New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-11-18


a ages OF our literary history from the time that our
secb WINS reduced TO comparative uniformity by the
rare perception and pathological discrimination OF 'au
Ger there have existed two recognized schools OF poets
The native domestic and the CLASSICAL In some poets
the classical element Is the aniInatnS Principe az III
Milton whose pages, "sprinsed with the diamond aust
OF classic lore" thick as Autumna leaves, that
strew the brooks in Vallombrosa.' Afford the
most impressive illustration OF its power
wonderful Impulse was communicated to the ceyel,,
oIment Of classical poetry, by uat morn ng s.st w
modern song" The poet Keats ana since ms hNei' u
poetry has tended more and more 10 dNes i'sl Vl na
live svinpahirs, and TO assume an artistic or erhy
gained IN elao atom perfection of structure Genus
ana imagination are no. $500 ,nnninns alliance
the canons OF art. and from toelr hai,nonlos In
arises the unsurpassed excellence Oh focs Peouy IN
the school 0i literary OF easo -, The names
in that ilustrous procession whch ih,tuuV & Rts
of Milton Ben JOnson, Hcrrick Shelley, anu htatS.
Having assigned to Poe an hon9raDe We ho ~ nri
school vi classical poets proceed 10 SPEAK OF W. "in
iuanty tue cICai power. displayed IA ne Iuc,li, 40
well a. his brilliant achievements IN mrrlcrl coi
Specific points of resemblance may DO % me-
between lis poetry and that oi h's '9tgl' ,di n
,ecessors. bat general or woil-lenncn useie' , n
few poets have displayed moro surprising measure on
creative power some uf his Inatulei POetis "io & -
gend of the Raven, related by Roger De hovedeil, ana
referring OF the Latin CONQUEST oi h M
monte or the Legend of Herod Agripi", cilcn " ~
Quincy III mis- celebrated Essay on Modern oupersOn'
furnishes adequate foundation or l.e toAt r o. ros
masterpiece The raven has constituted - Wonhhch,
character IN English poetry I9f HauS ageS
t. lad Of Colin ANA Lacy" tue OF tnS
1i'in",sbi,ri az yote viii ready suggest tsef to all
lovers of our dramatic and lyric poetry But none 81
tne~e can he considered a. the precursor or fots
haven" The nearest approach 70 any uls'i'' W.
aure OF "T &c Raven is 10 be fou d, suspect M we
dramas of sakespeaIe, horc unfaiing sources o inter
lectual nutrIinent THe one word. Mortimer uI marry
blince TO the "Nevernore" of "Tne Raven" whose
melancholy refrain seelns almost the ech0 OF lhe otal
hn- s" uuvaryus uOte. No p0eiD III our IhSudSo pr
senls a more graceful grouping Of meiilcal hPphiee5
and devices 1he power of peculiar etl"Is Is cN"iNeu
nagu.flc' ut touch; the lrh OF tne iqur' - "a
char!c trIisilc icature, not only ot the rclh' u'
throughout tne COmla ., we lvV'' W. te,re re-
ness, louS dawn out lalS Wi' " zoe ii'M i, 80,
,esns the pUo,'s mastery ot those mysterious mar
monies which lie az the bass OF human sIeet Lac CON
tnuity oi the I'd! nm isitth9 Nlt'n u - dr,,,,
musical drtignt, IN NhlCh the sense j Ntlt"~S
unt lrol into another tue aIl'e"tioh 81 tue
Morse unLstrC ANA tue sly IN D'.d IA. s@I,v u., a.
and silst: med Interest aty s1lue n '' oi
place the haven" foremost among 'he olea'loDS VI
poetic AIT IN OuI de ana ciIihe. an ...-,. 4.
AnJ her usl igJiSnins characteristic OF zoe poetry
MYSTERIOUS ailnity wich biuds together the SOUND ana
he s,use. IN odghout all lie processes oil ndtle
lhy thmical movement Is ctap discontinue ulon Wv
cons iols recognition or this principle arc based an our
concepous OF melody, all systelas vi mConaon aud III
,,ic"y ov.y Inc lrtr1ics of verse that the TrouDa
dUurs iuglt have asplred Ia emulate
CLASSIC ELEMENTS.
Permit me next to direct your attention TO the classic
nrcss Of Poe poetry its blending of genius and cu
ture and to the estimation in which his productions
are held ia other lands The Athcnian sculptor III tho
palmest days OF Grcclan art wrought out his i"Hche'
conceptions 10y the painful process OF managing ILL
rence The angel vas not evolved from the block ny
sudden inspiration brilliant fash vi unprecedented
art BY proceeding upon System corresponding 10 tue
diatonic scale in music. the luXuIiance OF genius Wa
regulated and directed by the sober pTecept and decor
ous graces Of formal art No finer illustration OF con
scous ant been produced In our century IMAM tAe
Raven" In all the ripper productions OF oar poet heie
/. displayed The graceful alliance ~ genius chuIt
and taste. De attain mastery over me mo- ami
metrcal forms. tnosc 10 whose successful podnI
,inu the spirit of the Enslsn tongue ~ not colseh
rAe sOnue,, that peculiarly Italian Rpt OF 'eiS' iuiy
tailed by tie Gtihus OF IcAldIcu' I'm VI 80, "a
which few English writer's Lave suceeded ms heth au
mrdbly illustrate III Poe's "Hdntc' lnieeu n"Cn o.
