The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-12

They should all be brought to light.
Mr. GEORGE WAsHINGTON CHILDs, A. NJ,
has leading essay in his Public Ledger en-
titled "1he Pathetic Element" intended.
doubtless to rebuke those unhpprcciative per
sons who have made his obituary pc Try tho oc-
castor OF jostlng We have done much, we trust
TO give the muse OF Mr. GUILDS n worldwide and
exalted reputation-to erect him, as 1t were In
public attention, like well-insctibed tombstone,
a. sweetly sad reminder of bereavement We
believe that the Indictment Of our approval md
a growing fame have pushed hin on to greater
and greater endeavor, until he h without rival
in the department Of obituary composition. IL
Is undoubtedly true that, In Isolated Instances,
callous men and women scoff at him, and a
knowledge Of insensate criticism probably crates
hardly upon CHILDss tender soul. Doubtless
Mr.. CuILDs's solf-abneRation makes him less
conscious OF the plaudits Of millions than OF the
jeers of the few; and 1t was unquestionably
while smartinR under the derision Of the latter
that he wrote III defence Of The Pathetic Ele.
ment." He begins Ia these words;
"Itisat least question whether esgernese TO
free ourselves from everything shy aud puere. we are
sseetens III ana Seiis u maternity over iis hard
ee o. he ca SeTor n TS when S viii remain SfS
nied II we cOntemutuousy brush u aside II Is that ~
sper!es Or slnks them " their proper level 80 wen US
atouch OF true pdtlOs."
Turning to the obituary column Of the copy OF
the Ledger In which we read tho remarks from
which we have quoted. we End plentiful guam
tity Of verses, seemingly the outcome Of the
same tender. sympathetic condition Of mind.
The following Is one OF these gems. truly and
indeed a "softener and a harmonlzer."
Farewell. dear husband aud children dear.
Though ab'ent from pa, DO not feari
God Will protect sud n urt. too.
So 1--we one another 10 loved vou.'
Returning to the leading article, we quote
again:
"who has not experienced the calming eject Of ten.
OF = Tranquil scene in naturcY Wnonls 1tfclt ms
real OF unOn hearing tale Of Iistrcss2 Directly
Of our pcaan,e AZ TIDES AID We hasten to hurJ iIem
IN the oblivion thov deserve. Lven memory u tho
past sense Of longing feeling Of sympathy or con.
passion orag ow Of gratitude vii frequently have the
RENE sS cas ana o he SSse a ia ' them s
they ere thus powerful upon us.'
APPLY does our great poet ask. "who has not
experienced the calming effect Of tender music,
If n beautiful poem, Of speaking picture, or
Of tranquil scene In naturei" No reader OF the
Public Lodger, we'll be bound. Music, pictures,
poetry. all are condensed into four obituary
lines, as COW Is concentrated by LIEBId's
process into a few pounds OF paste. Behold
IN this verse, also from the same copy Of the
Ledger, all these pathetic elements;
Addiction sore long time she bore.
mi God At last did hear her moan
And cased her OF her pain
That verse should prepare the reader for An-
other specimen Of the essay on The Pathetic
Element, and here 1t Is;
Tears too-those emhlems Of pathos, which It Is the
present Ia ion 20 desp'e and suppress have their own
nses which nothing el-e can 81 ply They re me hesi
ylich would otherwise consgnic ani OUT The No
noW from .ympathy tender piiy aud those which
Dormant 'sensSties are neiiher lie nor wastea
They soften what l. hsrd rome what - coarse ID
warner aimospnere such are the tears Of which TKA
Rise IN the heart. and gather to the eyes,
10 lo0 ing on ne happy autumn Mods
And such lhe emotion tia, LoSoFTLi describes
That f. not akin to pain,
As The mist resembles rain"
The reader viii please TO notice how Cuu.ps's
generous tolerance Of other poets outcrops.
CnILps Is not afraid to Introduce TEsSYsoS to
his readers. CHILDs does not hesitate to print
LoNGFELLows lines on the same sheet with
some OF his own best med clue for heartache."
Why should her Neither TESSYsON nor LoN0-
FELLOW ever wrote anything like this, quoted
from tho same days obituary column:
"Fold the waren hand. together,
Close the soft and dreamy eye,
See how like broken lilies
Pale and beautiful ia death they ne."
How inerablv sweet ls the picture Of that one
eyed child How well 1t leads the reader sym
psthetically to the close Of tho leading article
awe never AFFORD TO lose the pathetic from our
iyes We came, pare II, tender sraee delicate
foolish sentimentelltY should never be COMPOUNDED
with true pathOs The one l. degrading the other en-
nobhuz the one IL tham. a mockery, base imit9
non the other genune' pure, and true: The one Is
uQn. ping that which II can W no means fathom the
other Il the natural and pure uttertnce OF the heart
Which can never be crushed down or resisted without
-acrincing ,ome u the hnes elements q humanity aud
some VI the sweetest pleasures OF HE"
II we cannot afford TO lose the pathetic, how
much less could we afford 10 lose CHILps. the
great exponent Of pathos. Let us cherish him
Let US encourage him with love and praise
Let us above all induce him to write mis- own
death-yerse for no poet after him can DO equal
to that achievement.