The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-02-27
OTTAWA FREE TRADER: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY ~, 1875.


fecs of measure and sound, Is incompatible
with anything hitherto known. The first
emotion of one who studies even his imma
turc work is that of wonder at the freedom
and richness of his diction, the susurrus OF
his RHYTHM, his unconscious alliteratlOns, the
endless change of his syllable harmonic
resulting in the alternate sottness AMI
strength, height and fall, riotous or chastened
music, of his afluent verse: How does he
produce 1t? Who taught him all the hidden
| springs of melody? lie was born a tanner OF
! words; a subduer of this most stubborn, yet
most copious of the literary words. In his
poetry we discover qualities we did not know
were in the language-a softness that seemed
Italian, rugged strength we thought was
German, blithe and debonair lghtness we
despared of capturing from the French, He
has added a score of new steps and pedals TO
he instrument. He has introduced, partly
from other tongues, stanZaic forms, measures
and effects untried before; and has brought
out the swiftness and force of meters like the
anapestc, carrying each to perfection at Il
single trial. Words in his hands are like the
ivory balls of iuggler and all words seem
to be In his hands. His fellow-craftsmcn,
who alone can understand what has been
done in their art, will not term this statement
extravaganza. Speaking only of his com
mand over language and meter, have right
| To reaffirm and to show by many illustrations,
| that he is the most sovereign of rhythmstS.
He compels the infexible elements to his
use. Chaucer is more limpid, Shakespeare
more kingy, Milton lofter at times, Byron
has an unaffected power-but neither Shelley
nor the greatest OF his predecessors ore 50
dithyrambic, and no one has been in all moods
so absolute an autocrat of verse With equal
gifts, say, none cOuld have been, for Swim
burne comes after and profits by the arts of
all.
In this number we have one Of the prom
Used papers by Albert Rhodes, who this time
gives an entertaining illustrated sketch of the
famous fabulist, La Fontaine.
Some Old Letters" are continued, and be-
sides their own interest, are remarkable as
being accompanied by hitherto unpublished
portrait Of Sir Walter Scott, by the artist
Newton, once well known in America and
England
DIR. Robinson says some bright things here
about DR.. Leonard Bacon and his book, I'M
der the title of New England and her
Church"
Dr. Holland, ia his peculiar departments,
is copous and instructive as usual, and in an
article on Criticism and Preaching, puts in
the following remarks in favor of Christian
ty in the current discussions Of the relations
of Christianity to Science:
In these discussions, there is one fact that
seems to have dropped out of notice; yet it
is full of meaning, and deserves, for Christi
anitys sake, 10 be raised and kept before the
public Who or what, has raised science to
its present commanding position? What in
huence is 1t that has trained the investigator
educated the people, and made it possible for
the scientific man to exist, and the people to
comprehend him. Who built Harvard Col
legeg What motives form the very founda
ton stones of Yale? To whom, and to what,
are the great instihltions oflearning scattered
all over this country, indebted for their exis
tenee? There IS hardly one of these that did
not have its birth in, and has not had its
growth from, Christianity. The founders of
all these institutions, more particularly those
of greatest influence and largest facilities,
were Christian men, who worked simply in
the interest of their Master. The special
scientific schools that have been grated upon
these institutions are children of the same pa
rents reared and endowed for the same work
Christianity is the undoubted and indisputa-
bic mother of the scientific culture of the
country. But for her, our colleges would
never have been built-our common schools
would never have been instituted. Wherever
a free Christianity has gone, ii has carried
with it education ard culture
The public, or a considerable portion of it,
seems to forget this, or has come to regard
as opposed TO science in its ma
ture and aims. 1t is almost regarded, by
many minds, as the friend of darkness, as the
opponent of free inquiry and the enslaver Of
thought. The very men who have been rear
ed by her in some instances turn against her,
dlsowning their mother and denying the
sources of their attainments, and today she
has herself almost forgotten that it is her
hand that has reared all the temples of learn
ing, framed the educational policy of the ma
lion, and, with wide sacrifice of treasure,
reared the very men who are now OBTAINING
ler.
There is poetry by John G. SAKE H. F.
Warner, c. f. Bates, G. p Lathrop Joaquin
Miller, &c, several minor stories appear, and
he scientific and other departments are more
Varied than ever.
Harper's.
There are over 100 illustrations in the
March number of Harper's Magazine, and
,ery rich and interesting variety of reading
natter. The opening number, by Vim. III.
2ideing, beautifully illustrated, introduces us .
o the bold scenery, curious antiquities and