Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-12-01
whittier In Review.

his praises. An enthusiastic and tasteful lady
member had prepared an agreeable surprise to
the friends and admirers of Whittier in adorning
the walls Of the Lyceum room with choice pas
sages from his poems, clearly printed and
choicely framed IN exquistely-pressed ferns and
richly-tinted autumn leaves The lines Helaoted
tor the place of honor over the Presidents desk
were tho golden words
al know not where His Islands lift
Their fronded palms Ia air;
| only know cannot drift
Beyond His love and care .
and other stanzas, including the we'll known
lines
'Drhey melt not in an acid sect
The Christian pearl Of charity
.'Love has never known law
Beyond lis own sweet WILL"
''The sadiest are these, 1T might have been.
scattered about on the wall.
Miss A. S, appointed to the duty OF preparing
a biography of the hero OF the evening, fulfilled
tho task in graceful and felictous essay. in
which the simple chronicle OF the poets life WAS
Illustrated by admirably chosen passages from
hiH own poems. She also read the following let
ter from Whittier himself, in answer to one APP
prising him OF the occasion and the special
friendliness of feeling which animated it +;
ANEsBuRS, MASS, l1th mo. 22nd.
My DEAR FRIENDS
Thy very kind note, informing me that am
to "run the gauntlet OF the Friends Social
Lyceum ON 30th inst, has been received, and
thank thee for giving me fair warning. sup
pose it is not expected that any more OF my per-
sonality than may be found IN my writings will
be present on the occasion, though il would give
me pleasure to look in the faces OF those who
bear the pleasant name Of Friends without too
curiously inquiring whether they belong to this
or that division of the Ancient Society. But am
not naturally good listener and am afraid
that should not be a very apprecatiye hearer
of my own words.
have not felt able 20 place very high esti-
mate upon my writings. I know too well thel.
deficiencies. But | have given the public
the best had TO give, snd. the measure Of
favor with which il has been received has been
constant surprise to me. This, at least, ! can
say truly, that have been actuated by a higher
motive than literary success, and II has been my
desire that whatever influence my writing may
exert should be found on the side OF morality,
freedom, and Christian Charity.
With every good wish for the SUCCESS and use
fulnehs Of the Lyceum. and thanking thee for
tho kind words of thy letter, am
Very trnly thy friend
JoaN @. WHITTIER
Miss @. G. recited the poem Of "AIary Gar
VIM" In which the pretty Legendary story is made
tho vehicle Of the broad truths Of Christian
charity, whose advocacy is the poet'H constant
aim. a -''-'i
Mr.. I. W. followed with some personal recol-
lections OF Whittier in which his praises were
equally given to the poet and the man, the sweet
singer and the earnest reformer. He closed by
reciting with much spirit and feryor two of the
poems Of the "Voices of Freedom which, as an
old Abolitionst he found himself still prefer
ring TO the more mellowed productions OF later
years.
Mrs. NJ. @. p. read a short critical essay in
which, while acknowledging tile beautiful devo-
tioDal spirit of Whitter's poems, their sweet
natural imagery and harmonious flow, she pro-
fessed herself unable to fluid In these qualities
alone what would suffice TO lift their author to
the front rank Of the minor poets, and concud-
ed that his best claim to that position must rest
upon the passionate poems of tho voices of
Freedom. They, II not lambent with the true
poetic fire, have fervor OF intense feeling which
| stimulates 1t. The momentum with which they
struck and Glove their mark was due not to their
intrinsic weight alone, but 10 their weight and
motion combined. But for this passionate ear
neHtness their author might be adjudgod to rank
rather with Boxer and Read than with Longfel-
low and Lowell. IL IL not the silver Pipe OF peace
which sounds so loud, but the clang OF the sword
of Gideon.
Mrs. P.H remarks called forth an animate d
discussion, some of the poets admirers claiming
for him much higher ranll.than that allowed by
the essayist while others spoke of the differ
ences Of his poems az a fault resulting frsm the
very facility Of his vers6cation, but greatly
marring their power.
Mrs. g. W. N. read IN the admirable style to
which the Lyceum has previously been indebt-
| ed Tor 30 much pleasure, Whittiers Tribute Ia
| former was discussed as being probably the
finest exemplification OF the poets best writ
| ings.
| Mr.. W. 1. O. made an extempore address,
summing up the qualities OF the poet s work with
| much critical impartislity al friendliness OF
| feeling, concluding with reading some extracts
about, not from, the author himself. He said
| that while he agreed that Whittier was not one
OF the greatest OF our poets, he confessed such
/ agreement with reluctance, since despite it he
| found more pleasure in his writings then In
these OF almost any other poet, especially enjoy
| ing those poems which to quote Bayard Taylor
'have ripened in heart at rest, such as Snow
| Bound" and "Among the Hills" In some OF
| these poemH too, he thought that In the presen
taton OF creed which to the speaker appeared
TO comprehend the whole Of our duty towart
God and our fellow-man, there was tersenesi
and condemnation which freed them from thu
charge Of too much diffuseness, brought against
some OF his other poems. MIR. O. then read Al
extract from letter to the Chicago. Tribune des
cribing recent visit to Whittier's home.
Later in the evening, after the usual socia
recess, some interesting little personal reminis
cenC es of Whittier were given. passage
from private letter was road which spoke o
the simplicity and avoiaance Of sentimen
tality evinced in his conversation and manners
instancing the answer which the writer heard hin
make to gushing young lady who asked il III
did not revel in the rapture of poetic inspiration
while creating his poems. no." replied he, g
cannot say that do. build them very much a
build stone fence
The Lyceum consider this first of their crit
| cal evenings q success both for the information
and the pleasure received and propose at state
periods to devote themselves in same way to tn
consideration Of other authors.
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