Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-09-29
Current Literature.

ULTIMA THULE BY Henry Wadsworh Long
fellow. THE Iron GATE, AND OTHER Poems.
By Oliver Wendell Holmes. These two elegant
little volumes, just issued by Osgood, Miffin 4
Co., possess peculiar interest from the fact that
their very titles hint that these gray minstrels
consciously approaching the earthly limit, and
their pages contain lines that must suggest the
tabled song OF the swan. Longfellow thus care
lessly closes bit OF dedication;
Ultima Thule Utmost lslel
Here In thy hArbors for awhile
We loy ,Ss our sMls awhile we Is''
"The Iron Gate is the name DR. Holmes gives
to the poem read at the " Atlantic Breakfast -
given on his SEVENTEEN birthday wherein he spoke
of the Iron portal closing behind and the
"gates OF pearl j" shining before, and added
Enthusiastically The curfew tells me cover up
the fre" As the lifted door-latch shows that
old age, long known at distance, has arrived,
he thus uuburdens:
"But o. my gentle sisters, o, my brother,
These thick-sown snowhakes hint OF tolls release;
These feeb'er pulses bid me leave 10 other
The tasks once welcomed evening asks for peace"
ultima Thule" contains eighteen pieces, most
OF which have appeared in the Atlantic or other
publications, including Bayard Taylor, dead
among his books" "David's Wall over Absa-
lom," the lines addressed to the children OF Cam
bridge when they brought the gift Of an Arm
Chair" made from the wood of the "Vllage
Blacksmith's" chestnut-tree, the fine stanzas on
Robert Burns, q few Folk-Songs and Sonnets--
only sixty pages in all.
DIR. Holiness volume has nineteen pieces. in
Guiding several written In recent years for festal
and college occ lsions, the longest being " The
School-Boy,' read at the Phillips Academy Cen
tennial. Four bear date In 1880, including the
lines read at the last annual meeting OF the class
Of 30 on James Freeman Clark's seventeen birth
day, at the reception OF the Chicago Commercial
Club, and at thu celebration OF the American
Academy Centennial Though marked by sober
dignity, these pieces are all shot through by the
threads OF playful and genial humor which have
made Holmes public tavorite ever since the APP
pearance Of his first volume In 1886. For sale by
Phnney.
The Congressional Vote Nap. prepared by Mr..
Fred b. Perkins, and published by the Osgood
house, Is an ingenious device for the assistance OF
those who desire To study the political situation
II exhibits the dimensions and boundaries OF all
the congressional districts upon large folding
map, and bars OF varying length and color indi-
cate the relative numerical strength OF the poiti-
| cal parties BY a study Of this map II Is possible
To form an intelligent idea Of political prospects,
and the changes requiring To be effected In order
TO alter the political situation. The map has
been prepared with care, and 1t IS published In
pocket" Of convenient size. For sale by phin-
| ney.
TBE October ST. Nicholas completes It's seventh
volume. Jack and Jill is concluded, as is the
game OF the fairport Ninei also the Nanghtiest
Day OF my Life and What Came Of 1t. The COM
plete short tales are: Hap, tale OF how yaga-
bond dog cheered the life of an almost broken
hearted little girl Lsdovick's Rocks; A Green
Man and Green" Beast lacks Excursion
| eaters and their habits are described Susan
Anna Brown gives some practical Hints How to
Save Time To be had OF Phinney.
SoRIBsEa for October contains an illustrated
article on Porpoise shooting continuation OF
| the biography OF Jean Francois Millet, peasant
and painter desci iption Of Shanty town, New
York, the inclusion OF Peter the Great; an illus
trated trip OF one hundred miles In Mammoth
Cave; Seaside lawn planting, with sketches The
New South, agriculturally considered; q political
ar icle-To Bolt or not to Bolt; wi IA rich variety
In It's Topics Of the limes-Hume and Society
Culture and Progress, and Worlds Work.