New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-07-12
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
WILLIAM WILSON'S POEMS.

WILLIAM WILSON'S POEMS
POEMS BY WILLIAM WILSON Edited by EESJAMrS ].
Wilson
The poems Of William Wilson have long been
known here among our citizens of scotch birth or
descent, and this republication of them viii no
doubt be accepted with favor. Tho volume con-
tains hundred pieces, together with Mr. Loss
iugs memorial sketch OF the author, and 1t IS en-
bellshed with Wilson's portrait. This winter was
born at Cricfl. in Pcrthshire, Scotland in 1901 :;
reared to trade, and in the mi list of poverty emil
grated to America in 1898; and died at louen-
keepse, y. y. in 1860 in his fity-ninth year lie
was twice married. and his life was devoted TO
business pursuits and the care Of his family and not
to literature. His poens all Of which a1e short
and are expressed IN homely language, were, obVi-
ously. the incidental promptings OF passing fancy
of domestic personal experience. Many Of them
are written in Scottish dialect others are deyO-
tional in character; others are amatoTy and few
are martial. Neither the imagination nor the pas
ions appear to have been implicated il their com
position are stirred by their mild and peaceful
strains; but the heart beats in tcm and it is easy
10 discern through them the claracteristlcs Of an
aNectiouate, ardent virtuous, high principicd man,
intensely patriotic, sensitive TO the influences OF
nature, kcenly apprccative Of the joys and OF the
scenery of domestic liic very fond OF children and
OF flowers, religious, trustful CHEEKY and not de-
void of a certain Guizzical humor. There are no
lofty flights, and there is nothing singular in tone
color. The poet is neither Burns nor n Mother
well, but walks quito in the beaten track, and
gathers only the wild grasses that crow beside it..
Yet at least twenty out of tins hundred poems are
marked by quality which, if not lyric inspiration,
Is sincere poetic feeling, naturally uttered. Many
tones blend, in all these varying strains but the
dominant note is one of calm JOY in homo lc-thc
peace OF the hcartlstone and the love OF united
famiy,-uingied with pious trust in the promises of
the Christian religion Poets of the cahbrc OF Henry
kirke White and the Scottish David Gray hayo
sung these themes well, or better. The quality,
however that gives the zest Of character to Wilson's
book is its Scotch enthusiasm and fclcitous use of
the Scotch dialect. in faculty to dignity common
themes and simple experiences Wilson fell far short
of the standard of such poet a. Cowper and very
faI short of the standard of Crabbe: in reference
the rush and whir and tUmult of emotion and of
imagery. lac is not to be named with Burns or Scott
even with Iiogg-the writer's among his conn
tryucn " nose influence upon his muse is distinctly
visible; but in Scotch feeling and style he is eel
tainly worthy to rank with Taunahill, or, some
times, even with Allan Cunningham. few echoes
OF his Scottish Tyre VIII illustrate this and serve
present him more fairly than any critical comments
can. 20 such readers may not be acquainted with
his writings
In the "Epstle to Lime Lee" he says:
Men worship wealth ana sigh for rank
A. Il ther heaven were ia bank,
And when by mony willy prans
'Tis bat t. hear Inc rcti,rs clanll
Themselves hae forged.
In Bonnie Mary" there is a moro ripping music :
There's ruined castle tower distant steep ap
Like a hoary aud warrior faded Wi years:
VIII sooth It's WI its music when thc GAGS doun.
I'll meet thee bonnie NARY when tc s, ~os ,n,,n.
IA roy my apron MP and Ii leave the rocky toUn.
doun 0
In his Song for the Birthday Of Burns" the
warmth of his Scotch heart giows through every
line:
I IE@ bosom 50 here st that l9yed is ,hrchbn
Here's Iicland home ana Hciand iils sac bcar,,
An here's TO hun whose fame ma ie briclt.r Sco,s
glory!
sentiment are "Auld Johnny G1aham,p Bessy's
Wooing" Philip Farley" 90. Heavy and Chill
Fa's the Wmtry Rain" and "Gleuisla Mary" Dr.
Beattio himself might have written this:
The sl s, voice of SPRING in the woodland is rngn
The mavis FL sweet in tho ,aIic is siniin NM
And S9't down The glen the sound Of the rin.
TIL LI cc aIn4I a are onpns gpGn thc green lea
An a thing is ishtsome and chcery but Iue.
Here again is part of a love lyric that is in the
manner of the lighter verse of Scott
Fq FSTsS5t FIR to az Gr 1G noq ny. ray'
Farewell to native IIieland hame
An, farewell ay to thee,
An farewell ay to thee!
Tie lily blooms in Logic bowers,
The rose III Logic shaw,
But maun broke hearted lea
The tarCs flower % IL,
Mary Morrison
The farest flower o. a..
O, had'st thou been n cottage maid,
And a cOttar swain,
might haze tacn thee o the kirk
And made thee a. my iliu-
Mary MOrrispi--
And made thee a. my ain!
The swing of the old ballad is felt also in strains
and snatches such as these:
Though thou art a cottar swain
An my daddy laird o. Blame
III hac thee, or III hac
My bOnny Robin.
But Erin yet her harp shall string,
WI ScOtia's hag-ppo scrcamin',
An doun snail come our iilcland clans
WI a their tartaIs strcainin.
An We VIII chase the German loon
Out over TIE rarely,
An tax the guide aud English Groom
An pit II Oh Prince Charlie
When seated by those we adore
The bosom Inay ccstacY own.
Bot the depth OF affection mover can know
Until the beloved is gone.
Far doun the green dc's woody glade
Deep, deep beneath the clhl-trcc's shade.
Win wild flowers sprlligug DER her brcast.
There she should have ter place OF rest.
No chorsters beside her grave
Should chant their dun, funeral stave,
Nor sculpturcd marble rise to show