Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1874-10-15

NlIhs nhcHtI lAnhpotH, VI heHuttti shu luht,
thirty years ago. when three young men were
about to start for Europe, y number Of their
friends had gathered upon spot not far from
this to spend few parting hours in their COM
pany aud ono Of them our Guest, to-day, pre-
pared for the occasion the following song
Let mlrth and pleasure rule the hour
When kindred hearts combine,
Around the hoary brow OF Time
wreath Of Joy to twine
Then why should sadness with our strains
one mournfu measure blend7
Let gladness rule alone the hour
When friend conmunes with friril
Tho thorns beset the pilgrims feet
Who travels LIES rough way,
some roses yet are left to bloom
In youtb's unclouded May.
Then love and memory, hand IN hand,
Shall call this hour TO mind,
And valOly search departed years
Such unmixed Joy to ind
To this, Miss Lainborn. now, after the lapse
Of thirty years, under these changed cireum-
stances, added the following lines
Here now We greet our cary friend
Win proud and grateful Joy,
A remnant OF the loving band
That gathered round the boy
Near this Wide vale which by his pen
Has since been classic made;
In years gone by these voices rang
Throughout the rocky glade.
However rich the wreath OF fame
That circles round the brow,
'rne pearl OF greater price IL still
Ihe warm hearts generous glow.
After the reading Of AL-s Lanborns verses,
Chandler Darlington. OF Kenuett said Stand,
ing, AZ we do. on or near the britge-way Of Ezra
MrHd.nhaWs barn,I Offer this sentiment MAY
lose continue To rule, Lars to preach, aud onr
poet to write and sing, until the world shall bo
filled with Love, Goodness. and Music"
Mr. Taylor now arose, aud amid ali apprecia-
tive silence, said
Oh Friends AMI Neighbours: | have II great
deal to say, yet feel ii difficult to say anything
Tins demonstration Of welcome overwhelms me.
had only thought Of Il simple, informal pic mic
IN the style OF the old days, with few friends
dining together amongst the rocks in some pic
turesque spot l have been very busy, and not
until this morning had the thought occurred to
me that very probably might have to make a
RESPONSE to the welcome Of the occasion. turn
ed the subject over in my mind, and dismissed ali
the suggestions that arose, feeling that nothing of
which thought would bs proper, and when |
came to Wilmington, suspicion OF the character
OF the occasion began to dawn upon me. /
saw old friends with new light IN their
faces, and new tones in their voices, and here,
amidst so much hearty testimony of welcome,
with my own lines greeting me az something
familiar and yet strange, am unable to say any
ts mere woraa !" vsss s,,a, SOUND "a
hollow, are at command, and when ! say how
heartily thank YOU. that seems after ALL saving
but little.
Such a greeting l deem the highest form of
recognition an author can receiys,--to be 30 re-
ceyed by his friends and neighbOrr, who know
all his life ard character, his weaknesses and
shortcomings, but who perhaps do not always
see his aims and aspirations who may lose IN
Their personal acquaintance with the individual.
their appreciation OF the artist this seems
to me the rarest honor, because the trueat and
purest. am glad it il not u mere formal occa
SION, but such as forms, really, close, conilen-
tial circle. where things said are said to friends
only, and not to the great world, listening at the
window. ! will no speak, as a friend 10 his
friends. face to face. The most grateful feature
OF the occasion in Its recognition Of what feel
to be my best work. And let me assure you,
llFst, that this honor does not come to me too
late. III yon feel that have deserved II, now,
know that have not deserved it sooner. 1t
II only III the character of my later work that
feel l have earned it. 1t il thirty years ago
since first left home for Europe, aud in three
months shall be fifty. This In the turning
point OF my life. While the springs OF Nature.
l feel, are still fresh and the enthusiasm Of
youth has not died out, still at this period,
San look back and consider imparialy his career.
