The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-04-14

In closing, it might be well to mention two poems that cannot be chased under any convenien: head: The Lotos Flower pleasing, but not forcible. and - Fidele,' dirge, tender and subdued
 It is to be regretted that the poet has not oftener sung of love, as he does in the lines which complete his "Collected Poems" Noble and elevated. both in form and sentement, they are fitting close to SO rare volume: True heart, upon the current of whose love, My days. like roses ia summer brook, foa, Tn fragrance and in melody,
 Take these-uRworthy symbols of my soul. Made precious by the heavenly faith of
 thine!
 Take them and, though a face of pain. looks
 through
 The marble veil of words. thy heart will know That what was shadow cncc is sunshine now. And life all peace, and beauty, and content. Redeemed and hallowed by thy sacred grace. Thrice happy he, who favored child of Fate Finds his Egeria in a mortal guIse,
 And, hearing all the dscords of the world Blend into music, round his haunted way, Knows hope fulfilled and bliss already won.
 It now remains to speak of Winters poems as a whole. It has been claimed by majority of his critics, perhaps not without reason, that the chief blemish of many of them is the deep, and, at times, forced vein of sadness which pervades them. On this we have already dwelt, and need not give 1t more attention here. He Is far from being perfect poet. but his faults lay upon the surface, and need not be pointed out.
 What we wish to speak of is his better qualities, and they are by no means few. In order to be seen at his best. the poet must not be read at once, and. as whole, rather one should pick him up and read him, one or two choice .eces at time. If chosen as companion when in sad and weary mood, he will be found sooth- ing and rcstful; and at that time none would have the tone of any one of his lyrics changed, without feeling ,ha, i, had lost half its beauty. He has the genius Of a poet. and. having drank deeply a, the well-spring of English lyric verse, the result has been decided ad- dition ,o the library of modest li,tle poems lyrics that are ., once gentle. simple. sad. and sweet. He has chosen as his models the almost faultlcss iyris,s of two centuries ago. and, in consequence. his poems have quaint. pure tone. which IS dis,inCiively their own. and which can no. be found n the uteranees of any other American poet.
 Winters clever gifts as poet are ef no mean nature He has an imagination which, though not powerful. Is delicate and subtle. and entirely under his control. His methods Is a poctical workman are ever dainty and exquisite; his choice cf words is singulariy felieitous: and his verse, though always as limpid and mu- sit l as falling waters. never ceases to be so lucid and clear that child car read and understand. The poet has never given ycice to any great truths that may be called his own i: but he has often clothed old ones in new and more admirable dress. while the moral lesson he teaches Is nearly always gracious and benehcen, one, and we rise from his poems feeling better for having read them.
 The ever-rehning hand of Time will, without doubt, cast aside as worthless much that he has written still we are sure that many things which he has given us. will be found 10 possess intrinsic meri, and that he will long be remcm- bered as the poet of natures IS refined and sensitive as his own. and as one who often sang of sorrow-bui only that i, mlsh, ehasten. purify. and refine. In conclusion, in may be said that. what ever may be his treatment at the hands of pos;crity. the name of William Winter will always be associated in our minds with genileness. sweetness. sadness and simplicity.