Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-04-14
LITERARY NOTES.
BIOGRAPHY OF WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT.
With Extracts from his Private Correspondence. By
PARKE GOODWIN In Two Volumes. New York: d.

| B M!e,' aa OF WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT.
PanRE Gop from h.s p1yase Co.rs'gondsnes B
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BRYANT. Edited ~ PARKE GoDwIH. In Two
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Inc sumptuous volumes named above con-
stitute the first four Of Set OF six, which 1t Is
Intended shall include the biography. the COM
plete poetical writings the sketches Of travel,
ana the orations and addresses Of the late dis
tinguished poet and journalist. The work Of
editing has judiciously been entrusted to Mr.
Goodwin, who, by ties Of relationship, profess
sional association, and literary ability, combined,
Is perhaps Of all men in the country the one ma
turally fitted for the task.
Although for a long term Of years occupying
prominent positions before the world Mr.. Bry-
ant was man OF singularly quiet tastes and
persons to terms of intimacy; and Of his inner
or even every day life, however much may have
been desired, but very little has been known.
1t was naturally expected therefore that BIZ
ography written by member Of his family
would contain much matter of interest to the
reading world whether relating to his private
life OF public career. This expectation Mr. God
win has fairly met He brought to his task
clear head "a patient hand and sound judgment;
and so far as his work is concerned he has given
us book with which both the public and the
friends or Its subject may well be satisfied.
Many interesting facts in regard to Mr.. Bryant's
life and literary labOrs are given, not the least
OF when Is the account Of the composition Of
'Thanatopsis, one of the nobest poems in the
English language, written it will be remember
ed, when the author was only II years of age.
lie wrote 1t after reading Blair's Grave" in
which Is to be found germ Of the leading
thought. Inc appearance OF the poem In print
was not made until many years afterward when,
in his absence from home his father discovered
1t hidden away in desk. The family tradition
Is that when the father had read the poem he
ran to lady in the neighborhood with tears
streaming down his cheeks" and exclaimed,
"Oh read that; it is Cullen's." Of the COM
position OF this work Mr.. Goodwin says:
at was in the autumn, the blue OF the summer
sky had faded 1ntOgray, and the brown earth was
heaped With sere and wlthered emblems OF the de-
parted glory OF the year. As he trod upon the
Notwithstanding ground, in the loneliness OF The
woods, and amohg the PROSTATE trunks Of trees
dust. he thought how the vast solitudes about
him were filled with the same sad tokens OF de-
cay. He ked himself, as the thought expanded
In his mind, what indeed. is the whole earth but
a great sepulchre OF once living things, and its
skies and stars but the witnesses and decorations
of tomb7 All that ever trod it's surface, even
they who preceded the kings and patriarchs of
the ancient world, the teeming populations OF
buried cities that tradition itself has forgotten,
are mingled with its soil; all who Tread 1t now In
the flush OF beauty, hope and JOY will soon lie
down with them, and all who are yet to tread it
sweet babe and the ray-headed man. will join the
innumerable hosts that have gone the dusky way.
While his mind was yet tossing with the thought
he hurried home and endeavOred to paint 1t to The
eye and render 1t In music to the ear"
Not less interesting is the account of the con-
ceptiOn of 1.-The Waterfowl" justly considered
one OF Mr. Bryant's happiest efforts. It was in
the year 1916 while in detection over his profess
sional prospects, that in a desolate walk through
the Berkshire hills from Cummngton to Plain
field, this poem was suggested. The sun had
already set. and ''while he was looking upon
the rosy splendOr with rapt admiration, soil
taIy plrd winged Its way along the Illuminated
horizon. He watched the lone wanderer until it
was lost in the distance, asking himself whittier
1t had come and to what far home it was flying"
That night the poem was written.
With Mr.. Bryants personal appearance in the
later years of his life nearly every body has been
made familiar through the media OF engravings
photographs. etc. Mr.. Goodwin gives the toll
lowing pen picture of him as he appeared when
they first met in 1885,
HE was OF middle age and medium height,
spare In Inquire, With clean-Shaven face, un-
usually large head, bright eyes, and wearied,
severe, almost saturnine expression OF counte-
nance One, however. remarked at once the ex-
sweetness In the tone OF his voice as well as an
extraordinary purity IN his selection and pronun-
out not fluent, and he had habit or looking the
person he addressed directly In the eyes that 1t
was not little embarrassing at first" .. t.....
Not long after their acquaintance had rpened
to some degree Of intimacy, Mr. Bryant asked
Mr.. Goodwin to become his assistant editor. and
from that time on they were closely associated
In the MANAGEMENT OF the New York Eoenino
Post, an association which lasted pleasantly
through many years.
OF Mr.. Bryants poetical works nothing need
be said at this late day. They are known and
appreciated wherever the English language is
spoken or love Of poetry finds an abiding place
The reading world is. however, to be congratu-
lated that they have all been brought together
and preserved In a form at once so appropriate
and attractive as that in which they now aDpear
HISTORY OF THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED
F Hy 3oaf B NeH yo MoM4sTEn In five volumes
ington A. Brentano & Co.
1t is doubtful whether any work of the kind
was ever published with so little preliminary
flourish which gained 30 quick, so wide and SO
sure hold on the mind of the reading world as
has this history. 1t may be added also that it
fully deserves the favorable reception accorded
1t. 1t does for this country what Green's excel
lent history dld Tor England and 1t does it most
admirably, as the COpious extracts from its
pages heretofore copied into these columns fully
attest. While other historians have dealt ONLY
with important and stirring public events. Mr.
McMaster has given Us a series of pictures of
the daily life OF the people, contrasting with
few strokes Of the pen the past with the present
ana portFaylng III the most graphic manner the
wonderful progress made in all directions du-
ring the last hundred years. 1t is in every way
most important contribution to the literature
of the country. and must ever be regarded as a
standard work within the field it undertakes to
cover.
THOMAS JEFFERSON. By JOHN T, MORSE Ja
Boston: Hougton, Miffiln d Co. Washington:
Robert Beall
Although writing from what might be called
a federalist point of view, Mr.. Morse seems to
have been actuated by sincere desire to do jus-
tice to the character and career of Jefferson.
and also to have fairly succeeded in his under
taking. This volume is. perhaps, more purely
biographical and less critical than any Of the &C.
ries (American Statesmen) to which it beloiIgs.
and is likely, on that account, to be the better
received by the reading public which nowadays
cares for the facts themselves than for other
peoples opinions concerning them,-bei1lg both
able and willing to reach its own conclusions on
any given subject. 1t also possesses the merits
of terseness, comprehensiveness and an agreea-
bic literary style.
BULLET AND SHE Ii. War a. the Soldier raw II.
Camp March and Picket; Battlefield and Rvo,ac.
Prison and Hospital. By GEO ~ WIII1A.sr IL
Illustrated, from sketches among the Actual Scenes
By EDWIN FORBES: New York. Fords Howard f.
Hubert. For sale by sabscr. ption only.
A glance at the graphic text and spirted films