The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-11-10
MIR. LEIGHTON'S NEW Poem

A sensation was produced in the liter
AIRY world, nearly year ago, by the
almost simultaneous appearance of 'Har-
rold" by Mr.. TENNYsoN, and the 1.-THE
Sons OF Goodwin" by Mr.. WILLIAM
LEIGHToN, Jr., of this city. There were
those who, ignorant of the dates OF the
issue Of these books, supposed that the
latter was suggested by the former, when,
in fact, Mr.. LEIGHToN's book had been
issued two weeks before the publication
OF Harold" and, as he himself states, his
stereotype plates were N sde when news
paper paragraph first informed him of the
name and subject of Mr.. TENNYsoN's
poem. Ii was not to Mr. LEIGHToN's
discredit that his maiden dramatic effort
was brought SO conspicuously in COM
parison with that of England's most
honored poet. The young American
suthor, without experience or fame,
did not suffer by the COM
parison. We know not how far
our preiudices agalnt MIR. TENNYsoN OF
our psrtiality for Mr.. LEIGHTON may
have influenced us, but our candid judg-
ment, after careful comparison OF the
two works, is that Mr.. LEIGHTON has
illustrated the same epoch and group OF
characters with power and grace OF
verse superior to that OF the maturer
Englis poet, and this opinion is shared in
by those whose criticisms 90 for some
thing.
Mr.. LEIGHToN'S first attempt beng so
successful, he has made the second ven
ture in the field OF dramatic literature
and places before the world his book "At
the Court of King EDWIN" The plot is
laid in the seventh century, twelve hun.
dred years ago, yet it Is so full OF dram
attic fire, so spirited in execution, so clear
and powerful in conception, and so much
poetry IN it, that it is verify 50 posy
plucked out of an ancient May"
While 1t preserves the dramatic form
OF composition yet, as the author announ
ccs in his preface, at has been written
without special reference to the require
ments OF the theatre, and hence will be
found, in many essential respects, insult
ed to the stage" We do not think that
1t suffers from this fact, for by using the
dramatic form the author has been
enabled to present his stery with more
vivid realization, while it is stripped OF
the glitter and tinsel and painted scenes
which would have been necessary for
stage use.
Tie author has skillfully interviewer
INTO his story the threads OF religious
argument now going on IN the world be-
tween Christian and Inhdel. "Paulinus,"
the ancient priest, argues with "Coih'
the pagan chief, who is worshipper of
Odin, and who for selfish motives is
about to sbjure his religion and embrace
the Christian faith, in this way,
although buy your help
At price of fond desires, that, by such
MANY NAV come to know the larger life
l offer; yet that life is not so bought.
1t comes when Faith shall reach adoring
hands
To Christ, the Saver-comes, richer gift,
Oh COif, than delighting Joys OF pleasure,
or dignity OF King. The soul OF man,
Ii he shall win for 1t eternal life
In Christ's high kingdom, is priceless
Jewel,
A sparkle of Div nity's pure light,
And ali things else that he most cOvetS
here.
Wealth, pleasure, power, are teastiug of
Garments and viands for holiday.
Seek not then tiercely tor inferior things,
Leaving the jewel, truth, 10 gather up
in eager haste by armsful worthless dirt,
| VIII stain you now and weigh you down
forever"
To which Colt replies;
My mind is dull TO see what you would
show;
/ PernapS my EOuS IN very jealousy
Have fiiled my brains with clouds TO hide
your truth;
For sometimes when 1 ponder on the
You tell, and after sleep; then in dream
VIII Odiu come and frown; but all the
while
Knowing it is a dream, fear him not;
FOR save in dreams he stands as still as
stone.
marvel he should come to me in
dreams,
Who, to each wakeful question, answers
not;
Nor seems more sensible than the poised
blocks
Let up by Cimrians in their Druid rings"
To this superstitious scepticism of
Co1FI's the eloquent PAULINUs replies
:He is a myth. 1t is the common foe
Ot all mankind haunts you in Odin's
shape;
Evil can glide into each sculptured form,
/ And stir the inert stone or painted wood,
Soaring the world with htdeous mas.
querade,
AfrIghting men by making animate
folly. -
Here Is cross wear 1t upon your breast
And Odln viii disturb your dreams no
more"
The wizard PELLITUs enters with the
intention of moving CoIFI from his pur-