The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-08-02
A Vision and Other POems-By Mrs.
Il. q. Bedford.

This volume was noticed in a former issue,
and we would not again refer to it, but there is
something so unusual, and we might say cour
ageous, in the fact that a Floridian has dared to
bring out book Of poems that we are disposed
TO celebrate its appearance with all the pomp
and circumstance which editorial leader will
give it.
The author modestly states in her preface
that 1t is not her purpose to compete for literary
honor, in thus appearing before the public, and
asks the leniency due one who does not claim TO
be professional writer. We have examined
the poems with these words of the preface in our
mind, but when we begin to write we find il
difficult to judge literary work by anything but
a literary standard
"A Vision,' the most ambitious poem in the
volume was written, as the author states, as a
tribute to the North for the beneyolence Of her
people towards the South during the yellow
fever scourge of 1879. The subject is one which
any artist would have found it difficult to treat,
and perhaps Mrs. Bedford has succeeded as well
as could have been expected. The poem is
is written in blank verse and for the most part
the author arranges her iambics with consldera-
BILE ease, and her lines are smooth and melodious
AS an instance Of her best expression as well as
OF her descriptive power we quote the following
1.-THE day had been serenely beautiful
Was loI0xag II t. train Tow..S the , West
Attested that the sun was almost get;
While from the Eastern heavens, feAtnery CLOUDS
Were lifted by the wings Of Eolus.
And lightly scattered DER the bending dome"
It's generally said that it Is more difficult to
succeed in blank verse than In the other measures,
yet notwithstanding this, we are inclined to the
opinion that blank verse is better suited TO our
author than rhyme-at least she seems to COM
pose more correctly and with more facility in
this measure.
We cannot refer separately to each of the
poems In the volume before u.s. and must there
fore generalize. The want of definite, artistic
purpose which so many writers overlook is too
often apparent in works of poetry. A scene in ma
ture may be described in melodious phrase, and
very accurately, or an emotion or passion OF the
soul may be expressed with warmth and quite
truthfully, but it requires something more than
this to give to them that ideal excellence which is
richer, and therefore superior. to anything actual
or real and which constitutes what we know as
artistic creation. This want is not more felt in
the poems of Mrs. Bedford than in the produc-
tions of many others who have acquired some
thing of fame, but still 1t Is felt. We believe,
however, that with attention TO this defect some
thing better, in future, may be expected from her
pen. She has failed to give her imagination that
scope which she might have allowed it. In
reading +" A. Vision" we were impressed with a
sense that there was an effort 10 curb rather than
give full rein to this faculty. When she employs
an angel to bear North the intelligence of the
suffering of the South, and then takes the trouble
TO explain in a footnnte that it was the angel OF
the telegraph, there s loss 10 the pOetcal effect
which Is painfully striking and which makes the
passage appear rather commonplace. Angels
and other supernatural agencies have always
been considered legitimate part Of the poets
machinery, and the explanation in this instance
would not have been demanded by the intelll-
gent reader. r
In technical execution these poems will COM
pare favOrably with other semi-prOfessional
works. We find in the blank verse, which is
intended to be regular, such lines as these:
The met the foe with dauntess courage But for
They come to us in childhood. what they on"
g Tis but an Idle dream know but oh, fAin.'
LIES dropped before they fully blown
These violations OF the rules of versification we
might notice as the following transgression of
TennysOn are regarded by his friendly critics,
namely, as breaches of mere metric laws for
higher metric effect. We quote almost at ran
dom from the Arthurian Legends.
l~An fhe live We viii have him Of our band"
/ II" And chaAng his fAint hand and calling to him"
'Not to be pucked asundet; and when thy Knights
"Thy glory Of our Round Table IL no more"
These lines from such an authority we suppose
are to be accepted as iambic pentameters, and
while we do not mean to criticise them yet we are
not disposed to give greater license TO the Lau-
reate than 70 Mn- Bedi0fd. Would not this be
pertinent question here: Why should not all
poets conform to the fundamental laws Of their
art n To say that they Cannot, end ut the same
time reach the highest effects Of harmony, would
be TO say that our language u wanting In rich
nese and We believe this u not conceded by those
most cOnyersant with other tongues
4 Ksas@ Yslspops ssclftIag sapy rs shs !schnical
iaws, gave to our hktCid vofge The long barmo.
|saloas psiod relieved oy vsried ae.0ssss and
~ Me- aoIoe n slI ~ IA ~ ! t6rcueE