New-York tribune., 1879-01-03
RECENT POETRY,

cathedral, where
While above 10 twilight dusk aud tender,
Angels whiten with divine desire
The dream of the poet turns from the spectacle OF
enchantmcnt and finds in the simple charm OF a
Western home, a divner glory than is shown in all
the pomp of Art -
All the air is peopled with vision;
Seraphs breathe their breath OF music there
Men who made their lives a holy mission
Show their souls In marble everywhere
But within some strangers heart Is haunted
With the faiths VI hOmclicr altars bright,
Saints in dearcr windOw-glOw enchanted,
Til his face is dark with sdddened ligh;
And he sees in dream the woodlands hoary,
Bleak with long November winds and rams
Reddened while the level sunset glory
Floats on all the western widow -panesi
Secs as do, while the phantom splendid
OfthoSe gorgeous windows passes bright.
Aud the radiance. which my dream attended,
slowly fades and faeTs into night;
While abroad the bare and dumb November
Ghosl-lkc stands amid the crimson haze,
And the glimmeriug easements scarce remember.
Ghost-hke i'll the gloom, the sunset blaze -
Sees O sudden. newer, dearer splendOr
Issue from thousand windows warm,
Guarded by the hresldes sacred charm.
Let me leave the twlliglts dusk reflection.
And the ghosts that walk the autumnal night -
Wife and mother, with divine affection,
stand within the Western wndoW-ght.
The airy nothing" of "Counterparts" has touch
of the dainty conccIts of a soft English madrgal of
the Olden time -
send, sweet, my ycarnins
Ilafkisscs TO thee;
Oh. send thy returning
Halfkisscs to me.
When our halfklsses meet, love,
what marvcs have birth :
All fair things, and sweet, love;
New Heaven, new Earth!
al Song of Content" breathes the sweet sense Of
household life which the author never fails to con-
fess and glOrify:-
The eagle nestles near the sun;
The doves low nest for me-!
The eagles the sweet One,
For hearts that heat IKE thine and mine,
The angels Of our Heaven shall shine
The angels OF cur hearth!
That his supreme content IN the joys Of home is
not without cause is shown in the inscription which
first meets the eye opening the volume:-
j give tins book with sacred gratitude
W6" far oRf & anG Ga assa enas 5Teaes sS but part
Ofyour pure spirit, sweet person, tender heart
The true secret of the poets work is revealed in
the following lines whose ruthfnness of sentiment
shines through the delicacy Of their cxpression:-
TO 4 LONELY WOODLAND SPRING.
Pure dwellcr in the shadows green,
Glad hermit of the solitude
Whose lovely work is wrought unseen
Forever in the pathlcss wood!
Like thine wish my task might be -
with the shy fountains lonely birth
In Natures close society,
But sending beauty through the Garth.
Such is the poets life : a stream
From his heart rising ever steals,
NrCathIng bare use with bcauty's CLEAN
rainbow on the busy wEeeSl
Mr. Meningitis "Sonnets," which have already
appeared in another form, exhibit rare power of
reflection on themes of profound import. combined
with richness of imagination and a fertility of pO-
etical expression, which Nature seldom presents in
company with the love of searching into the dark
problems of human destiny The work possesses
not only an imaginative but medtative unity.
forming harmonious treatise, as complete and
herent as Popc's Essay Oh Man," the latter beng
philosophical discussion in the garb of poetry,
while the former Is a poetcal creation with the
substance of philosophy. The "Sonnets," as all
sonncts should be to possess any wide interest are
evidently the fruit Of individual experience, with
deep yeammg for the highest fulflmcnt of life, not
antinctured with bitter sorrow, not untouched by
the agony Of doubt but resting at last in the
repOsc of modest faith and inward peace. The re-
GgiOus nature Of man is contemplated chiefly in its
ethical expression. In the view Of the author, the
true conduct of life is of more Importance
than accuracy Of speculation. His theory en-
braces the nOblest spirit of the Stole
school, but it presents that austere philosophy
softened and graced with the adOrnmcnts of
masculine fancy. Mr.. Meningitis poetry may claim
rank among the most vigorous productions Of re-
cent times. 1t is everywhere fortified with high
and substantial thought; it indicates the presence
OF a man rather than of mere artist il is free
from cast-iron formulas, from the aridity and hard
ness abstract speculation but gracefully blends
the strength Of reflection with the sweetness and
beauty Of a poetic spirit. The secret Of life. as
set forth in manifold forms by Mr.. Mcknight, is
lOrcibly Announced in the following sonnet
TINES BEST PROMISE
o happy thou. whose daily work supplies
TO Others joys that else would never be (!
For thine snail be the happiness aud glee
or many hearts, and thine the goodicst prize
The future shOweth TO fOrclOOking eyes:
For safely reserved in store for thee
Occasions for Yet nOblcr charity
il may be for sublime self sacrifice.
The day may when much OF that delight
Shall in unmiDged purity be thine,
Which nils the souls OF messengers divine
Who, with invisible and silent flight
Oer the sbodes Oi mOTtals have besrOvn
- Dear blessings, and forever are unknown.
The spiritual beauty Of patient continuance in
oell-doing" has seldom been aptly illustrated
tLal in these lnes;-
Tie Highest One trust, viii not despise
Thy ife's oblatiOn. though 1t be but hours
OF gratitude and wonder; for IN bowers
or widest woodland that remotely lies,
Known only TO the bee that bath not ewes
For finer lines and hues, lie bids his powers
Cherish most dellcately United nowers;
Assuring thus our hearts that He doth prize
For its own sake the beauty pure and lOWly
OF fruitless blossoms. Can he value less
The deaier, unObtrusve cOmeiiness
OF q meek human soul, deyOut and holy:
Even II, in humbleDess Of life unknown,
Conspicuous virtues II has never showni
The same idea is attred in q rich poetcal colOTing
In this noble sonnet
The presence OF the beautiful ye know
BY ono sign, IN only one best hour;
ria only when ye feel your souls own dover
OF beauty larger, moro cOnteDtful, grow.
An MT aF6g gFg 1V