National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-01-20

\ Scholarly Analysis of "Villikcns and His
Dinah."
The fine weather Of Saturday evening
brought out a largo attendance at Mr.. Kings
and n spite of the counter attractions, iuclul-
ing the literary society at Mrs. DAhlgren's, tho
pirors wcre,ns often IN years past filled as full as
comfort would allow After fine piano piece
by Miss Gilbert, and a sweet song by Miss Car.
rie Kidwell Mr.. King introduced Hon, IL. A.,
Herbert, Of Alabama, who proceeded to read a
very entertaining paper ON "Thc Art of
Poetry" illustrated by tho analysis Of we'll
known poem. After some general remarks on
tho power of the poet to bear MS away from
the humdrum existence of this matter.of-fact
world, and an allu5ion to the various schools
of poetry, he avowed himself q champion of
the modern school as against the ancients.
He did not believe that science had crippled
poetry, but thought it should be q starting
point from which the Muse might wing her
flight to realms undreamod Of by the aucients.
Referring to the genius of Milton and
Byron, and eXpatiating on the immortal pro-
duCt!Ons of Shakespeare and the hidden beau-
ties discovered In them, as well as IN such
poems as Gray's "Elcgy" and Poe's Raven"
by appreciative commentators, following
their example, he proposed to mako brief
study of the art of poetry in what he deemed
the best way, by anayzing a poem, which,
though by an unknown author, he considered
the most perfect gem OF AnglO.SaXon art--viz.,
"Billikons and His Diuah' This announce
mcut, altor 50 lofty an eNOrdium, caused u
very audible smile" throughout the audience,
which the speaker appeared not to notice.
| The ground idea of this touching poem, he
said, was unwedded love, which the author
has treated with great vigor and breadth OF
thought, while conforming to the slrctcst
rules of rhetoric art Repeating and Scan
ming" the first stau2a There was a rich mer-
chant in London did dwell" &C., he babe his
hearers observe tho easy flow of tho language
| aud the perfect prosOly, including the
cmSulal pause in the middle of each line
| Following the advice of Horace. the author
shuns all "sesqupcdalian words all high
sounding phrases and, like Dean Swift, pre-
| iers to draw from the well Of English unde-
| fled" Tennyson does not excel him in sweet
simplicity; Burns IS not his superior in
straightforward naturalncss.
Taking up and Analysing tho poem, line by
| line, the speaker proceeded in q seuo'cOmic
vein TO point out It's beauties, iustituting COM
| parisOus with Shakespeare and other authors OF
established reputation, and simplifying exten.
| sivCly on the picture OF virgin innocence so
artistically presented by the description of the
lovely heroine rs scarce sixteen years old.
lie compared the London garden IN which
Dinah was seen Walking with tho tabled
Hesperidcs of the aucents which no thought
the former far exceeded in sweet simplicity
The various scenes and incidents of the poem
including the tragic dcR0uemept were thus sue
cessively treated, with copious illustrations and
classical illusions, much TO the entertainment
Of the audience, who testified their apprecia
tion by frequent laughter and applause and in
dividual congratulations TO the speaker during
the pleasant hour of social converse which
succeed his address.