The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-02-23
BY wILLOA.

Dedicated as a mark of high regard and a
token Of friendship, to NJ.
The rise and progress of letters have
ever been q study of very great Interest
TO every one who pretends to be cultlva-
ted, or has love of literature. There is
something pleasant in searching after,
and meditating on, these ear! y devoiees
of art, many OF whom have never been
surpassed in depth of thought, elegance
of diction and happy, touching meta
pbors, by any of the vast multitude OF
literary giants of later times The
simplicity, accuracy and soul In
the early poets have always a
fascination about them not found
in the classic poets of later days, even in
the present century; they touch the
great, thrilling, poetic chord in our
breasts, which lifts us far above the
trifles of this world. And while we read,
study, enjoy and love the poets and
poetry of to-day, it is we'll for Us to recol'
Iect those old masters and originstors OF
literature who have so long been, and
ever will be, of great interest, and so
worthy our admiration and close study
The more we read and study their works,
the prander and dearer they become to
Us. Poetry preceded prose, and is
claimed as the more natural and
primary expression of man, and
II is held by some practical
writers of to-day that poetry recedes
rs civilization advances. This We
need not here discuss, as 1t is without our
plan of article. However, the earliest
writings were principally poetry, though
then. as now, differed much In character
and purpose. And it seems that prose
writings have and are more universally
used lately than formerly, because, no
doubt, it is necessary TO the growth OF
modern science in its various phases;
while poetry has had no such necessity
20 create new impetus. In tact, because
prose meets the requirements OF business
and life, as well as scientific investies-
ton and progress, poetry IS somewhat
neglected bv the commonality OF men,
and IL looked upon as the labor of mad.
men and the Requirement OF the oPulent
and pedsntlc-
To comprehend the poet, one must put
himself in his place and age, and realize
tho environments. We believe it is
Lowell who once said: Great poets are
not sudden prodigies but slow results.
In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries
We hesr much of tie mimic singers, trou-
veres and troubsdours; sometimes b.
other names, but Of similar lives and
practices. Their poetry consisted In
simple ballads Of rather vague and las
ciyious tendency, al variety OF songs
which they played, danced and sang for
the Amusement OF those who would pay
them for it. These songs were generally
of an overstrained character OF love
and romantic, and oftentimes improb-
sh's heroism. As q class they
were of both sexes, peripatetic, and fire.
ouentlv much degraded. Any one who
bss read the novels founded upon the
scenes of these times, is aware OF the part
.bey PLAYED in that peculiar era Prov
ence was the birthplace Of Troubsdour
literature; wherce il spread over Europe,
and culmiu sted in the glorious Dante
though he probably owed lees to Their
influence than is generally supposed The
Trouyeres we're the singers OF northern
France of Little healthier type than the
Troubsdours, and 10 these Oh iucer, the
immortal, Was related, though not SC
nesrlv As Petrsrch was TO the Troubs
dours. We quote from an elegant writer
MI has been said that they led the
wsy to refinement OF conception
nd nerlection of form. They culuva
ted poe,y IS an art, yet did mol KNOW
tbs, "ns,ure Is the soul of ari, and ins
noetry must reveal the inner sisnih
capce of mans being. and OF the woslc
he lives in. or it is vslueless. No matter
w dehcstely you refine Its form, Ian
pu.pe die, unless made 10 embody VITA
truths. Fer nearly three centuries in'
Provincial poets gave the Law OF song y
Europe, yet their influence now c N onl,
hs traced in modes OF expressing thought
not in the progress of thought Itself
And thus we drop these early singers
and mass 10 a brief review OF their sue
c..ssors and to those who are 81
much loved and admired now
Dante was the 6rst--the great pioneer
of modern thought, and scared far above
Pe,rarch and Bocacio by the force OF ms
imagination and creative insight En'ci
hss ra-el,, if ever, been eauaied- Dani'
lived and toiled and blessed the world
but was not appreciated till after hi
death. True it d that ''ths song y neve'