Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-04-15
LOngfeIIOw's Memory.

At Chckering Hall, on Sunday, there
were short memorial addresses before
the Society for Ethical Culture in mem
DRY of the poet Longfellow. Mr.. Rob
erts read an address prepared by Mr..
Whippie, which began
1t was affirmed by one of the great
poets OF TIE century, who spoke from
his inspired insight into the external
world, that
They do not err
| Who say that when poet dies
Mu Nature mourns worshipper
And celebrates his obsequics.
In the case of the departure of Long
! fellow, this sense of loss Is deepened by
cnr love and admiration for the charac-
ter of the man. 1t was said years ago,
by competent FOREIGN critic, that there
was something, he hardly knew what,
in the poems of Longfellow which made
them universally attractive but those
who personally knew the man readily
understood what constituted the pecu-
liar attractiveness of the poet. He
was, in the first place, one of the hu-
manest OF men, incapable of envy, NAL
ice or intolerance, and gifted not only
| with the power of discerning merit in
others, but of heartily rejoicing In its
contemplation. Wherever he appeared
he radiated the spirit of kindliness and
beEehcence. 1t was impossible tossknow
him without feeling an affection for him.
The breadth Of his sympathetic feeling
gave variety to the products of his
genus. It enabled him to reproduce
many different moods OF mind and many
different forms of character. A glance
over his poems shows how wide is the
field his writings cover. He rarely, if
ever, repeats himself. Ii we take his
long poems, such as the "Spanish
Student" "The Golden Legend, chi
awatha" and "Evangeline, we wonder
how the same poet could have selected
subjects so different and have treated Of
each with such mastery adaptation of
his genius to his theme. Our wonder
is increased when we remember the
throng OF lyrics and minor poems with
which he has enriched onr literature,
and the fexibility of mind he displays
il placing himself on an equality With
every idea, sentiment, situation and
topic he represents. In al these the
individuality of the man is constantly
perceived, but the range of the genius
is remarkable. Perhaps the controlling
element in his nature was the moral
sentiment, and il is also the dominant
quality observed IN his writings. And
his morality is the morality of most
good men and women He deals in no
moral paradoxes, while he touches no
moral truism without vitalizing it, with
out imparting to it new life, freshness,
elevation, beauty and power. He was
a man OF large and liberal scholarship,
gifted with creative and realizing
mind. His learning, therefore, was all
alive. His words and images always
tell. He ever succeeds in conveying to
anothers mind the matter that fills his
own. What a description is this of the
effects of war J.
The tumult of each sacked and burning village;
The shoutthat every prayer for mercy browns;
The soldiers revel in the midst of pillage;
The wall of famine III beleagured towns.
Most of Longfell3w's poems are char
acterized by this clearness, picturesque
ness, and especially, this weight of die
ton. The effect on the ear Is as great
as the effect on the eye. The effect of
all his writings Is to purify as we'll as
to please. Few whose sense of beauty
was so keen have combined with 1t an
ethical purpose 50 high. He belongs to
that class of poets we gratefully remem-
Der who have quickened and strength
ened conscience through kindling ap-
peals TO the emotions and the imaging-
tion:-
Filling the soul with sentiments august.
The beautiful. the brave, the holy, the just.