The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-21
SOME NEW hooks.
Curious Poetry from Mexico.

or musk 40 To speak, Ia worth more than the ker
mel ia mere existence throws considerable hgh
uUon the STATE Of culture, aud OF social life, IL
Mexico. The Typography, for instance, exhibits
a degree Of elegance which would scarcely dis
credit the most famous presses Of Paris or Of
London, and obviously piesupposes a somewhat
numerous class accustomed, at all events, Il
daintlness and refinement In the externals o
literature. On the other hand. the tltle-cover Ii
a monument Of incredible pomposity aud con
oelt the part OF the aut nor, quoDd am Spanish
oficer, now resident In America, which wo must
believe are not repugDant to intelligent Mexican
society, since the sponsor OF this book II a jus
tice Of the Mexican Supreme Court. These
poems, we are Informed by the cover, are the
work OF no less person than n KNIGHT OF the
royal and military order Of San Fernando Con-
decorddO con "a meddud dc W guerra dc Africa;
BenemerttO de u Pdtrtd Fellow OF the Ltcoo H.
ddlgo: and finally 1--WE are driven to cry with Iago
God save the mark l'), Member OF the Geo
graphical aud Statistical Society OF Mexico. Still
further to commend himself to our distin-
guished consideration, the poet acquaints US
that his friend who has penned the introductio on
supplements his judicial dignity with that of
president, secretary, and member of divers
learned societies OF his country and dc otrds
muchds del Ertrd,Uero. Now It IL probable, that
can put forth such a preposterous manifesto
without drowning himself In ridicule but that
this should he soils one Of those cosds de Espdad,
or eOsls dc M6rico, which are indeed the strong
est expressions extsnt for the anomalous and
the mex plicable,
Senior Llsnos AlcarAz 10 not only preuB
oherdlier approved 10 the wars OF Africa, but, II
we may trust q lithograph prefxed to this vol
June, an excee dinghy handsome fellow. 1t Ia not
surprising, therefore, that a large part OF his
effusions should consist OF madrigals, canzones,
album verses, and the like, inscribed to some
Mercedes, Pepita. Goa, or Luisa, one at least for
every garrison town In Spain. These lyrical
treasures apparently were brought In manu-
script across the Atlantic, and In order that the
bellies OF Mexico may appreciate their csoterto
Significance, Don Adolfo plainly intimstes In
bis preface that they embody his personal expe-
rience. His words are worth citing, both for
the delicious naIvel6 OF their confession and for
the splendid assurance with which he processes
bis absolute Indifference to criticism. 1.-THE
emotions" he says, Of every man addicted to
rhyme Cdfctonddo d hdcer coplds are reflected In
his verses. 1 read In mine the history Of my
woes and Joys. Others may read nothing In
them, but as I print this volume for my own
pleasure, 1t matters little II the world fail to
grasp its purport. Enough that 1 comprehend
its inner meaning"
II may be that Spanish ladies are not particu-
larly exactinR In the matter of verses, and no
doubt little poetry should 90 a long way when
the writer Is good looking aud q soldier, aud a
KNIGHT Of san Fernando to boot. For our own
part we discover no great merit in Senior
Llanos's productions; yet We should not pro
nounco them wholly worthless. They exhibit
rather the exasperating medocrity OF the class
"A l.fts l.rsr ,nl
leges, and 1t Is this circumstance which render,
the Scllt manifcstly won by the author In Msxi
can society the more curious aud suggestive
Taking for granted that the stanzas consecrsted
to ladies would be least deficient In point and
spirit, we have run them over with a view to quot
ing. but we can light on nothing better than the
following lines, which gauge fairly enough the
poetic gifts Of this Castilian Col. Lovelace
Trivial as our version Is, we can assure those
readers who happen not to be familiar witt.
spanish, that it 10 not much less substantial
than the original.
Bale aver 81 jardin, cusndo tn cstabs,
silvia buseandp flores.
una lie maj ico- cOlores
In " poca de purpMs ueNabs.
Alverme n turbaste;
Un brso ~ pedi ne 10 nesaste,
Tie oese saque MET. mo huoo ssravios;
~ 70 dime una eosa:
o del rosado cA.lz DC tus iaDios?
found he- where the garden fair
Its fairrst b oOuls dirclOses;
w Ihs io SsT sTe of h p- r one hed
She flushed, sue frowned, yet when | sought
HAPPY tie a wer bet wiIthsr lips
Defeated her replying.
T9 son ncn s,,S w9f ss ny S;s. Grew
Was Il tue calix oftny fps
My styla, or tne rus,sp
Does It not betray a melancholy deficiency OF
intellectual resources and sound taste on the
part OF Mexican society that the writer Of such
1msy stun should be welcomed as a species Of
ambassado or r. I'm the polished and cultivated cir
cles OF Madrd2 Such. however, Is unquestion-
ably the case, and In some odss of formidable
length, inscribed to the Mexican people, and re-
cited on occasions OF festival ia the principal
theatre Of the capital city, Don Adolfo patron
ICES and encourages his hosts with the most
royal condescension and anahility. That Ill til 8
Is I, ken In good part Ia demonstrated by the in-
PRODUCTION, which was contributed. az before
stated, by a Judge OF the Mexican Supreme
Court. To measure the significance of this fac,
lot the reader try to conceive Chief Justice ate
or David Davis standing sponsor to the enusion.
OF rupper Holland, and signlfving his approval
sy OF" Bitter sweet" In such ponderous phrase
as follows:
ue nineteenth century, eWlnently rational
lstic, positive ana revolutionary, counts among
Its characteristic products TWO schools OF
poetry equity worthy Of study. Toe one I
school u DOUBT, which succumps or perishes
the other school Of faitn. which survives or Ii
born again. To the former belong those singers
who. IN presence of the catastrup he. cover IL
tremor und despair The apostOaIe OF the latter
Is formed OF those splritei bnds who, dominat
ING the terroTs OF the catAclysm march onw arc
never losing fr IN view the CLEAN of the redeem
ing beacon (tl tduO de itl del faro sdttddOtl
whenever, therefore, from the pale group Of IN,
one who protests py voice and deed AZ ,inst os,
thoughts above expressed are suggested to our
minds Tor our faith IN human progress Is in.
viSOrated."
SUCH being the reception accorded TO "poet
OF ( 18th" In Mexico, We counsel DR.. Tuppe
Holland to spare no expense in COMPRISING
spanish version of his works.
1t Ia a pity that Senior Llanos AlcarAz, who
combines, Ike Ceryantes, tho prestige OF tn,
| poet and the soldier, and whose voice seems &
be SO potent In one American republic, should
10 with an un'rlendly eye ON the gallant strug
giles u the Cubans for Independence. In an cd,
entitled CUBA Espahpli," he proclalms himself
NJ lavish OF other peoples blood IA was Artemu
Ward 81 his wife's relations: CASTLE, to tn,
| 1eld!" he says. FiSht, brothers, that foreve
may wave on the Cuban coasts SPANS deathles
/