii-
full in expression:
"Art is long, and time is Aeeting
And our heart, though stout and brave,
Still like mHffcd drums beating
Funeral marches to the grave.'
II seems to me that Longfell0w ought to be
satisfied with his life work. He has learned
that while the material world falls into
RUNS, intellect and genius live on forever
And, a. philosopher and poet he has been
triumphantly crowned by living, admiring
world.
We must pause long enough to give nod
of recognition to another Of our poetical
friends-Edgar A. Poe. He stands out .
strange contrast to Longfellow, who gains
our love through respect and admiration,
while Poe wins it through admiration and
pity. Not long ago. at social gathering,
discussion of different authors arose; Poe's
name was mentioned, but almost ~ quickly
dismissed with harsh contempt-"No drunk
ard shall inherit the kingdom Of heaven"
l felt like taking mp the gauntlet for him.
and did say "Neither shall flesh nor
blood" was touched with the sorrowful
thought that he had lived q brilliant
genius, struggling against . world OF un-
fortunate circumstances, and sentative to .
fault his frail bark went down upon shoals
thickly studded all along the rough ocean of
life. Believing that a saving hand was out
stretched to him, and that not by mans
judgment will he be judged, leave him.
Thoughts omnipotent, immortal, and his
"Bells," whose Ginning has alresdy reached
that other shore, will ring on throughout all
the ages of eternity, and his "Ravsn" will
croak the requium "Only this and nothing
more" above those good, passive souls,
whose only ambition had been to make Q
safe retreat into the "Blessed Vales."
We must not tarry too long with our
friend We will give Bret Harte, looking
out from his "Luck of Roaring Camp" and
w. WIkie Coll,ns s%,hne upon US !nro1en nls
Just . whispered good night. In our friend
y gossip, although no part of a politi-
clan ne cannot refrain from f;rst men.
tl0nlng the recent election. a year ago
Ne determined never more to take an inter.
- :. ~. ,ua.. -o.L;,,. of ,,oI;,;c.I ,,.oh;
merry, because every one Of our fsvorite can
didafes in town county and State rent
-. .,,o,o ,ho 1,..nro;,t..l o,.. Rnt
uo"" eo"s VIZ "."Pto '' A"'
the turning OF OLD l1lOns wheel Drought "a
around TO il again, and We found ourselves
way, in our county their name IA legion,
With the same OLD interest, marking now
little party principle, or any other principle
at all, save sell interest," or personai prefer.
ence controlled the leaders Of politics.. l
wonder II the time VII ever come when
Trend Will not slaughter iriend ior self
agrandl.ement, or humanity sac,nce every
noble attribute 10 gam Poihcsi ascencency !!
But 10 live 10 70 progress. ana Pernaps
rom TINS strange mixing up OF human de-
s'res, wills. and Ambitions, tnere vii YET De
IN outgrowth OF pure, undehled Peace on
EARN, ana good viii 10 man. foesioiy an
other amendment 10 the Consutu!ion OF the
United States might accomplish the desired
Object.
Cover the emhsrs,
TIL f% so out 'n m;, ,isI M uo,,,,,
Rest with the night.