lie acrn, ny OF his criticism ar0S' from hia Pd'n
mi selisitireleso To- ar.say lPoirino" r a," cr
can caste of his gciius led IN ltnthclsiic love
beauty incarnated III pllIa1le Or material Oyins lis
i've CHARACTERISTIC oi thoce lotls WIZ MI 7,
Thoroughly mhuCd vita tue Grccian taste ana slflt ~
Las let impress deep upon the texture ga our poetry
and OF s most silNeiy symptom o5 owe TUG ~
spuadOu TO this source In addition l" the t.Sst le
.ent poetry is pervadcd by that magic 81 etvc ma"
strange unrest AID uredity taose Werd noIe7 ne u"
refrain OF i.s own Raw so nlsicaisn ian uol,
pnse intellectual character. Tao quck e.hsinfs me
ethereal temper OF these nltaTh artists nave wonder
ullv cuVrurd the solld character OF our AigioSdAoh
ces urs and much 81 the ~ ie ana consecutive poWc
tla have refined IN EaSl.h poetry from me Day, o.
IuimUn, OF Waiter Mu', and OF Chaucer may De atuln
n,ed Celtic nislon into The Ientoe hOol. Con-
>liruDps tx nples OF power may 10 discovered ID
Shakespeare, IN heals, III Byron. ana III Zoo.
rOE's GENIUS.
have thus eudeayorei to present to yon the nteec
IA Il character Edgar ~ Poe Is 1t has revealed ITSELF
To- NE from diliscnt study of his works, aud from
iauy contrasts and condolences that HcIar, history
naturally suggests have attempted to show the yer
sic character Of his genius, the consumnate % wei
- conscious ant of his poetry, tho graceful blending o
.bc creative and the critical iHvuya combination per
maps the rarost tAat the history Of literature a'ords
hs want Of Difference 10 prototypes or models tl'
ID asie ana scholarly elegance Of his dicion tle Aic
snootbncss snd the Celtic mage Of his e'yo. Much OF
. A. n. 10 1a lI
stand the test o. criIcu scrutiny In afocrimos. bli When
subjected 10 tie scycrcst ordeal o. varying fashion popu
Tar carce the old order changing, yielding place 10
new" there Is much that VIII j. iS "uE WIN l", III
.ereiy we'd The most enthusiastic ulates from me sou
and dspassionate critics oi thc Ola World s'ii ever
remember tae thril ui gc. u t;nf atloil Win "hic
read the splendid rulDgiuu up"u the CONN, 81 roc ~
Inc IoudoU C1riela hericir ia winch Ir ranked
upve his cuicm jOIa1cs Jnt pronounced oA o.! lte
Ho'' o,c,'e.i mic hat over rycd and possessing
perhaps tie finest ear Tor lhylm tt1t wac
r..,ions nroduc ID Nv tue Wcii" upob the mind
5lr,. Browning. "shakcspcdrcs daughter aud Ielny
.ns sister" IL is bot recently tia' one OF zoe in'steI
spirits u tie new poetic Schools has LED o. Poe the
prttmuence among DeIican pOe,s Alfred Irllut sou
a8s expressed nis admiration, wh" with true portc am
among the first 10 appreciate TIE nnvrl! nnI me
elicacy oi his thol. aud VINO. ~ t,le wien tnr
Iuroitus fame Obscrol by adverse ~ udiatrrn-
ng criticism. plainly forcsdw the Soieit sp hdor "i Lis
aalnred greatness. An apprcclatye aIi generous En-
-isintn Las recently aided 10 the treasures OF OIi
ota,mo superb edition Of ms works, IN when dnpi'
recognition Il accorded 20 his rare AMI varied powers.
aud the SANDERS of his acrimonious hOyhrer aie re-
fted hy evidence that be gain aged rCsistcl
No reader Eu gish periodical lite AZURE can il 70 oh
serve frequent illusions To hs memory, e hulnsr-
Ous tributes 10 ls genius th3t nave ai,.Is ~ M %
apuH, TIE Acddemg. the British qiarterDes, ana the
TRANSACTIONS o tie Shakespeare society MOI - Tbs
lofty estimate o. MS poems cohhhou 20 tuust IIiS III
which the English auguHcr ~ the Yefnacnar speech
ii has extended iu:O foreign cncs, an aroused apple-
ciayo admiration where English literature Is imporircty
anONn ana IL gutly regarded
Let us rejoice that POes ulcrs have found appropriate
c.utiuI and that tho Poets Corner IN our West
nun.lcr rescued from The unEaciul neglect when Tor
"A quarter Il century has n,ttuted the liSL rtlf9dch
Of our state aud metropolis. recognize IN the dcdca
lion OF thB nnnmtnt 10 The IuelnOIy VI Ouf poet an