New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-09-28
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
pOErRY.


q, iuE IsrTrcAL WORKS or OLIVER WENDELL.
100 Il ~ Household eil''on l2mo m SSz' James L.
2 rc.,.,,s' LYRICS soNGs AND soyNETs. by FRANCIS
r4SSoon. lemo pT 400 london hardNiGsS q bosoe
SEAE roErIcA IN T Ss r Z. ' cron5p ''o0D -'
The collected edition of the poems OF Oliver
wendell Holnos is most welcome. In looking over TINS
list OF go songs ballads lyrics. memorial verses aud
pocns Of welcome and farewell, many OF which we
remember without any necessity of repcrrsh We are
struck anew 10y the presence of that roluo fancy whca
avoids monotony. and that freshness and hearuncss OF
tone which springs frum fountain lower than the
brain We doubt whether ans other poet has done 30
much toward lifting the 'oCcaslona' into the classic
With The exception OF some halt dozen poems OF Goethes
and perhaps, one % Campbc,rs, M Holmes Is unri-
vailed IA his power OF flashing the light Of higher
thought and the fragrance OF lofty sentiment upon the
banquet commemorative meeting. In fact this is one
Of his native gifts. which has been so frequently
and so delightfully."- exercised, that It may lead
somo OF his readers 70 overlook his admirable
lyrics, wherein find much eanestuess, suhuety,
or sweetness. Ills mctIical essay on Poetrf,' no"
more han forty years old is the best production, in that
class IN our literature t!e thing may he said OF
his Song Of Other Days" which always brought min
gled FIRE and tears ThaCksays eyes; while I'D sleh
poems as AIusa." "The Crooked Footpaih' aad inc
sonnet "Ncaring the snow-I1ne," we find the er"Ver
note which necessary TO make the author Sc' u
poetic expression complete. There many tunes IN
this box OF NOiLitt anu tAtJ p 'e'''''
swcr 70 the readers changing moods. We should have
preferred wider margins 20 the lext but, u that were
not conven n We ght, at least have been spared INC
printing Of the titles heavy, black-face letter
MIR Francis Beunoch, oxAldeman Of London, ara
now also. we believe, cz-merchdnt has throusho"' MS
lie illustrated The truth that refined literary tastes may
coNst with business capacity. and that tue dfuosel}
Of HE nay DE frightened by cultVatng associations
with kindred and creative minds. For many years MS
residence &C Biackleath was welcome resort Tor MS
many American friends, who were sure Of meeting Eng
ltl literary and artistic celebrities under his roof lie
was one a. the best friends of the painter Ha>don oil
Mis- Milford who made bi'h OF her literary eXeeu
to,.. and OF oi,r own Hawthorne, who found London
home in Mr Beunochs house. He was nos then Wioey
known as poet however. outside OF the circle Of his
friends attn u-h many of Ls fresh, spontaneous sOs'
layc lea "a wandering HE set down "Auon" in mis-
coaucous collections, have been attribuiet to other
authors This volume tho result OF natural desire to
reclaim his own property. and 90 leave behind MIN
modest souvenir Of his literary work. IL Is i'm the strong
est contrast 20 much of the English poetry OF our day.
with its sutry atmosphere Of passion, Its intense
colors and intoxicating rhythms MI behhoc"
writes Of nature and the affections in the simple
od-iashoned style, using the honest speech
of his feeling He satisfied with Che odor of tho wood
land or the moorlaud and with the sights ana sounds
which come % him through the usual channels Of expert
once. The poems he hss written in the scotch dialect
have perhaps. the geatCst freshness ana ouSialhy'
They have OF laillAl liiai4lt4 t'i Ai' - ~
are not even uuconsciously initiative Had Mr. Benroch
confined himself To this field he might have especial
distinction. But the whole volume is pleasant reading,
and It's publication needs no apology.
1t is thriy-tlTec years Thomas Hood died. aud
The number Of those VINO read ms poems is steadily in
creasng lie must be considered accepted English
classic Much Of bis comica poetry has lost It's first
ehalm Yet II stil preserve quaint, individual
flavor. His gTaver poems however, lis exquisite pai-
lads and songs, grow swoeter The oener obey are read
This edition Of his poetry is well printed and agreeable
TO the eye Notwithstanding its ctcapness, and Will 10
doubt attain the popularity for which it was designed