The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-05-01
A Celestial HOrse.Race.

an important event as this cannot be
lightly passed over by the press, and
the fact that the poet is a Marylan
del makes it peculiarly our duty to
endeavor to present to the people OF
bis native State some notice of the
beauties and excellences Of this poem.
Although it is copyrighted and the
warning "all rights reserved" is con-
spicuously displayed, yet Mr.. Dow
ney will doubtless pardon such ex
cerpts as we may have occasion to
make in the course of our apprecia-
tive comment
Such is the sustained force of the
poets genius that it upholds the
weight of the majestic and sonorous
iambic metre through fifteen solid
pages of the Congressional Record,
two columns to the page. So ample
are its proportions, so unique its
theme, and so peculiar its treatment,
that we find it difficult to give the
reader an adequate idea of this extra
ordinary poetic work. In its style it
lacks the ease and grace of Hans
Breitmann, but it is altogether
free from the dialectal peculiarities
which mark the work of that poet.
The Sweet Singer of Michigan doubt
less exceeds Mr.. Downey in lyric
tenderness, and in her ability TO stir
the domestic emotions; but the lat
ter greatly excels in dignity of lam
guage. and avoids the difficulties of
rhyme over which the Sweet Singer
sometimes stumbIeS, by contining
himself. with a few exceptions, to
blank verse. Some objection might
be made on the score of want of lu-
cidity, but the poem is at least as in
telligible as great deal of the mat
ter that goes into the Record. We
judge that he has drunk deep of
Topper, for the style of moralizing
is as nearly Tupperish as is consist
ent with its originality; that he has
conned Milton with assiduity, if not
with complete understanding, is also
manifest. But it were perhaps car
rying criticism beyond bounds to
search too curiously for the sources
of supply of this fresh spring OF poe
sy that wells up in the arid wastes of
congressional debate suffice it to say
that it is a most extraordinary poem,
thoroughly original in its conception.
Its style is not Miltonian, it is not
Tupperish; but it is Downeyish.
The narrative of the epic is deliv-
cred by a certain Phantasmagoria, of
whom the only information vouch-
safed is that she clasps the Holy BIZ
BILE in her hands, and that her brow,
"like fair Columbia's, broad and
full" was bound "with fadeless
wreaths of shining immortelles."
After being introduced, Phantasma-
goria proceeds to relate her tale; and
says the poet /;
"Oh, with what soul-inguling ecstasy
Rolled forth the story OF her pilgrimage"
The story rolls through fifteen SOL
id pages of the Record and as the
gods and goddesses of pagan mythol-
ogy, the saints and martyrs of sacred
history and heroes and sages of all
ages figure in it, it will be seen that
it is not possible to give here any
thing more than the most meagre
and superficial sketch of it. The mar
Iative begins with sketch of a coun-
Gil of the gods on Olympus, in the
description of which Mr.. Downey
shows a wondrOus wealth Of gorge
Gus adjectiyes, and ascends to re-
markable height of fine writing
JOve informs the assembled deities
that swift Iris has brought message
"from that far distant, nameless orb,
whence rolls the great Jehovah's ev-
erlasting power" that all His subjects
have been ordered to repair to his
court. The gods thereupon order out
their chariots, and set out on their
their journey. The passage is enliv-
ened by race between Juno and
Pallas, the former putting up clus-
er of the golden apples from Hesper
ides against the latter's sash. which
was woven out of the Golden Fleece
of Colchis. The Milky Way is the
race-course and, as they rush along.
they pass in sight of EIelicon and the
Vale of the MUSES., the Garden eff the
Hesperides, He'll and other locali-
ties, and also meet with various adj
ventures which afford scope to the
descriptive genius of the poet. In
addition, they Iare entertained with
songs from all the Muses., and, later
along the course, by Saint Ursula,
with virgin band eleven thousand
strong" When the race is over, land
the gods and goddesses reach Heav-
en-, Phantasmagoria proceeds to give
a detailed description of the arrage-
A. L