Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1878-05-25
saturday, May p. Sc.
Poetry, tho True Rehex Of the Age. y

On Tuesday evening last this community
was favored ty rare Intellectual treat. "a
lecture BY CmARLrs DAVIES. ESQ, Of Uat-
pcr's Ferry. gentleman who has a weJl-jo-
served reputation Tor ability as we'll on the
platform as at tho bar, aud the announcement
Of whose appearing 90 the restrain is always
sufficient to draw 90 sudience capable Of en-
ioying such an of7ostanity lie commenced
by saving that until il earned q higher name,
De should entitlc his address d" English Litcra-
sure that he was oppressed by the thought
that be was undertaking 20 lecture on a
theme with which, perhaps, many Of his hear
ers hal better acquaintance than himself -
that he was unfortunately compelled 20 be
hanperej BY his manuscript, In illustration Of
the elect Of which on him be related al anus
ing anecdote Of Macready, the celebrated ac-
tor. and the Twelve Penny Nail
Mr. Davies said that Literature, and not
History proper, IS the reflex Of tho thoughts
nrd feelings, tie manners md customs Of a
people IIistoFinns ate always biased by pre-
juli,e aud partial in their statements, but Lite
nature, AMI especially Poetry. caa always be
yelled OFF not, then we eau have 10 faith in
any Of the productions Of writer's. Here be
introduced another witty anecdote Of . lectur-
CT in New York trying to prove the uoD-cz-
istencc Of a Hell. After pi,iug argument on
argument Tor a long time. voice from iho
crowd exclaimed " Go on, Nc. Nod. % on.
there's hapo Of US depiudiu' on yc" lie
read touching poem written 10 the old Saxon
days, attributed O. Alfred tho Great, on d" Ny
WIFE, and another Of equal beauty on
" Friendship" Going on 70 the Norman con-
quest. lo cited various writers Of those clIly
shines. Bu, ancient Greece, ana modern
France and Eneland, De said, are The only ua-
tions whose literary monuments have been
such as 10 cnGt'c them 70 history Of litera-
turc Until the beginning Of the l4th Ceu-
fury England had no l.,eraturc-tho times
wcro ruJe-olten kings and their courtiers
could neither read nor write Chsucer, with
his iuimj.able Canterbury Tales. cs It were
inaugurated O ueg literary era The c.tcum-
stances Of the composition Of the Canterbury
Tales were related 90 DO the meeting Of q com
pany Of pilgrims, At an IUa outside Of Lon
don, on iheiT way to tbo tomb Of Thomas
a'Becket at Canterbury agreed to beguae
the iedium Of the journey by relating tales
The tales anj descriptions OF the company
form Tie poem. SPeuser's Faerio Queene "
was lsudel Tor is almost angelic parity Mi
tons carly writings were not as exalted ia sen
timsnt ss Sis % Paradise Lost which sas 4
sefsx Of the IDEAS then 10 vogue. Shakespeare
wa . dramalist Of Uhbounded Imaginative
powers. lie named many others. coming
down to ByTon Aud Tom Moore. reading a
beautiful love SoRs fIo0 AooTos Loves Of
tAs Angels, and BJron's inimlsablo Fare
veil 70 MOo'O," wlsA great PAthos aot express
non.
We have Dot space to dwell 90 shO mADF
hso peIntS Of ihO LsciuTe-all % full Of high
sentiment aAd appreciation Of i's subject but
We Cannot forboar mention Of tho intense hu-
nor with which he read an Irish soas Of
the birthday Of 81 Psirick-wbich conyu,scd
the audience. Ills great coUn;ryman, Rich
ard Br!nsloy Sheridan, received she enconign
which ais ardent almrcr IS always ready Il
give urd a beautiful aad G,ciLle aliu.iou &c
the soUi-eleysting songs Of Watts, ended one
Of the most flushed purely literary addresses
which il has been our good fortune TO hear
and which must have % cnnobling effect Ga
OF who heard and appreciated il.