The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-05-22

WiU taa world never iet Ei-ar Poe
r s6e 20 stated g neo. tie papers
that it has been discovered, by examin-
ing his dust, that the brain is ossified
aud rattles in the skull "To what base
uses may we come at last %
To apply the caliper of moral measure
ment TO this child Of genius seems labor
lost. There must have been in him a
chameleon-like temperament, by which
he assimilated to those with whom he
associated, and thus each analyzer Of
Poe gives US a glimpse of his own lido
syncrasies rather than a revelation Of
this unique, wonderful creation.
! prefer to regard these persons OF rare,
exceptional genius as demOnized-in a
high malignant sense. When Luther
stood before the august Diet convened at
Worms, his memorable saying, Here
stand I, can not be otherwise" was a
conscious illustration of this. He,
Luther, courageous, penetrating, dis
cerning, could be only Luther, just as
the cells of his brain and the headings
Of conscience had brought him down
from the ages. A strong will may
achieve much; but the bias nature can
not wholly be cOntrOvened.
i like the Bible method OF biography,
that gives us the facts of a life and leaves
the moral status to be adjusted by the
reader. There we have Sarah forcing
Hagar and Ishmael out in the wilder
ness; Rebecca melting her son Jacob to
deceive her husband and wrong her less
favored child; Rachel aud Lear, with
their domestic quarrels; and all down
the history Of the favored people, helm
Gus crimes committed, scarcely without
apprehension; the design being to ri We
Us the experience Of individual life, good
and bad, praisewOrthy or blamewortby,
with surprising candor, as il facts were
the only important things in delineating
a life. Buta careful observer will detect
an enlarging silver thread of approval
Tor the true excellence pervading all the
pages of Jewish history; as in the wise
courtesy Of Abigail, and the steadfast-
ness OF the mother Of the Maccabees. /
think We must learn to accept genius as
II is aud not poster it with too critical
an eye, leaving the "stern daughter Of
the voice Of God" Duty, to look after
her wise children and approve them
IN her own time aud way. Our iudg-
meDts Of genius, 10 any sense, seem an
impatience. Who are we, that we dare
condemn 2-we, who have not the smear
Of lthurial, to test the right Of a being
to be just what he is, and nothing else;
TO be what lac is, and pOWeress to be
otherwise-part and parcel Of lurid
phantasmagoria, over which steal weird
SHADOWS half human, half deviiish-
half divine, IL may be.
We may hold tie breath. feeling a. II
some hidden arcana were about 10 oDan
before us-the breaking Of the last magic
seal once held by old King Solomon. bv
which the demons of Eblis are about n
break from their bondage; but IL il ba-
coming in Us to look on, aud hold oDr
peace.
In 1855, New York was alive with ex-
element over one of these woudrous
demonized creations. The windows in
Broadway were full Of s tall, statuesque
figure, about whom the classic robe fell
in long, heavy folds, and upon whose
arms glittered the form of a serpent.
/ was never tired of studying this
Sphinx; the small, compact, beautiful
head, that somehow made mine ache;
the strange eyes under the contracted
brow the brow contracted by no ordi-
nary emotion, but from a terrible intens-
lty. II seemed as If fiery band en-
eireled the head in the shape Of the cor
al iillets IN which she delighted.
MY hrst sight Of Rachel was In COM
pany with Mr. J. c. Derby, the favorite
puollsner at that time, and noted
ioi Ils Aorahamic beard, which a Turk
tnlgnt envy together with Mrs. Ter
ruue n,t AMarian Harland) and Caroline
Cheeseooro-both writers of en,inaro.
anu the latter woman Of unonss,So.,
a9le genius, as Is testified ip her vSo,.i-
victoria, or the World Ova,,..'-.- ~ n, |
MISS Cheeseboro was small ne,
looking, taeiturn and gentle @siiI- ,t.,l-
neithershe nor hercompanion vyasnni 'ninA
drawn to me- but in this world ,'i4l .. al
meet and part, and see each otbae
Through glass darkly.n a
The curtain rose, aud Racbel -.
there: tall, 1.-THE, panther-like. A roya1 "a
ment, not walk-an undulatino- 80.
and she was before Us. How she .a'..i 49,
there seemed a mystery. a lofty. msal
nificent statue, draped, motionIess' a55
causing the heart to stay its beat; and
the vast multitude could no more have
applauded the instant Of her appearing
than If an uneartbly spirit had suddenIY
become visible TO the eye; but the an.
plause that followed was something to
be remembered.
Her voice was indescribable-a mar
velous voice, deep, clear, distinct. The
tragic tones Of her voice were soul