The Worthington advance., 1882-01-19
LITERARY NOTICES.
ella WHEELER.S POEMH

ella WlKEELER'S POEM&
MAuRINE, and Other Poems. BY EL-
LA WHEELER, Chicago: Jansen,
McClurg Il Co., 1882.
For this pleasing little volume Pf 254
pages We are indebted to both the Au.
thor and the Publishers. Ella Wheeler
has taken rank during tho past few
years as one Ut the. brightest and most
promising of the western poets, and we
have heretofore said through the AD-
vAECE that she is the clearest aud
most vigorous poetic writer Of her sex
in the West: She is one of that bright
trinity Of Wisconsin girls to which
Miss Fanny Dris. oil aud Miss Perry,
Of Milwaukee. belong, aud while their
poems thus far are mainly Poems uf
Promise. that promise is genuine, and
it they live and are not turned from
their poetic purpose by the cares of life,
they will xll three take high rank
among the poets Of the great West. 50
far Miss Wheeler is the undoubted
leader tu this group Of the Three Graces.
and hsr, poems during the past few
years have recrivsd that wide news.
paper circulation and recognition which
is the sure lOrerunner Of Il permanent
acceptance aud fame. We know of no
other woman in the West, nor in the
East for that matter, who is SO tit and
80 likely to step into A lice Cary's place
and fill the place. In fact there is re-
markable resemblance Cetween the
best Of Miss Wheeler's and Miss Cary,s
short poems. That is, they are alike
in vigorous expression aud clear.cut
thought aud imagery. Miss Wheelev's
imagination, rs shown in the longer
and more ambitious poem entitled
"Maurine," seems richer aud more
sumptous (if we may use the pl,rase)
than Miss Cary's, and there is more
warmth and passion apparent. This
may be largely due to the warm blood
of youth, but we hope that Miss Wheel
or will retain this element under the
guiding hand of more mature taste
and deeper understanding Of the re-
quirements Of art, and if she does re.
tain it we predict that she will take u
higher rank in American literature
than even Alice Cary. With our belief
in Spiritualism we cannot help think
ing that Miss Wheeler is under tho
guidance and pupilage of Alice Cary,
and il this be the case. We expect to
see the pupils efforts excel those the
teacher made while in this life.
''Maurine" is an extended poem GOV.
ering 116 pages Of the volume. The
story is similar to Gollsn,ith's Alcan-
der and Septimus, viz: one friend sac
rificing love for another. In Cold
smiths story young man discovers
that his friend loves the same woman
to whom he is p*ssionatrly attached
and voluntarily retires to secure the
happiness Of his friend. III Mauri,.e, q
young woman makes the same kind of
sacrifice to secure the happiness Of her
girl friend. This IS all there is Of tho
story. But it affords AL excellent CAN
vass for portraying nearly every phase
Of young love, and Miss Wheeler has
used the brush with great fidelity and
skill. The poem is rich in passionate
expression, poetic imagery aud free
rhythm, and none other than \ glori-
ous poetic mind could have conceived
and wrought the poem out. We do not
say that there are not evidences of i'm.
OF too much respect for the
and for ''soclety." and Of
flights which are not sustained, but
take it altogether, it gives overwhelm.
ing evidence of true poetic soul-and
Of the power to express poetic thoughts
with fire and vigor.
We are pleased to see that the poems
are we'll received by the press gener-
ally. We have heard If but one or two
adverse criticisms. Tie n. Y. Mail
says the book is fiat. dul; and liteless."
aud the N. Y. Sun says it is ''ridicu.
lous." Perhaps we ought not to men,
tion this as it deserves only contempt
and is 50 manifestly false aud unfair
that it can I've accounted for in but ore
way. We know that those who write
the book notices for many eastern papers
are young bloo,ls just out Of Harvard
and who know nothing of art or rcetry
and whose souls are absorbed in base
ball. They are lit only to handle Int
and they make fools of themselves
when they essay to speak Of literature.
Moreover they are prrjudiced against
"western" and could not do
justice to western author even if they
had the cav*city, which they have not.
We had marked many fine passages
to which We would like to refer, but
our space is limited and We must close
this lIasty review with republication
Of some of the shorter poems which have
had a wide newspaper circulation and
which have made Miss Wlreler's name
familiar to all western people ut least:
IN THE LONG RUN.
In the long run fame finds deserving man,
The lucky wight may prosper for 4 day,
But Ia gOOd time true merit leads the van,
Aud vain pre- .e!lcc, 'inn' 'ticed, HUes its way,
But fortune smiles Oh those v hO work aud
walt
In the long run.
In the long run all goodly sorrow pays.
There IL hotter THING than uai,
The sleeplesS nights the Awi ul thorn crowned
'-...- days.
Bring sure reward to tortured soul aud brain.
UnMe4ning jO. 8 enervate in the end.
But SORROW yields glo.i :us dividend
In the long run.