The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-06-20


VIM. Cullca Bryant, the venerable
poet; died Oh the 18th, at New York.
During. the udveiling of the Mazzini
bust, Mr.: Bryant sat exposed to the
rays Of the sun, and, orr retiring to the
house of a friend, lie fell froc1 exhaus-
tion striking his head on a stone step.
From the effects of this he sank gradu-
ally until his death on the 18th.
NJ. Bryant was born at Cumming
ton, Mass, Nov. 81, 1874, and was
thereto Gin his Sill year at"the time of
his death. lie was the Oldest poet and
journalist in America. For half GEN.
tury his name has been 4 househoM one
wherever the English language is spok-
en-.
AS a journalist; he ranked among the
first, having for over fifty years con-
trolled the New York Evening Post,
universally recognized rs probably the
only American paper which has fhain-
tanned high tone and high order Of
literary exi ellence for half a century.
Through all changes and party tluctua-
tions, Mr.. Bryant has held the helm Of
the Post, battling for the principles Of
Free Trade and true Democracy; with
out regard to party names or partizan
platforms.
rs Il poet, he is still thought by many
| to be the first of American poets. lie
began publishing his verses at ten years
Of age; and 1T eighteen published his
Thanatopsis in the North American
Review, a poem ON Which his fame rests
probably more than upon any OF az 9th
er poems from his pen. 1t is said TINT
his mother submitted this poem in
manuscript to Il sister who was visit
ing the family. The lady, after reading
the poem, burst into tears, overwhel.
med as Inucl, l,y amazement thata mere
boy should have produced it. as at the
touching and solemn sentiments Of the
poem.
AS the poet Of Nature, we can agree
with those who pus Mr. Bryant at the
head of An.e:ican poets. But that he
is the first poet, III all that goes to make
great poet, we do not admit. Whit
tier is superior to Bryant as the poet o.
the heart and of i'll that most procct:nd
ly interests humanity. Iongfeflow is
vastly superior to Bryant, and, III fact
to all American poets, i'll giving cx
preston to every phase of American
history and scenery. Bryant Car
scarcely be called Ill artist at all, w}lil<
Longfellow is to American literary ART
what TeMnyson is to English. In thu
C0urtship Of Miles Standish and the
New England Tragedies, Longfellov
has crystallized the gist of early New
England life. In Evangeline, he ha
portrayed early American life and de
stribed American scenery from Canad:
to the Gulf, with wonderful fidelity ant
power. In uiawatl,a, he has gone still
further back, and treasured up the life
the loves, the hopes, The names, ant
THE music of the Red Man.
Still, While LongfelloW is the create
scholar, artist and genius, lie docs no
equal Bryant us the poet Of externa
Mature. Bryant, in our judgment, la
no equal among modern poets in clea
and majectic description of natur;'
scenery, in catching and expressing tn
very spirit ut Nature in her outwar'
moods.
Such Il man is an honor to any ia
ton, not only for his distinguished la
boris as a journalist and his beautiful
service to the literature of his country
but more for the purity of his pri7at
and public character, npon which n
stain rests.