The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-05-22

Somsthing More About Halleck-Tho Literary
Lights Of other days-Bryant-Th Editors
Of the Post-successful Hoosiers-Deaths by
Runaways-Miss Wainwright.
NEW YORK, May IS, 1877.
The Halleck statue recalls the fact that
the poet was not the only man of note who
was reared in Guilford. "Adirondsck"
Murray is of the same origin. His fetaer
was an oysterman, and di early, leaving
needy family. am informed that the
patronage of an opulent merchant of this
city enabled young Murray to obtain an ed
ucation. Such generosity deserves honor
able mention, and hence give the patrons
name, s. B. Chittenden. l desire also 10
recall William b. Astor's kind ness to Hal
leck, which is appropriate to the statue af-
fair, for it enabled the poet to retire from
this city and return to Guilford, where he
spent his last days. As this Aston has 30
small record in the way of benevolence,
he should be credited with at least one gen
erous impulse, which stands almost alone in
life of so years. The fact is that on the
death OF the original John Jacob, William
presented the poet with check for $l0,-
600.
THE POETS DEATH.
Halleck had been dead more than 40
years when they buried him. Isreak now
not of the mere clerk, but of The poet
whose genius at one time delighted the lit
erary coteries of this city. Byron spoke
of Churchill as the "Comct of a season."
but Churchill died at 33. Halleck, how
ever, achieved distinction before he was 25,
and published nothing after he passed his
thirty second year. Prior to that time he
had issued 80 pieces, one for each year of
his life-and then he died, at least so far as
literature and genius may be considered.
SIMILAR INSTANCE.
A case of death many years before burial
ID found in Coleridge He attained the age
of 6s, but he was dead at 49, After he
reached that year he hardly printed line.
1t is sad to see genius thus broken and
even dead in the midst of life's best hours,
but generally it can be reasonably explain
ed. Colerldge had destroyed his talent by
opium eating, while Halleck was the vic
tim of varied misfortune. He was 80 fas-
tidious in self-criticism that having written
out his vein he could not start another He
was also crushed by the early death of his
poet friend, Joseph Rodmsn Drake, who
was precisely the same age. Add to this
the solitude of his lite. He was too poor
TO marry, and then deafness set in, and he
gradually became isolated from the world
In this way general blight came over him,
and he fell into the plodding track of
mere scrivener who had desk in Astor's
office. drew enough pay to subsist the body,
and felt that life, in its true sense, was ut
terly gone. For this reason it may be said
that the poet was dead 40 years before they
buried the octogenarian clerk.
MEN OF THAT TIME.
The circle in which Halleck moved when
he won note as poet, included William
Coleman, the first editor of the Egening
Post, Joseph Rodman Drake, the young
bard who died too soon, Robert G. Sands,
a clever poet long since forgotten, James
X. Paulding, and few other kindred spir-
its. Washington Irving was in Europe and
won a name by the publication of the
"Sketch Book" and William G. Bryant,
now the oldest literateur in this ci}y, had
hardly appeared in the circles of the city.
The chief booksellers of that period were
the Carvills. The Harpers were earning
their bread as type settlers. The battery was
the abode of fashion, and the steamboat"
was the principal novelty of the day. The
only theatre was the Park, and the grand
hotel of New York was 1.-THE City," both
being the property of Halleck's employer,
Astor. All of these men save Bryant, and
all of these places have long since passer
away, and most of their names gone to OBJ
livion. To revive the past in any way that
should give US a correct idea of the power
and popularity of Halleck, we're as impos-
sible as to put the city back to its condition
during Monroe's administration. However,
the statue made gala day for the city,
and the public gazed on the figure of man
of whom few had heard previously even
the name. There are few lett who remem-
Der the little old gentleman whose sad,
thoughtful countenance was occasionally
seen In Broadway. Still smaller 1.-THE num-
Der of those who remember Fanny" and
"Croaker 81 Co." But those who have any
such memory will cherish it to the last, for
there never will DO another Halleck.
BRYANT.
As this man presided on the occasion re-
ferred to, it brings his name and that of
Halleck in still closer connection. They
may be mentioned as the smallest In stature
of all our literary men. Both represent
New England families, and both wrote for
the EUening Post. 1t was Bryant's advan-
tage, however, TO be connected through
life with the daily press. This has kept
him continually abreast Of the age. whil9
Halleck underwent literary death, which il
one Of the greatest of the misfortunes of
genius.
His mistake lay in thinking that he must
write poetry or nothing. When his rhym-
ing gift was exhausted, he should have
taken up prose, and still kept his pen at
work. The columns of the Post would
have been graced by his sketches, and the
practice would have been self-rewarding.
Neglecting this, he allowed brilliant in
telleot to die merely for lack Of exercise.
The self-consciousness of having survived
his gift was painful. Halleck knew the
public expected more from such q genius,
and this was one of his sorrows.
OHIO PRESIDENTS
As Mr.. Hayes was the guest of ex-Gov.
Morgan, II may lie said that the canvass in
favor of the first Ohio president (Hsrrison)