The Portland daily press., 1875-10-23


song is in great measure interchangeable
with our own; and the broad wash of the sea
affords the perspective in which comprehen
sive view of the poetry of the mother-land
may be taken. 1t is better, perhaps, that con-
temporary criticism of fellow-couutryme take
the form of isolated reviews of special work,
than that of general and comparative discus
sion OF their merits. 1t is impossible, in the
limits of journalistic notice of Mr.. Sted-
mans "Victorian Poets to even refer to all
the many points of WORTH beauty and in
indispensable to the lover of poetry, or to its
student No work could be more clesr, more
reliable, or of more varied interest in its de.
partment. The refinement, high tone, and
technical as well as general culture of Mr..
Stedman's talent. combine to make volume
of criticism, which, though we may differ from
it in occasional matters Of taste or opinion, it
is impossible not TO thoroughly respect and ad-
mire.
The NEW DAY. A Poem in Songs and Sonnets
By Richard Watson Glider. Published by Scribner,
Armstrong & Co., New York. For sale by Loring,
Short & Harmon.
The fanciful taste of the cover and illustra-
tions of this dainty volume seems 10 discredit
Bourdillon's charming lines:
1.-THE night hath thousand eyes,
The day but one,'
for all about Mr.. elders ''New Day" peacock's
plumes wave and display their many eyes. The
poem is made up of songs and sonnets, with
prelude, ,interludes and aftersong. Mr. Glider
proves himself to be the possessor of delicate
fancy, exalted imagination, strong feeling in
verse and facility and familiarity with the SON.
net form. he belongs to the school of Rossetti,
and although occasionally his work has too
strong suggestion of that model, he is not one
Of the EXTREMIST followers of the new manner;
and does not adopt its affectedly antique lam
guage, its medi@vsl forms, purposely made
meagre. His musical and suggestive descrip-
tive verse links with delicate resemblancss
the dawn and progress OF the actual day
with that of the new day OF the passion
that he celebrates. There is purity of color
ing in his descriptive writing that is evidence
of his genuine artistic gift. A warmth of
earthly feeling that rises to meet religious emo
ton is apparent in much of his work; and
though it may have been in part developed by
his studies of the great Italian masters of the
sonnet-its spontaneous quality and originality
are uGdeniable He has clearly dramatic
element that is at present rather initiative Of
Rossetti's-and which consequently, is in ap-
parent process of deterioration. If he can
free it from the unpleasant models in that
genre that Rossetti affords, and trust to nat.
ural AMI forcible presentation of which he is
quite capable-the result cannot fail to be for
tunate 1t is precisely because the hard and
often inartistic manner of Rossetti is in oppo-
stion to the natural refinement and delicacy of
Mr.. Gilder's talent that he should not try to
emulate it. The dramatic period may delay,
may follow after the lyric expression for him
but by leaving it to develop itself naturally, it
will have finer quality The force and
beauty of the following sonnet leave no doubt
that Mr. Glider has the genuine.poetic gift:
THE VIOLIN.
'sBefore the listening world here bold stand,
The hot air quivers with my passionate play;
hear their clappings, and their feet alway
Follow with storm some passage glad or grand;
And now they fall to weeping at my hand
And now they hear the trump of judgment day,
And now cne white small note to Heaven doth stray,
And huttering fall upon the golden sand.
But like the murmur of the distant sea
Their loud applause, and far. Oh far and weak
S0undeth my own strong music unto me-
Far from the soul of music that doth speak
In wordless wall and joyful agony
From this dear thing press against my cheek"
In this sonnet-although it is not one most
intimately connected with the general design
of the poem-the finest traits of the authors
talent are to be seen. The intricate melody of
the sonnet is admirably wrought, its passion
10 otnI IA
ing Is simple, exalted and musical; and the
whole sonnet is finished, clear and original
Mr. Gilder's merits are his own, either by ma.
ture or allowable adoption of models; his
faults are conspicuously those of the school to
which he Belongs. If his next volume be not
decided improvement upon the present one
it his fine taste do not prune away some ex
travagancies of sentimentality and manner-he
will fall short of the fine work of which he
gives promise.
SEvENoAKs. BY j. q. Holland. Published by
Scribner, Armstrong & Co. For sale by Loring,
Short g. Harmon.
This novel, which aims to ba powerful. sue
ceeds in being disagreeable to an unnecessary
degree. 1t is the story of the fraads and vices
of an unscrupulous, low and selfish man; and
the repulsive subject, treated in detail, is far
from edifying or attractive. There is certain
coarseness about the novel; not wilful or really
blameworthy, but simply displeasing. No vein
of romance, or of refined life runs through the
work. The hero, Mr.. Belcher, is the principal
man in the little town of Severoaks; to him
its people have committed many trusts, and
be is its centre of business and politics He
removes to New York in order to widen his
sphere of operations, and to carry on in larger
proportions the petty awindles that be has. sue
cessfully practiced. The interest of the story
turns largely upon patent right that he has
fraudulently obtained. With this repuls7e
central figure, appear many others-nons of
them, to say the least, agreeable acquaint-
ances. A rather histrionic aud hysterc ad
ventures; harmless lunatic; an honest,
kind-hearted and humorous backwoodsmap,
some of whose Malapropian utterances, how.
ever, seem somewhat premeditated and led up
to by easy stages; an unscrnpulous agent, who
acts as alder and abettor of Mr.. Belchers
frauds; brow-beating lawyer; and an i'm
possible good little boy who appears as guar
dian angel at opportune seasons-are the chief
personages of the story. DR.. Hollands pur-
pose, as is always the case with him, is
thoroughly good, and go far as making vice
and neanness repulsive goes, be has succeeded.
But we hold that no picture of society is true
that does not contain some portraits neither
bad or absurd; that does not dwell more gladly
upon the example of the good than the warn
ing of the bad. There is some bright writing
in "Sevenoaks" and much that is good, sim
cere and forcible. 1t is a book that will find
large sale, aud will be of benefit to many
Certainly, the career of fraud is made unnyit-
lngly hard and virtue is everywhere upheld,
throughout its rages.
The VOICE IN SPEAKING. From the German of
Madame Emma Seller, by W. H. Furness, D. D.
j. B. Lippincott Co., 1875. 16mo, PIP. 1854.
We believe in the results of Madame Seller
aud of the great Helmholz, not because they
are impossible, but in spite of their impossi.
bility. To US Helmholzs s conclusions concern
ing the pitch of vowel sounds seems absolutely
incredible. And now comes this German lady,
residing in Philadel phia, aud not only confirms
Helmholz by an independent series of observa-
tions, but goes on to obtain similar conclusion,
the consonants. According to