The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-01-10
RECENT PUBLICATIONS.
A NEW POEM.

Through the hand of friend, comes to US 8
handsome square volume of about hundred pages
bearing the imprint of D1dd, Mead & Co., New
York,-ss dainty a specimen of luxurious book
craft as we have seen this season, as to paper typo
graphy and most generous margin-tthat Epicu
reapism of the 6ibiophilisi) page being granted
20 every separate verse. The title of the volume
is-SILENCE: BE- S. Miller Hageman, Princeton,
New jersey; and it is tenderly dedicated to the
memory Of his mother, Q woman of rare loneliness
who mas long since passed away. Many of the
freq1enters of this old seat Of academic and theo
logical learning, viii recognise in the young author
the grandson of the Rev. Dr.. Samuel Miller, the
fragrance Of whose holy living Illustrated as it vas
BY true learning, and made beauifed by an exalted
Christian courtesy row seldom found in these less
igUiied days. still fingers among the churches
Along with the name, this grand son has Inherited
the profession Of bis honoged grand father, and We
hear Of him as an eloquent Young olergymen. We
can only, With his choice little book in our hands
peak of him here in the character in which he
presents himself before us-tha5 Of poet.
SILENCE is a single poem Of hundred and one
stanzss. lis Roenl is the forty sixth Pssim, rem
dered with absolute literalness whose olosicg line
. Be still: and know that I am God"
forms most appropriate introduction to what is
to follow. The Poem is written in that musical,
chanting troohsic, which Tennyson mss made so
populsr in his Lockesley Hall and as We read, we
feel the atmosphere Of tia. particular poem slight
ly about Us. Beyond this mere breath Of sugges,
tiYeness, We End no traces Of any undue Influence,
or indeed aRy influence we may say, arising from
the study Of modern models. L Is the invaria6le
fashion of critics nowadays, TO seek for resem-
blaaoos to tbs most popular poets, in the work OF
every new aspirans. Comparative criticism is the
prevailing American style. Ii fresh writer is not
unconsoiously'' they put it thus gently y tram
melted by TennYson, then Browning is his master !;
OF if otherwise, Norris has him 10 leadiDg-strngs,
or some WOgds8orthian gravity Oyershadcws him.
We repest thea il justice to our new author, that
beyond the suggestion we have mentioned, be is
not biased by the poetic spirit or work of others
his theme is unique, and it Is treated consistently
throughout and sill IN his Own Manner and that
quite an original one The Poem opens With a
noble All Hail. to the Spirit of Silence as sym
bolized By the summit billowing after summit
of the everlasting mountains. Then We have it IS
Illustrated in the ''sOundless ether" anterior to
creation. There are few verses here so fue, that
we must be allowed to quote them though of the
half dozen that crowd upon US, we scarcely know
which to select for spendor of thought and imagery
The poet is speaking Of the silence Of the great
Architacta world building
''To its walls there came no workman to its towers
no touch Of h&aG'
Be te1s eloquontly Of oEr sartb ''pOising on It's
nOiselegs .ethiRg"-2f stTeta Overlapping strata"