New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-09
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

sDrrR AND POET By ROSTER JOHNSON 16mo.
Do. 100 Boston James Il. Osgood u 90. 1880
Ths rollection OF verses would seem to deprecate
bv ITS title too careful consideration we VIII en-
deaycr to humor the author. and concede thdt ~
should be read as 1t written, III hours oil luio
ness. which means for the literary man not always
absolute repose He frequently aInuses himself III
fields and with work, not IN his own s'rict ho' "'
I'm his usual ven fertile mind bears all SORTS OF
frnits: 1t ripens to perfection only few ns ran
ity is in displaying all. often thereby dlsereditlng
the better. sometimes obtaining applause Tor liz
very poorest work from an mdiscrDIinatlng pub
lie In tLcss days rs often in the past our literary
man ors remarkable Tor versatility; they write
prose and verse ndiferently they empty their
portfolios periodically. The essayist is wanted Tor
poetry the poet for ESSAY or botn find 1t easy,
having once passed the difficult gates OF the editors
of magazines and of the publishers. to print all
kinds OF miscellaneous writing just as in the l'ce-
um days. when men distinguished Tor ans klhu Oh
talent were paraded upon the lecture PLATFORM
where the performance frequently turned out to be
an exhibition of the rather than an intellect
ual conference.
The RIGHT mood, the right word, are not at the
command or the poets will. Nor is 1t ALWAYS pos
.ibe or safe TO complete in an uninsured hour the
inventions descending upon his Imagination IN
hours of insight Therefore the short occasional
poem is so common; 1t is often quite perfect.
though IRON the pen of no great reputation 1t Is
safer form TO attempt than any other Long De
lberate works require many favorable conditions
Every feeliug may be expressed by the poet now III
rand. transient form; the present moment is trun-
phant; aud he will he heard if lie marches abreast
the procession of events and lives in the life around
nm literature must be in harmony with the
oron,iuent characteristics Of modern lie, an intense
but momeniary concentration of Itself on present
events and interests. The poet contributes MS com
m,ntary. and wishes more than most other record
els to collect and preserve his scattered leaves
In such volume as Mr.. Johnson has presented
us WITH the important point for himself and the
public was "a proper selection. Here are specimens
of various forms of versihcsticn. In tones nom
grave TO CAV. The topics range up and down
human life We enter the Gate OF Tears" poem
that has vigorous passages, and pass on through
The path Of love. grief. common incidents and de-
scripjions and hear at the end the voice of laughter
i'm such pcems as are included IN Weather Lyrics"
Variety enough, certainly. for one small book.
Does il add anything TO the pleasure of living and
readiugl Docs il increase the value OF our literary
treasures7 These serious questions but to he
answered by the public. not by single reader.
Whoever has the credit of our literature at heart
should endeavur to answer them before committing
himself to publication. The selections in this
volume should have been reduced to q smaller
NUMBER some are too slight and tri1ing for pres
ervaton anu suggest too distinctly the first half of
the title of the book. The half is more than the
whole, is good rule for poets The writer should
also DO reminded that imperfect rhymes. like sew
eral in the Gate of Tears" are serious blunder;
hat the same may be said of wrong aecentual
pauses; and that the refrain. " If could know"
has been already employed by brother poet.
livery poet who essays volume and seeks au au
dience should enoeavOr TO add something to the
beauties of our language and the Improvement of
public taste zen in the minor matters OF rhyme
rhythm and accent