Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1879-09-02

pleased with those wholesome, sweet and
life-cheering strains, which are evident
ly the product of minds kept in exercise
by constant communion with their fell
lows, than with the lovely and mystical
musings of the solitary dreamer. The
retired poet is not generally speak,
ing, an agreeable character. We have
no sympathy with being who, while
pretending to more than ordinary rel
ish for natural, seems to have little per-
ception of social beauty. Give us the
bard who can bring to our firesidcs the
light and warmth of his genius; who
can place in new and and beautiful col
ors the circumstances Of our daily lives :;
whose heart seems to be touched with
human kindness; who speaks words
that will comfort the Mother by the
couch of her dead babe; who makes men
braver, better, and fearless only Of do
ing wrong, and in the music Of whose
every verse you can hear the sweet un-
dertone Of Christian charity, Christian
love and duty. The world is made bet
ter by such poems as Maud Muller, by
our own Quaker poet. We want more
real life in poetry, and less of the ideal
more feeling, truth, sympathy, for the
worlds sins. and benevocucc for indi-
vidual weakness, and social evils. With
all this, reason and experience tell us,
may be joined most eXhuberant imagi-
nation and refined taste. Indeed, it is
remarkable, that poetical genius
has generally thriyen much better
in society than in solitude. Even our
best descriptive poets have seldom been
secluded men. Nothing, 1t will readily
be acknowledged, can be more eXqui-
site than some Of Shakespeare descrip.
tons: yet, he did not spend his days
and years musing on the world Of natu-
raj beauty. In accordance with this,
we may observe that all his sweet and
refreshing descriptions come in, in the
way Of depression; he pauses amid the
hurry and business Of action, to rest
with Lorenzo and JcssiCa in "the sweet
moonlight" and even while leading us
along ill the rapid career Of Ambition,
he brings before our eyes, in lovely con-
trast, view Of the peaceful beauty Of
nature. None but quick observer
could have done this: but Il habit of
ready obseryalion is chiefly to be acquir-
ed IN active life; and hence it is, we
think, 'at social habits are favorable 10
the Improvement Of pcetical character.
"Ihe proper study Of mankind, isman;"
nor is there anything else lhat is as val
uablo, as tie proper understanding Of
meG--of noting their actions and iulg-
ing the motives that actuatcs them, stud
yiug thcir characters, dispositions, AMI
idosyncmsies. And where else but in
society could we study humun nature?
Il has been said, however, that retire
ment is desirable, not only on chiefly as
II acqualnts the poet with nature, butas
1t acquaipts him with himself. This is
very true; and We agree with Wais-
WORTH
"Whosc mind is but the mndo orhs own
eyes,
lie is slave, the nearest we can meet"
However the poet who trusts to mcdl-
tation upon his own mind alone for in-
proycment, will, we fear, find himself
in the predlcamcnt Of the rcligionlst,
who relies for spiritual progress, on sol
itarlncss and self-wNtchng. Both dis
dain the aliment upon which mind and
heart are fed, and both are in imincnt
danger Of starvation. Both also are lia-
bic to fall into that great error, the dar-
ling child Of solitude, un ovcrweening
sense Of selflmportancc, and contempt
of their brothers. In the little poem
from which we have above quoted, we
find much to ccnsure.
The man who can thus deliberately
set atnaught the advantages of commune
ion with his fellows, who can remark
upon the scandalous, tHning and mn
profitable discourse Of some, learning us
to infer that SUCH and no better Is to
he met with in the world, may find
hearers 10 whom he can dcscant.
"Of personal themes, and such as he
loves best,
Matters wherein right valuable he is"
but can hardly expect to flnd listening
ears, admlrlng eyes, and applauding
'ongucs In every circle.
We are apt to reckon The religious
blgotry of Cowper the worst blcmish of
the Task That blgotry, however had
In II nothing personal; and we can far
better tolerate the tlmid Christian, when
We see him shrinking from tllc world,
whose practices he has learned TO con
cciro us evil, than We can bcnr with the
imam whose assumed superiority Is that
OF intellect, not Of principle But Of All
people, the poet perhaps has least ex-
cuse for being n dogmallst.
"rO him all that is interesting or am
liable IN human character, all that cx.
cites or engages our benevolent ailcc-
tlonsi all the truths that make the heart
feel bctierand more hoppy--all Of these
supply material ont of which he forms
ANA peoplesn world Of his own, where
no lnconvculcnces damp ourcnioymcnis,
whcrcno shadowsdarken or prospects"
Ills object i, TO catch the fee,lng ideas
of grandeur aud of bcnntv. M n pnintcr