The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-12-16

Il kIpspy hlueIy knoh y = ~ behkeL1sAai
fine literary taste, and especially distin
guished as aShakesperian scholar: i
The readers Of the COtrier may not bt
generally aware that, in our neighborine
city of Wheeling lives a gentleman who
has Of late taken high degree in the re
public oflettes, as q poet ofthe first order
We have long known Mr.. William Leigh
ton, Jr., as a scholar, and man OF taste,
and the-President Of the Shakespeare
Society OF Wheeling; We knew that be
was IN extensive manufacturer OF glass,
but not until recently did we suspect that
he was a maker Of poetry likewise. In
1875, he gave the public drama, entitled
1.-THE Sons Of Goodwin" the hero Of the
piece being Harold, the last Of the Saxon
Kings, and the dsnOuemeHt, his tragic death,
fighting yaliantly for his country against
William, the Norman Conqneror, In 1865.
Although called o drama, and comprising
| plot, dialogue, and stage business, 1t is o
ihoughtfnl Historic poem IN dramatic form,
for the parlor Tor library, rather than for
representation. By asingular coincidence,
Alfred Tennyson, England's Poet Lureate,
had written poetical drama, called "Har-
old, " covering the same ground in time, in
action, in management, and even in the
characters represented, as ''The Sons
OF Goodwin and the two books
came from the press within ten
days OF each other. OF course neither
poet knew. that the other had been
engaged on the same subject, until after
publication. This was severe ordeal for
onr young poet; but we are proud to say
that his work, by its own merits, held its
own against that OF the Laureate. Tenny-
sons genius was acknowledged a. a poet
of the highest order; his fame. waslwofld-
vide: while Mr.. leighton hid bis III to
make; it was 4 new and untried field for
his talents; and it was perhaps fortunate
for him that the Laureate work fell some
what below the standard OF public expec-
tation; for whileTennyson Is probably the
most consummate master OF the English
language now living, his forte is not dra-
matte poetry. Be that as it may, critics
and reviews, magazines and newspapers,
all over the country, gave to Mr.. Leigh
toms poem the need OF praise it so wen,
deserved. and high-c class reviews like the,
1cnda, Afaasuiy, gave i g cordial Welcome
IN England. ~ ~ Sts ~ ~
About year afterwards Mr.. Leighton
gave TO the world another dramatic poem,
called AT the Court OF King Edwin"
laying the scene some hundred years far
Their back in English history. This not
only sustained, but, We think, increased
the reputation he had already earned.
Space forbids any analysis of these poems
here. Both are clever, and both will live;
and they should be read and enjoyed by
all who own to any taste for history, told
in its most attractive form, combined with
sublime thoughts, and ornamented, With
the delicate imagery Of poetic fancy: ~"
Last week Mr. Leighton brought out an
other new poem entitled "Change; the
Whisper OF the Sphinx" Here he ven
lures, and successfully too, in new field
OF the poetic art. It Is not a dramatic, nor
lyric, nor strictly an epic, but rather
philosophical poem, divided into eighteen
cantos or divisions, mainly in blank verse,
and without spilogue, prologue, or preface.
As for the latter part OF the title, the
Whisper OF the Sphinx" we may inform
our readers that the author makes no pre-
tensions to having been closeted with Cen
eral Grant, or Lord Beaconsfeld, each OF
whom has been called "sphinx' for his
reticent or. ambiguous, ,p9l;Sy in Stateaf-
Affairs. Nr. leighton 'smuse takes q mob
Ter fight His theme, issii' Change" that
sole monarch OF the universe, TO which
eyerything8 In nature or In art,
in science, in morals, or in be-
lief, past, present, and future, is subordi-
nate and subject. 1t is a bold subject,
and a dangerous one for any but master
workman to attempt; and Mr.. Leighton
deserves to have his name recorded high
upon the column of poetld lame dor his
success The poem abounds in fine
thoughts Siorcibly and getciallY ex-
pressed, and it must be carefully read over
and over again to be fully appreciated and
enjoyed. It photographs the mind not
only OF 0 poet, but Of natural philoso-
pher. The subject Is oneot such immensely
and grandeur, that i can only % eompre-
Ehended9 by yiewingit through 10 yaFying
evidences and effects. Lie, memory, the
stars, the ocean, time, the universe through
ali lis cosmical harmonies and material
forces, are subject to the empire of inexo-
rable change.
.'The might Of Change 1, on the subject World,
And Joy and Pain obey the calls Of Este
Claims thinss u earth. mountains stand
Not tAst forJSerA Llkp AZ armed hpst,
Blight eesas waves bessse re torses'dland;
For az cTtSps on them, As It COMES 10 all,
And hide them 10 the dust"
To trace the power Of Change through
all the domains Of nature, and in every
condition OF human life, until Change
itself Is controlled by the unchanging laws
OF The First Great Cause, is truly lofty
conception; and We believe that Mr..
Leiehton's development OF It Is work
that will. be 0 lasting monument % bis
Honor: It's purpose IS ennohtng; it Hts
the mind above the dreams OF the Scepue,
the MaterialIst, and the Atheist, and leads
| Il TO trust on God, the Great Creator aud
Ruler Of all. There Is none OF the mIys-
ticism, transcendentalism, or obscurtty in
| Il that pervades so much OF modern,
especially OF recent poetry, which. i for
no other reason, can only have an ephem-
eral pexistanee. His stream 81 Thought
dashes along oyerroeks and rasines with
turbulent and reSistless i0rce; but 1t y
always pure and pellucid, and It's depth
MAYER exhausts itself in Intellectual spray.
His ysrSlfQation often may be said to re-
sambie the torrent that roars, but tits never
turbid; We feel It's power, aud pardon ID
roughness, knowing that II gives grandeur,
| beanfy and health 20 thal landscape.
While dwelling on the varying subjects
ion,whieli the power and effects Of change
aFs Visible, the poet might well have emu
4 rieraied tilosa which his own art have
undergone. In the eaTiy and middle ages,
] a poem like this, that combines poetry and
philosophy, would have been impossible
| Hons. and Virgil sang Of the proves
and variile ies4s Of gods and men, u
heroic numbers; ChauFss, in ilimitaole
4tSlss, aud refreshing scenery and porte.