len years ago, ! saw that the work had then
done hal no permanent value, and did not eX-
pfesr what FELT were my full powers as all au-
thor. My books Of travel had had popularity
that deceivedmany of my friends, but know that
they could not hold an enduring position IN liter
AZURE. A travellers observations and deac,ip.
tons stand only until some later traveller sees
more intelligenLly, or discovers more OF de-.
scri5es more agreeably. They cannot embDdy
the creative element, which is the highest III
literature. therefore resolved TO now
make good my lost time, for my travels had
never been part OF the purpose OF my life l
lai undertaken them only to aid in my educa.
ton IN criticism, poetry, and the higher forms OF
Literary work. Now such decision to change
the character Of my efforts was like changing
front III battle--a manoauyre, as you know, al
says full Of danger. ] knew that might lose
tho audience | possessed, before gaining that
which hoped for. But determined upon my
course, aud followed it, sustained by the recoG-
milton and encouragement of the friends who
stood nearest to me, and most of all by the faith
iul companion of my life, who in all my literary
iabors has been my good conscience. never APP
proving what she saw was hasty and imperfect
work, yet never emitting or Withholding praise
when the best had bo4,n done OF which war
capable,
During my last absence in the Old World. |
nave worked harder than ever In that period I
have written "Lars"-the poem which seems to
have had no small share in occasioning this well
come--a History OF Germany" and dramatic
poem entitled ''The Prophet which has lust been
published besides keeping mp my newspaper cor
respondenee. The idea OF ID Lars" had been in
my mind for seven years before the publication
Of the volume, but il any OF my work il to have
permanent place in Literature, II is that which
have done within the last year or two.
To be received thus blends tho past and
the future with tho illumination OF the
heart, and will tell you about Lars The
story is entirely of my own invention. ! have
always been interested in the story Of tile Swedish
settlements on the Delaware and remarkiug
| that the earliest colonista here had been Scan
dinayian people, who were followed by the
! Friends, the idea long ago occurred to me TO
make some poetical ,ise Of the subject Not until
my later visit to Northern Europe, however, did
| l lind n clue, when discovered that there was,
at Arendal, in the South Of Norway, asettemen,
| OF Friends, and the whole story grow in my mind
to contrast the bold, rugged, Scandinavian char.
actor, with its st Berserker rage and the gentle
and spiritual people OF peace. II is urged, some
times that have introduced too violent an Incl
dent into the poem, III the duel with knives, with
belts hooked together, &C., but that belonged Il
the wild life Of the Norwegians OF the mountains
aud the duel, with the death Of one Of the com.
| batants, was necessary to the poem, in psycho.
logical and spiritual seuse, in order to chow the
victory over a rude and wild nature Of the purel
! spiritual principle. / wrote Glars" Just two
years ago. at this time in the Autumn, and al
the scenes rose distinctly to my minds eye
| lnleum lsitutt, tue hIlOIeh Oi OelAWNfe, VIII
mington, the old chnrch-ns sat in my room
in Germany. also remembered Hockessin, fol
the name had always fingered in my mind in
peculiar manner, and recalled to me the charms
OF its scenery-something pict,lresqe, and with
a diversified beauty. Now it il a strange fact
that when in Your book you have once created q
character, and given him Distinct form in youl
OWN mind, he acquires separate existence, and
begins to do as he will. &c. when Lars had AZ.
rived at Philadelphia and come to Tinicnm, and
10. Ind had
mington, he went on to HocEessn, himself
could not hinder it !
Once more thank you for day which vii
stand in my memory, bathed In its own solemn
and sacred light. give you my promise that
the honor you have done me shall not be allow.
ed to engender any vanity or over appreciation
OF self. The occasion has n san,tity which /
dare not profane by accepting it otherwise than
humby and gratefully. l can best thank you
for it, by striving TO do better work, henceforth
and II God gives me life, shall labor 20 develop
every power He has given NE, to do the work
which seems appointed to me, with the PRAYER