The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-11-06

that admirable poem in power and expression.
Mr.. Taylor repeats the poets universal protest
against his century and its materlalsm, and,
refusing to turn utterly to the past for his inspi
ration, awaits peacefully the coming of the spirit
of song, of no place or time; song born of past
and present. the swift, clear light that he
names ''the sunshine of the Coda" This is
alter all the poets wsest way, to let song
come when and how it will, not asking of it its
land or day; and keeping for it the minds
room, made rich with whatever treasures are
given by these years or those. In "Home Pas
torals' the cearness, power of real dramatic
expression, and facile variety of Mr.. Taylor's
poetry is notable In his "Maytime," ''Au-
gust and November occur descriptive lines
that, harmoniziDg with the subtle translation
into words of the spirit of the time that the
poet sings, have c.earsighted yet imagina-
tive touch. For example:
"Leayes of blackberry briars are bronzed and be-
sprinkled with "copper""
aline fresh-broken from a wayside bush of our
own country, or the delicate allusion and soft
imagery of
a different scene suggestive of heat and of still
Heat as intense and stiffness dumb, the immacu-
late ether's
Hush when it vaults the waveess Mediterranean
y
Patmos behind and westward the flushed Ariadnean
Once as I saw them sleeping drugged by the poppy
OF Summer" s!-
Yet even in languid August the white vil-
lage of the Quaker people reminds the poet
of the old days when
Beauty was law and Joy religion
Who to the Duty in drab shall bring the garlanded
Break with the chant of the gods, the gladstone
timbrels Of morning,
Nasal, monotonous chorals, sung by the sad congre
gation?"
and again through the softened fires of the Au-
gust sunset
''the soul of the landscape,
Breathing OF justified rest, OF peace developed by
patience;"
recalls to the poet the inner consolation of song
that above the forces that depress and repel,
rises,
Fair the stars Cos, the on the boscage of
NaxOs!
Thus the skeleton Hours are clothed with roster
bodies;
Thus the buried Bacchanals rise unto ustier dances
Thus the neglected god returns to his desoate tenn
Beauty, thus rethroned, accepts and blesses her
children!'
This trait in Mr.. Taylor's poetry is so es-
pecially pointed out in the brief limits of this
journalistic notice of s'Home Pastorals''-this
mingled regret aud content, the truce that the
poet affects between substance and song-be
cause it is the keynote of his work, and it is
the clearly shaped and sincere form warmed
and lit by this inner spirit of poetry, that is the
charm and worth of his writings.
Tho URalIa1sv ora d;st;nruiSbad h1 fda1;tv
to nature and well-managed expression. THE
Old Pennsylvania Farmer deserves place not
far from Tennyson's studies of Yorkshire dia-
lect. ''Eric and Axep' is a spirited ballad of
noble horses of the North, silent friends of
their master. The Lyrics evidence Mr.. Taylor's
German training and sympathies. Among
them, the Sunshine of the Gods and 'No-
tus Ignoto" are of especial elevation of Tone.
SIN my Vineyard and "My Farm" are akin
to the genial, easy verse of DR.. Holmes. "Penn
Calvin" is delicate, finely drawn sketch.
Summer Night" has the changing melody,
the skilful modulations of some graceful SON.
alta. The lyric entitled ''Sleep'' is finished no.
BILE aud thoughtful. "Harpocrates'' has a
muf1ed yet pure tone, an impassibility that is
thoroughly in harmony with its Egyptian
theme. The improvisation" are of unequal
merit, but tuneful and spontaneous. "Cano-
pus" recalls Tennyson's Dream of Fair
Women" in its metre, as well as its Numerous
illusions and richly colored imagerY. he Son
nets, most of which are addressed to friends
of the poet, are excellent. The Odes are full
voiced and large in manner, and beyond their
appropriateness to the special occasions for
which they were written, have much literary
worth. Mr.. Taylor IS to be congratulated upon
the appearance of this volume of his poems,
of which the faults are few and chiefly of
manner, and the virtues many, genuine, un-
studied and evidencing progress and solidity.
HEALEY. A ROMANCE. New York: Harpers Bros.
For sale by Loring, Short s. Harmon. -
'Healey" is worthy of the close attention
which one cannot fail to give it for its vigorous
manner of telling very coed story. Like
many novels of the great English middle
classes which have been so much in vogue since
John Halifax, Gentleman" led the popular
fancy, it depicts scenes from life among the
people of the manufacturing districts-givng
the history of the simple folk in their own
peculiar dialect, or painting with a mastery
hand the fury of the Strikes" till we are as
familiar with them as of old we were with the
diversions of my Lord and my Lady, with their
gloomy castles and gloomer family traditions,
or the convva time-honored country gentle
man his fox-huntng, his hospitable country
house, his unmarriageable daughters and dsso-
lutte sons. The author of "Healey' has been
successful in keeping the narrative within the
bounds of probability and the characters stern
ly consistent with it, at the same time true to
their individual traits, so that what they do
corresponds with what they are. Yet when the
interest of the story is strongest and to make it
all come out rghi and everybody happy at last
is the chief desire, there is the temptation 10
wish for a relentipg will and a wavering hand
to accomplish it. When, however, the book j,
reluctantly closed and laid aside, and we are
safely landed in country where there are no
deadly feuds or jealouses, aud where every
oody Is always happy, then the literary merits
OF the book are considered and approved, and
the good taste and clear Judgment are seen in
making justice preferable to sensation IN the
story, The plot is simple aud unique rather
than graDd or artistic, yet so full OF incidents
one has only to read it to appreciate it as it de-
serves
IMPRESSIONS OF LONDON SOCIAL LIFE BY E. S.
Nadal. New York; Scribner, Armstrong, & Co.
For sale by Loring, Short q Harmon.
Mr.. Nadaps book is a pleasantly writer
thoughtlu and instructive account of the In.
| pressions made upon him by England aud