New-York tribune., 1875-10-13
JOAQUIN MILLER.
SOME DOUBTS OF HIS GREATNESS noDEsrLY PUT
FORTH By "a HUMBLE AUTHOR"

SOME DOUBTS OF HIS GREATNESS MoDEsrLY PUT
FORTH By "a HUMBLE AUTHOR"
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: have Just read l.. c. Ms announce
mept (which NAV also be termed q semi-critcism of
Joaquin" Miller's new poem, in today's TRIBUNE.
While cordially assent 20 all which L. C. NJ says con-
cerning the slow-witted souls who comprehend
nothing which Is not whole praise or whole oondemna-
ton take note that he Tor shc characerizes Mr. Miller
as true poet and so let thank God for HIM." ana
proDounces this last poem "a true poem when no one
who wants keep pace with the literature OF the 'e
can afford 20 leave unread"
After such prelude 1 can but suppose that the pas
saes quoted by L. G. NJ selected Illustrations OF
Mr. Mnlcr's best qualities, those which constitute his
ustilable claim 10 the title OF true poet" With such
impressions have read them; but before commencing
my cOuntcrcOmment, let me explain that bciOns 10
GLASS of authors who have grown mp In fath perhaps
now antiquated that Thought should he the basis
OF Imagination. that meaning should uuderc metaphor
that even descriptive poetry should be marked by con-
ssence c0hcrencc less than by strong ana clear
metlical expression If wrong la this presumption
my own views, Of course, vaueesS but II am only
partly right, they VII surely he parconable at tlo
when much literary criticism seems To be
written without reference TO any permanent IDEAS O
literary art, and Is likely To confuse even more thoh "
may enlighten, the earnest, trutiiseeking reader.
l. C. NJ. shows au exceptionally amiable nature in en-
eayoring to explain how tho bride" of the opening OF
the poem becomes "the daughter" further on; and
would willingly accept such explanation II the quoted
passages which follow answered o my mind) the deeiar
alton OF their excellence But when the critic asks ;
And who that reads wonder that nc vasques loves
fair Inai" turn To the lines, and find:
Was roses gathered from the south,
The warm south side Of Paradise,
Aud breathed upon a'.d hondsd docn
By angels on a Sdtr Of Stars
Invountarily seem to see line of angels rosed say'
a lofty az
upon the mouth as he receives it, and then handing IL
down to the next Reading further, now discover, to
my amazement, that it was Eayprs mouth Of old
"And he who drought Semirap,is
Had bowed and made shrine hereat"-
tho italics mine) and must confess to Delng Whoy
bewildcrcd by the contemplation OF this engmatlcal
mouth Only thing is certain: speaking hunanly,
doubt very much whether mouth at which shrine had
been built, and which had undergone 50 much handling,
even by angels on the siair world he which should
select for the kiss Of love- Candidy, hGre read and
still wonder that hc loves her.
Take the next quotation. Is this lofty poetcal de-
rrripon OF the plains between the Mississippi and the
Rocky Mountansl
"And yet you journey on hFo'gh space
While seasons pass and are struck Dumb
VIII marvel ut the distances
We seem 10 hear young correspondent trying 10 earn
his journalistic spurs. do not mean TO he captious
simply ask the reader 10 apply that test of COOL rational
strain"
The portion describing the Colorado Desert is quoted at
length that may safely assume il to have been
selected as n specimen of the author 1T his best. Let us
look at some OF the details Of the picture. The SKY Is
said to have lone blue VnJeadiag hue" and then
"The far still stars, they fitsr through
The heavens, falling bright cnt bold
Against the sands as beams OF gold"
Here, don't quite unlaTstand the atmosphere. The
rays OF the stars fieTe', (by poetical image
they might In a vailed filmy air; bl they fan
"brght and bold!" What follows only increases my
certainty:
"Thc vide, white moon forge's her force"
Evidently the air is ha2y again, dcpriyng the moon Of
her fun light; but in that how can the stars be
bright and bold Z" This not the end Of the confusion;
the two closing lines bring us 10 a climax:
"Tne very rides FOWtd and hiah,
ASH 20 SkiOt this solitude"
The higher the rides the distinctly he secs
this solitude or anything else. If open my eyes
widely and in n mans face, do shun the sight Of
him One more pulling passage and have done:
"Behod, this land
sits dcsOlate III dust LeslGe
The very clouds have wept and died,
And God alone is in the sky"
Now, this land is tho sand, aud nothing more, for
We are told that
arts wastes have no conlne
Till pushed against the leveled skies;'
so the sand rs land" sits beside the sand
shrond" The last line of the above is very beautiful
it's even than EyrOnc II Byron HIMSELF IN his
poem OF " The Dream"
$50 clOudess clear, and purely beautiful
That God alone Nds TO bc seen IN heaven"
1t possible that with my antluatcd tastes and ideas
imay be doing injustice to poet intcad OF deyOuty
thanking God for him. ii so, Lave right 20 protest
against the contempt and ridcue which will assurcdly
follow this uttelance Of mine. II L. c. M. will explain
10 me why the passages have cited true poetry,
shall be grateful for the recovery OF lost sense. AS
Rosa Dartle says " merely ask for information"
A HUMBLE AUTHOR.
N0r- York. Oct. ., 1873.