New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-18
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
WILLIAM WINTER.

WILLIAM WlNIEK.
,sp,r. ann ouncr Fugitive Pieces in Prose
and Verse. BY WILLIAM WINTER lohio' PP A'o'
James r. osgood Co. -,
IT, Ton cbapters of travellers impressions which
form about half this volume first appeared IN inc
60 Of letters to THE TRIBUNE; the three pieces
commemorative of LongfelOw were Also written lOr
this Journal and the poems which ill out the col
lection shave hitherto" as the author
savs "been wanderers" IN various re-
gious of periodical literature. Now tns'
they are brought together in an attracuVe oooH
thew forcibly remind us how much oeautilui anu
soreful yrorx is expended in the service OF the
,odorr neIvsnaper and what a fine literary quail
inv belongs at any rate to the pest Vi 'no oii0i
ESSAYS letters and verses which are iaiu e'eiS
,norninp upon our breakfast tables along Win the
Jews Of notifies and society the courts ana the
.nortots Mr.. Winters writings have not
only the finish of style ana ulsni'S VI
thorobt which distinguish the productions
% .ho ronrine man of letters from those
of +he merely clever journalist, but they nave q
,norked individuality which is not common IN inc
doilv nress. The tendency of the newspaper an
;sotiahle and nconsiderate task-master, Is 10 us
erse the powers of its contributors ana u'iSe'iio
tbo;r literary characteristics, by driving thelh "
diverse and often uneOngenial themes Du' 'n
bent of Mr. Winters mind has been strong enous :.
10 resist this influence. In everything Hoin li'
facile pen poetry well as prose- we uiS0o 49,
gentle and reflective temperament inc Nooi a. .
t;biIitv the affectionate heart anu Wv
nans;ve vet not melancholy haDlt' WHICH, %
charmed the readers of his carrier stI
What he has said of the tender feehhg' tno soi'
..,,,,iI mns;c the reverent sentiment for the pas.
VIC, NJ aaod which characterized the spirit OF
7 orafalloU, might be said with little mOdihcatlon
80 tis o,r, snirit. And that it remains unchanged
: the hest possible proof of his complete sincerity
His STYLE is not fashion of speech, Out the eAP'eS
sion of matured character.
Mr. Winters English Rambies are not IKE tho'o
of anv other traveller. He belongs as IL mas oeol
we'll said to the traditions of Irving, but ohiy oe-
conse. like Irving, he saw the most lovaole sac u
ENGLAND and took il fast to his heart Inc moou
:; Tbich he yanders by English hedgerows, traces
The haunts OF Shakespeare, explores historic '"'
ems and churches muses. in the LONDON s'loo,'
and poces the courts and silent thoronShlaIeS ny
night is peculiar to himself. At least we hhoW y,
tb;n like if in hooks There are certain poetlcai
aspects of England which are better PicSon''u -
these fascinating pages than we have ever seen
L. olsavrbare The descriptions never degenerate
into catalogues; they are the record
of ;,rpressiops rather than an inventory OF
objects. but whoever has beeh oNei
The same ground will recognize the extraordinary
truthfulness of the picture of the EnelSh county
Nobody could set forth wildly, III rev stflKi"s
nhrases. the glimpses of green lane ana SHINING
river. of dense copses that cast their cooI siaoo"
an the moist and cleaning emerald SOD, OF Iohs
white roads that stretch away like cathedral ais'e
and are lost beneath tie lcafy arches OF elm ana
oak. of little church turretS embowerrd IN IVY y,
thatch cottages draped with roses '-AoDoey Eo'''i
cat forth these beauties wildly VINO Had h"'
dnanIv felt them. He writes ont of full heart.
The poems included in this volume are full OF
+be same delicate charm which irradiates his prose-
They are often graceful and dainty, always hn'Gi-
native and suffused with feeling. THE "rrcker
BeuD and "AceompliceS' show dramatic force
~ which his taste does not often lead him, although
readers of his previous volumes well know that he
is master of il. An interpretive mood Is more
common with him; and in this temperhls iellcltouS
and musical lines sing of love, friendship, trust
and peace. The sincerity to which we nave
referred "a a characteristic of his literary
work in general is conspicuous III these records
of personal feeling and of course it gives them
strong hold upon the sylnpathies OF the reader.
Sincerity is also marked quality III the occa-lo'l
nieces. such as the fine tributes 10 Longtcllow'
Mccullough, Barrett and Warren. 1t is because
his feeling is 50 real and his poetlca conception OF
the occasion so natural and correct that Mr. Winter
always succeeds in poems of this class where fail
ure is so common.