The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-30

PEELED by the frlRdity of certain.v verses to risk
tbe waste Of powder on some inpreonable rep
utation Of the Georgian era. A clever man has
so often written stupid things, and Dr. Flem-
ming Is gifted with such an uncrrins faculty OF
cleaning them, that between impatlence and
misgyiug the critic is held in perpetual nutter.
So far as our own acquaintance with English
literature has avled to identify the selected
matter. 1t appears to us the weakest portion OF
the book. We prefer the "origlnai compost
tons," and have httio doubt that perusal OF
some samples will persuade the reader to AN i'm
mediate purchase OF the volume.
Tn a preliminary discourse to the reader, DR..
Flemmina administers a severe rebuke to the
ancient practice OF dedication to great person.
ages. Such proceeding, in his opinion, would
be mo less impertneut than base, for N the
writer be conscious himself that he needs par
don and such supporters, why does he trouble
the world with his papersf" DIR. Flemming Is
burdened with no such consciousness:
Imust therefore decline that vulgar method as one
VINO an nosise fond Of running me or9sd wa, 81 me
nn @ and ye sSs NOT so ucs as
hespeak thee To be kind and courteous only Tor thy own
impaTtiallS What odsf i mean the matter, not ID.
Saer stop thine ears against tie voice OF the ciarncr
the fault and the danger will be thine nave useharseu
my duty.
The elevation OF view and forceful utterancc
the powerful mind OF the tall tower, but we
shall see later that DR. File ming has been formed
I'm a different school. Meanwhile he forecasts
one or two objections ON the part OF reviewers
to his book. and apprchends that the charge OF
tautology may be brought against him. On this
point lie judiclously observes that many men
are slow OF comprehension and cannot reach
ono's meaning without large expense OF
words" lie seems to feel himself also open to
censure on the score Of irony and sarcasm, but
we have examined his work with care, and can
vouch thatit Is entirely free from those offensive
qualities. His remarks on the subject. however,
deserve citation:
There Is yet another prejudice be taken. because
m somc rarficmarsI we spoken what may 90
free ami s.trc,l But II ANY with unbassed mi Los ny
please to consider the nanefulncss OF those thlngs
speak against and wi'hs now destructive thy are 20
~ vi, mI v. ,s nave i t",n MI that rate
out "a conceived they ought lastly 70 b. exposed to
they lave ass-ucdcn and scduced
DR. u. Lambden Flcmming Ia a poet, and ex-
hiblts in unusual perfection the special phase Of
tho lyric faculty which has been deycloped 10
Philadelphia. His verse Is characterized by a
gentle, almost piOus, tone, by a. artless yet
effective simplicity, and by certain disdain OF
metrica rule and precedent. the precise quail
ties which stamp the artistic work Of hts famous
townsman, 6. Washington Childs. A. N. The
accuracy OF this description will be recognized
Ia the following lines from n poem entitled
Dclirium, which portray the doom Of the con-
nrmed drunkard, and iDstil a horror OF the n-
toxicating bowl:
OF oil the his foredoomcf by Fate.
That haunt aud yeX this mortal state,
None holds such urn ana disnal sway,
a. Rs fou Ss eur aih5J D-'
sad.eyed. soul sinking dcnrium
The Ane recklessness with which, In the unal
couplet, the poet nnrs OF the trammels Of
rhyme and retire, will be noted a. distinctive Of
the school of poetry founded by Mr. Chllds, A. NJ.
! We find this feature repeated Ia tho next e.
tracts which depict the melancholy illusions
and fatal frenzy OF the jim-Jars:
An sec you not thn mon.,roas ''h
Marx that fantastic, shipeir-s frame.
Ny vision reels.
why not at once give all the sllp7
| on sleepy potion ienP,s my no
| The waning no n.sl lss see T. say.
I9y sp , he %,ns s IL sr ,S LANAI
Again my siralaing sgnt Is bound.
Ana shiit this cl.nglng aSouy1-
SMALL
We have space FOR one m re quotation which
may illustrate the authors manner In a different
vein. Here again in the INFORMAL abrupt Gnalc
we trace the profound influence Of the great
Philadelphia model:
Let air you breathe nc sunny, clear ana tlsht,
Free from Il setrc or ccssuuul's fcud bIkht.
Take short pOtatluns At your meats, but OFT,
And let all eggs you eat be fresh and soft.
Art SICK from ylnOus surfeting. NJ ugnt
Repeat the dose at mora 'twill set thee rt<ht.
drunken night m1Ses cloudy morning
when We consider the approxim ,tion OF these
poems TO the most approved type Of the Public
Ltdgtr lyric, are led 10 bslieve that
this Is the sole volume which DIR. Elem
ming will publish under his own name
II Is scarcely possible that the discern
ing eve OF Childs will overlook a disciple
whose poetic style has reproduced 50 happil'
tae sim Ole gr4c.s Of his master. We anticipate
for ID. Lambdcn Flemming speedy summon
TO the stat OF the Public LciJ.r, In whose tire
. node columns lie will attain impershable, al
though anonymous renown.