The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-09-05

poetry he had pure, natural sentiment and
pathos, without the mawkishness
that characterizes other dialectic
schools. In his description of nature II
speak now of his more serious poems) he is
as original as Whittier-only one is Indiana
and the other in New England-and you feel
that the thing flows as naturally from the
Hoosier poets brain, as it does from that of
the Quaker poet In his humorous poems,
you feel that you have in dialect the purest
of fun, that leaves no bad taste in your
mouth. This cannot be said of much that
has been written of late years in dialectic
poems, for oftentimes there is a bordering
on profanity and irreverence by even such
masters as John Hay and Bret Hart James
Russell Lowell we might call the precursor
and the chief of all those VINO have attempt
ed to write in dialect, but he does not
offend in respect to what | have spoken
above, and neither does Riley. But | am
carrying Goals to Newcastle to write about
Riley to the indianapolis Journal. To whom
L am indebted Tor this copy | don't know
but do not know a higher compliment to
Riley than to tell what / intend doing with
this complimentary to me. | shall send
1t to James Russell Lowell and shall trust
to somebody at home to send me another
copy. Lowell is man who thinks for himself
put there are two things that will commend
The Old SWimmin Hole and 'leven more
Poems to the master in dialect and one is,
l shall say, that the author has his head
quarters where Simon Yandes lives, and
second, that the poems, as be may soon see,
although they are not political and patriotic
In their aim as were the "Biglow papers"
yet are pure pictures in dialect. The
hrst reason is one that always arrests Mr..
LowelPs attention. 1t gives him a new in
terest in the American who says Il am from
Indianapolis" And Mr. Lowell is sure to
follow up that assertion with the question,
do you know Mr.. Yandes there-Simon
4andes? have the profoundest respect for
him, for he studied at the Dane Law-schooI
Harvard University, at the same time that L
was there, There were a good many of us
there that played at studying law, but Simon
Yandes studied law sir. He was head and
shoulders beyond us all in his lessons and
his proficiency" So l feel sure that Rilev's
little collection in dialect will gain a re-
spectful reading from Lowell
INCIDENTS IN IscHIA
l cannot conclude this letter without saw
ing few words more about the terrible ca
tastrophe at Ischia. The numbers of those
kllled may be somewhat less than at first was
estimated bur- when ali is told, the loss has
been frightful. Some CT our own friends and
acquaintances have perished that 1 knew not
OF when | last wrote. Amongst these was
Miss Louise H. Van Allen, of San Francisco,
Cal. She was one of the guests at the Picco-
la Sentinella Hotel. When the fatal shock
took place she was hurled into the midst OF
crushing walls and was not rescued until
several hours afterward 1t was found that
both legs were broken and one foot was near
ly cut off. She was an invalid and her
general state of debility, coupled with the
great exhaustion from loss of blood. and the
prostratlon OF the nervous system consequent
upon her horrible suffering, prevented am
putatlon taking place. She was removed to
Naples where the kindest care and attention
were bestowed upon her by American and
English friends but death, after ten DAYS
arNQt /, L
body was embalmed to be sent back to her
desolate father, to be placed by him in the
old graveyard at Bergen Heights, n j.
where her mother (who died in 1870 at Sor-
rento) is reposing until the resurrection
morn.
Touching was the loss of Charley Barff. a
youth OF fifteen, whom we had known since
he was child OF seven. He was the son of
the English (lGpiscopal) chaplain of Naples.
one Of the noblest of men, evangelical. vide
in his views, laboring for the good OF souls
with his brethren of other denominations
and most highly respected by all He was
with all his family at Ischia, but. on that
fatal Saturday, he came to Naples to he ready
for his Sunday services. On Sunday morn
ing when the first faint rumors of the horri-
BILE catastrophe reached Naples, he sent TO
the sexton to close the church, and he
hastened to the scene of the disaster not
knowing but his whole family had perished.
On arriving he learned that all were spared
save Charley whose life had been taken in
moment. lie was gentle, upright boy who
won every heart. AT the very instant of
that terrible. irresistible shock he was kneel.
ing in prayer, previous to retiring. And thus
God took him to himself. All tina: Sunday,
and portion of Monday July 3O), the
father, with others, labored to extricate his
dead body, and when found, it was commit
ted to the grave in that sorrowtul cemetery
of Casamicciola. The bereaved father wrote
me few days after, and nothing has moved
me more than his simple lines "Manv
thanks" he writes, ito you and Mrs Fletcher
for your kind sympathy in our sudden be-
reavement We have much cause for thank
fulness in our trial, that his death was with
out suffering. and that the rest were so mer-
cfuly spared. Think o. my return journey
to lschia that Sunday morning, not knowing
what had befallen mel" Jc.F.