The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1877-06-14
POETS AND POETRY.
BY MRS R. NJ. RUFFN.

Some of the grandest illusions which
have flowed from the minds of authors
in all ages, have been written in poetry
and the brightest pages in the annals OF
Great Britain are those devoted to poets
who have done honor to their native land
in achieving for themselves and their
country name which has made her SUI
perior to any other in literary greatness;
for no other nation has produced such
poets as Scott, Cowper, Milton. and Gray.
Poetry is more expressive than prose
it excites the imagination and awakens
sympathy it has been often employed
to portray, in glowing words, the feelings
of patriotism; the sentiment, as natural
to the heart of man as the other
affections. The brave chief, Wallace,
sounded the tocsin of war on the hills of
Scotland, and in poetic strains made APP
peals which filed the hearts OF listening
thousands with enthusiasm; thus by
songs of liberty they were impelled to
such deeds of daring unequaled in his
tory. Scott has immortalized in Mar
mion" the deeds of dauntless bravery
and greatness of soul which were so
prominent in the midst of danger, and
only eouaied by the enthusiasm of his
troops.
There is something inexpressibly
mournful in Byron's farewell to his ma
tive land, which was portion of several
poems just before he went to Greece.
He had many faults, but some were
almost obscured by the brilliant genius
which was the only JOY of his life. He
was patriot, and loved his n,tive
Albion with all the intensity of his poet
soul. We cannothelp sympathizing with
man SO devoted, expecting SO much
from the world, yet SO disappointed, and
it was pity his talents were not direct
ed in more noble work, for he might
have done more good by his pen.
Poetry seems to have been the first art
that style of writing was adopted, it be-
came as natural to them as prose is to
us. A Russian poet has chosen "The
Wrongs of Woman as the subject of
several poems. This would appear to
some very commonplace topic, but the
choice shows the author has heart of
chivalry, and, if not a sword, yields the
pen in favor of the oppressed women of
serfs ON their native SOIL The civil
war in France was a long time
gathering in the intense hatred and
political distrust so apparent between
the mobiles end people, but it was at last
clearly defined by the composition of
the Marseilles Hymn, which was sung in
the suburbs of Paris, and created such
furore of excitement that the people
desired to be lead into battle to avenge
at once the wrongs SO forcibly depicted
in song. The effects of poetry in all
countries are wonderful The aris-
tocrats of England, the proudest people
in the world, would not recognize per-
son whose family was not known in the
book of "heraldry' as an equal, yet
authors and poets who had attained
celebrity, were courted and feted by the
great, and were welcome guests in the
palaces of Kings. There have been
neglected writings. poems that attracted
little attention during the lives of the
miserable authors, who have passedaway
unconscious Of the fame they had won;
in penury and obscurity they had en-
dured disappointment. An example OF
this was Edgar A. Poe Pastoral life
affords many striking variations to the
imagination of poets, but unfortunately
they describe the charms and forget the
disagreeable portion of such life.
Scenery and natural curiosities have
been depicted in beautiful language by
writer's who are as proud to write as
artists are to paint the beauty of the
lands they love. If authors of America
have made the world familiar with the
wonderful grandeur of Niagara, the less
imaginative sons of the cold and dreary
North of Europe have found inspiration
in its barren scenery, weird region and
midnight sun. Those who have fingered
in sadness over the requiem to doomed
souls in Paradise Lost, have caught as
readily the joyful refrain of enraptured
bliss of Paradise regained Milton
differs in some respects from all of his
contemporaries. When young, he com
posed some hymns they beautifully
delmeated the touching piety of his soul
He made other subjects, deemed of toe
somber a hue to please youthful
reader; yet these subjects were clothed
with SO much eloquent, Jet chaste, sim.
pllcity, that an interest was awakened.
In maturer years this poet was devoted
to politics, and when the evening of his
life was come he was once more a poet.
There is a charm in poetry to the af.
fiicted and the miserable with what
avidity they devour descriptions of the
bright hereafter and the gates OF
pearl, which they hope to attain, and
which will forever protect them
from sorrow. The most inexhaustible
and the noblest theme of poetry is
Christmas; it is one that human genius
can never do justice to the language
and pen of man unassisted by Divine
inspiration is totally inadequate to de-
scribe the glorious circumstances attend
ing the fultillment Of prophecies, the
humble advent of the Prince of Life, and
the worship of angels of Heaven coming
to earth, to bring the glad tidings of a
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