The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-03-22

as one who would give US . lecture exclu'
Siyely American.
MI. Long remarked in opening that in
his lecture he would be confined 20 the
poets Of a single century, and OF even
these he would have to pass many hur-
riedly by, and could only give a nose.
gays ~button.hole bunch-out OF the
large and varied number of American
poets.
America las a literature Of which'sh
may we'll be proud. In history, bellies.
l~ettres, philosophy and science we have
kept apace with the European world,
while for wit aud humor, It Is acknowl.
edged that the new world makes the old
laugh.
Our Prescott, Bancroft, Irving and a
host Of others compare iavorably with
the writers OF the same class in the old
world. True, we have no Shakespeare.
The world oSuS Shakespeare. Recently,
however, our writer's in every department
have kept apace with those Of the Europ.
can continent. Most American poets are
still living, and write rather for amuse.
ment and pas!ime than as q profession.
Our own Bryant and Whittier are still
among living, warm, human, and not airy
distant beings, like Raphael's angels, all
head and wings. It Is the Office OF the
poet 10 touch the heart,and also to instruct
and inspire with nobler thoughts. This
many OF our own poets do. Yet Bryant
and Longfellow may not be in a century
hence, : classed as u best poets. sha-
kespeare and Milton we're not apprecia-
ted 10 their day. So with us. Some OBJ.
scure Jones or unknown Smith may be
considered as our greatest writer.
One Of the Oldest and most exclusive Of
American poets is J. q. Whittier, born
at Amesburg, Mass. His grammar and
versifcstion are not always the best, but
his diction is earnest and expressive.
Maud Muller and "Snow.bound" are
among his best works. His poems OF the
war were strong in their sentiments, and
often a little sectional. One OF his beauti.
full little poems is a story Of a little girl
ut school Mr.. Long here recited the poem
very PLEASANTLY
Wm. O. Bryant was a poet from his
cradle. He wrote very good verses at
the age at ten. At fifteen he wrote the
"Embargo," at nineteen ''Thanatopsis,"
His earliest works indeed were his best,
though his poetry is still lively and full
Of yigor. lie gives thoughts for every
condition and feeling and heart, and
holds the mirror up 10 nature.
The lecturer here recited a beautiful
extract from Bryant's Thanatopsis, in
GLIDING the o!t quoted stansa:
"Aud he4rl ne sound. ave IL wi dazzling"
Also:
80 live TINT xheu thy . Immon, comes TO join the
InnumsTabio c%Iravnn," &c. Sec 9a.
Yet there was petceptible in this poem
a vein Of materialism. "a Hundred
Years to Gomez was also we'll recited.
The "Culprit Fay" by ]. r. Drake. is
a beautiful and imaginative poem. "The
American Flag" ia familiar 10 all, but is
rcCited often in such a manne as to
make the author weep.
Fits Green Halleck, who died recently,
Is the only American poet who has had 4
statue erected 10 his memory In q great
city. He has written only five or six
good poems but they are exquisite.
"Marco Bozxaris" Is one OF his best.
John Trowbridge, Of New York, Is we'll
known us a story writer, for boys. He con.
tributes 10 81. Nicholas and other maga.
zines. He has written some very beauti.
full little poems, 1.-THE Vaglbond" is one
Of his best known. "rhe Lost Child" is
perhaps his best. tHere Mr.. Long re-
cited that beautiful and pathetic piece
"He gives but little who gives his tears"
was one OF the stanzas.
John G. SAKE, who was once y lawyer,
nov lives in New York. He lisa humor.
ist aud punster, and IL exeelled In his
particular line by few II any. proud
Miss Mcbride" and 1.-THE Briefless Bar
rls,er" are we'll known productions OF his.
The latter was read by Mr.. Long with
good effect which, however, was leSsened
with some by its familiarity
For versatility few writer's have ever
excelled Bayard Taylor. He was once a
printer, and has always been o or less
connected with Journalism. He Is one
Of the best travelled men now living, a
good linguist, an experienced %diplomatist,
an able essayist aud a poet Of considera-
BILE talent. "Giye US u song the soldiers
cried" is one Of his best. [Mr. Long, 1t
seems 10 US, sighted his "Pnan TO the
Dawn" which Is one Of the freest and
most beautiful little poems in the Lam
guage.
E. @. stedmau is the author OF a mum.
Der OF exquisite, brief poems. He has
been editor Of several newspapers, but
has now ~degenerated to q stock broker In
Wall street. "Tho Door Step" is AT ex.
quisite little piece OF sentiment. THE
lecturer recited this laughable little story
rhyme, which caused much amusement
especially when the half timid yet bold
young man reached the door step and
was h~esitating whether to take a good.
bye kiss. "The thoughtful cloud yelled
the face Of the moon and whispered ado
1t, do 1t, now or never.'nl
Mrs. Wakefield ~ has written some
good poetry. One Of her best productions
Is "over the river they beckon TO me-"
This pathetic piece was here reciled BY
AIR, Long, and Is certainly n OF the
finest OF the kidd in our litOrature.l
The most popular Of American poets
is II. W. Longfellow. He was 70 years
old last February, but his poetry Is still
as fresh and sweet rs that OF his younger
days. Many Of his translations aregood.
He lie the only American poet who has
written TO any extent in the Hexameter
verse. His "Eyangeline" and "Miles
standish" are among his we'll known
poems. BE has written nothing but what
is go~od-"nothing which, dying, he could
wish 70 blot"
Y. W. Holmes, though almost seventy,
Is still young. His "HoW Not to Settle
It." In the AAaatie, Moathly, did really
help TO settle it,and made both Democrat
and Republican laugh heartily. His
prose Is also good. His "Aatocra.,"